Hi-phi, November 2008, issue number 178

In this issue...

1. LTA estimates for students funded on doctoral training grants
2. IOP half day meeting: searching for dark matter underground at the LHC
3. IOP meeting on large underground detectors for proton decay, neutrino physics and neutrino astrophysics

1. LTA estimates for students funded on doctoral training grants

The deadline by which departments should provide estimates of expected LTAs over the course of current training grants has been extended from 31 December 2008 to 31 March 2009. LTA estimates should be sent to STFC via the LTA1 form.

Any enquiries should be referred to Susan Blackwell in STFC's Education, Training and Careers Section.

2. IOP half day meeting: searching for dark matter underground at the LHC

Tuesday 2nd December 2008, Imperial College London

This meeting will review the present status and future plans for WIMP dark matter searches in the UK and help articulate these experiments with the imminent turn-on of the Large Hadron Collider. Everyone is welcome, with Ph.D. students especially encouraged. Since we expect a mixed audience, with attendees from different fields, presentations should be accessible to all.

Both theoretical and experimental activity will be discussed, explicitly addressing the approaches taken by the LHC and by underground detectors.

Interestingly, these two completely different approaches are now at the stage where they can probe the most interesting models of WIMP physics, providing complementary tests of theory as well as of indirect search data. Consequently, this is an ideal time to review predictions and revisit timescales on both sides.

Registration is free but please do register by emailing h.araujo@imperial.ac.uk or we may run out of space and coffee...

For further details see the Imperial College London website (link opens in a new window).

3. IOP meeting on large underground detectors for proton decay, neutrino physics and neutrino astrophysics

Date: Monday, 15th December

Title: Large Underground Detectors for Proton Decay, Neutrino Physics and Neutrino Astrophysics

Venue: University of Sheffield, Lecture Theatre 3, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Hicks Building, Hounsfield Road, Sheffield, S3 7RH

Time: 10.30 coffee for 11.00 start

Fee: there will be a small fee for coffee and sandwiches

Travel assistance: there is a small fund available to help student travel if necessary

Abstract:

The meeting aims to provide an overview of current developments, particularly in Europe, of the physics potential and technological feasibility of a new generation of proposed very large, 50-1000 kton, underground detectors.

Physics topics include CP violation, dark matter, neutrino mixing parameters, relic supernova neutrino detection, proton decay, geo-neutrinos. Technology topics include new advances in liquid argon, scintillators and water cherenkov. Suggestions for talks should be sent to n.spooner@sheffield.ac.uk and g.barker@warwick.ac.uk.