The problems of dark matter, quantum gravity and the early universe show that physics beyond the Standard Model must be out there, but its nature remains a mystery. In this seminar, I will describe new experimental and theoretical ideas to expand our search for new physics. I’ll talk about how searches for dark matter candidates, such as axions and dark photons, can be conducted almost as efficiently as quantum mechanics allows, by a combination of optimized absorption targets and superconducting quantum sensors. I’ll also give examples of how new particle production mechanisms, from black holes to stars, can provide additional targets for ultra-sensitive laboratory experiments.
