Speaker: Amanda Weinstein (ISU)

Title: Astrophysics: What's P5 Got to Do With It?

Abstract: Particle physics studies the smallest constituents of our vast and complex universe. At these small scales, the fundamental principles of quantum physics prevail. Remarkably, the entire observable universe, now billions of light years across, was once so small as to be quantum in nature, and this quantum history remains imprinted on its large-scale structure. In recent years, our evolving understanding has spurred the particle physics community to propose state-of-the-art facilities, from particle accelerators to telescopes, that seek to illuminate the profound connections between the extremely small and the cosmically large. The cost and scope of these facilities requires the field to undergo a strategic planning process roughly once per decade.

The 2023 Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel (P5) has recently released a comprehensive roadmap for the future of particle physics research, highlighting promising avenues of investigation for the next ten to twenty years. I will explain the prioritization process and provide an overview of the recommendations, with a particular focus on how these recommendations impact scientific opportunities at the boundary between particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology.