Dark Matter and Gamma-Ray Astronomy: An Intersection of Astrophysics and Particle Physics
Lecture Hall
Kavli IPMU
Dark Matter and Gamma-Ray Astronomy:
An Intersection of Astrophysics and Particle Physics
Date: 7-8 September 2026
Workshop venue: Kavli IPMU, Lecture Hall
Recent advances in gamma-ray astronomy are opening new opportunities to explore dark matter and related questions in particle physics. Observations across a broad energy range, from the MeV band with upcoming missions such as COSI, through the GeV band observed by Fermi, to the TeV and PeV regimes explored by ground-based observatories such as VERITAS, CTA, HAWC, and LHAASO, provide complementary windows onto the high-energy universe.
Dark matter remains one of the most important open questions at the intersection of astrophysics, cosmology, and particle physics. Gamma-ray observations play a unique role in this context, as they can probe environments such as the Galactic Center, dwarf spheroidal galaxies, galaxy clusters, and the extragalactic gamma-ray background. At the same time, interpreting these observations requires close interaction between theory, observations, and instrumentation, including studies of astrophysical foregrounds, cosmic-ray propagation, source populations, and instrumental backgrounds.
This workshop, Dark Matter and Gamma-Ray Astronomy: An Intersection of Astrophysics and Particle Physics, aims to bring together researchers working on dark matter theory, particle physics, gamma-ray observations, cosmic-ray astrophysics, direct detection, and future instruments. The workshop will place particular emphasis on theoretical interpretation, model building, and the connection between gamma-ray observations and particle-physics scenarios for dark matter and related new physics. By bringing these perspectives together, the workshop aims to develop a common language between theory, observation, and instrumentation.
The workshop will be held primarily in person to encourage face-to-face discussions. The program will be centered on invited talks; however, contributed talks will also be solicited. Please note that the number of slots for contributed presentations is limited.
Key topics include:
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Various dark matter models, including axions/ALPs, WIMPs, and MeV-scale dark matter
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Qubit-based and other novel approaches to direct dark matter detection
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Gamma-ray observations from MeV to TeV and PeV energies
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Astrophysical searches for axions/ALPs using gamma-ray sources
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Cosmic-ray propagation and astrophysical foregrounds
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Optical constraints on dark matter distributions
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Connections between gamma-ray astronomy and accelerator-based studies
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Future gamma-ray instruments and observational strategies
Invited speakers:
- Koji Tsumura (Kyushu University)
- Motoko Fujiwara (Kyushu University)
- Shion Chen (Kyoto University)
- Shigeki Matsumoto (IPMU)
- Donggeun Tak (Kyung Hee University)
- Shotaro Abe (Kyoto University)
- Hiroki Yoneda (Kyoto University)
- Ellis Owen (RIKEN)
- Kohei Hayashi (National Institute of Technology, Sendai College)
- Tomohiro Inada (Kyushu University)
- Alex Kusenko (UCLA and Kavli IPMU)
- Volodymyr Takhistov(QUP, KEK)
Important Dates:
- Registration deadline for the conference: August 23, 2026
- Registration deadline for the contributed talks: July 31, 2026
Scientific Organizing Committee:
Yoshiyuki Inoue, Alex Kusenko, Shigeki Matsumoto, Tadayuki Takahashi, Naomi Tsuji, Koji Tsumura, Hiroki Yoneda
Local Organizing Committee:
Shigeki Matsumoto, Tadayuki Takahashi, Naomi Tsuji, Koji Tsumura, Hiroki Yoneda