Abstracts/Topics:

Andreas Brandhuber (Queen Mary College): "Form Factors in N=4 Supersymmetric Yang-Mills and Higgs Plus Gluon Amplitudes"

Abstract:

Martin Crocce (IEEC-CSIC, Barcelona): "The Dark Energy Survey"

Abstract:

The Dark Energy Survey (DES) is a state-of-the-art large-scale galaxy survey designed to understand, primarily, the current accelerated expansion of the Universe. DES is mapping 5000 deg$^2$ (to a depth $I_{AB}\sim24$) allowing the measurements of positions and shapes for 300 million galaxies up to redshift ~ 1, the light-curves of several thousand supernovae, and the masses of tens of thousands of galaxy clusters. I will present the current status and latest scientific results from the first year of observations, in particular those related to the combination of large-scale structure and weak gravitational lensing, how they compare with those from other data-sets, and the first measurement of angular diameter distance using baryon acoustic oscillations.

Claudia De Rham (Imperial College London): "Massive gravity"

Abstract:

The recent direct detections of gravitational waves represent a direct manifestation of the propagating degrees of freedom of gravity. While the recent detections have been successfully used to examine the basic properties of these gravitational degrees of freedom and set an upper bound on its mass and constrain its speed of propagation with unprecedented accuracy, I will explore the possibility for this mass to be sufficiently small to pass current tests of gravity and yet sufficiently large to have deep potential implications on our observable Universe.

Jorge Gomes (LIP, Lisboa): "Advanced Virtualization in Computing"

Abstract:

Computer virtualization has been widely adopted in industry and science. However, hardware virtualization is often used in situations that do not require all its features. Operating system level virtualization enables the creation of application specific computing environments (containers) that resemble virtual machines. Containers are efficient, flexible and well fit for scientific computing.

Philippe Jetzer (University of Zurich): "Gravitational waves: a new window to explore the Universe"

Abstract:

The discovery in 2015 by the LIGO collaboration of the first gravitational wave signal from coalescing black holes, the detection of few other events by LIGO and VIRGO, and in particular the even due to the coalescence of two neutron stars opened a new window to explore the Universe. I will discuss these exciting developments and also the future of the field, in particular the space-based mission LISA to detect gravitational waves from space, which following the superb performance of the LISA Pathfinder satellite has been approved by ESA as an official mission last June 2017. I will give an overview of the main scientific goals of LISA.

Aurelio Juste (IFAE, Barcelona): "BSM searches at ATLAS and CMS"

Abstract:

After a very successful first run (Run 1) during which the Higgs boson was discovered, the Run 2 of the Large Hadron Collider is in full swing. Its increased center-of-mass energy and integrated luminosity compared to Run 1 significantly boots its potential for new discoveries that may revolutionize our understanding on how Nature operates at its most fundamental level. In this talk will review the ongoing program of searches for new phenomena by the ATLAS and CMS experiments using up to 36 fb-1 of integrated luminosity at sqrt(s)=13 TeV, as well as discuss its future prospects.

Jose Ignacio Latorre (Barcelona Supercomputing Center): "Maximal Entanglement"

Abstract:

The talk is divided in two parts. In the first part, we analyze how entanglement is produced at the fundamental level of QED. We also explore the constraints that may emerge from imposing maximal entanglement as a principle. We then turn to the recent realizations of quantum states in cloud quantum computers.

Michelangelo Mangano (CERN): "High energy physics: beyond the LHC"

Abstract:

The LHC results have redefined the boundary conditions for the discussion of future HEP facilities. On one side, the discovery of the Higgs and the knowledge of its mass clearly define the needs, the challenges and the prospects of future precise measurements of its properties. On the other, the lack on new physics signals stimulates reconsideration of theoretical scenarios, and opens a broad discussion of the best ways to move forward. I will informally review these issues, summarize the most recent initiatives, and provide some personal perspective.

Antonio Pich (IFIC, Valencia): "Recent developments in flavor physics"

Abstract:

The large amount of data collected at the flavour factories and at the LHC give precious information on the quark flavour dynamics. I will review our present knowledge on the quark mixing parameters, the precise experimental tests of CP violation phenomena and the search for rare decay processes that are sensitive to hypothetical new-physics contributions. Special attention will be given to the intriguing flavour anomalies exhibited by the most recent data.

Yigal Shamir (Tel Aviv University): "Lattice explorations of a composite Higgs"

Abstract:

Extensions of the Standard Model in which the Higgs is a composite state of a new strong interaction can be studied using lattice gauge theory techniques. I will describe lattice work relevant for two paradigms:
(1) Walking Technicolor, in which the Higgs arises as a pseudo-dilaton;
(2) Composite Higgs, in which the Higgs is a pseudo Nambu-Goldstone boson arising from flavor symmetry breaking in the new strong sector, and the top is partially composite thanks to a linear mixing with baryons of the new strong sector.