Summary of the 2nd Sino-French workshop on the Dark Universe
August 28- September 3rd, 2006
The problems of the Dark Universe (Dark Matter, Dark Energy, Dark Age) are the most important issues in cosmology, at the intersection of astronomy, astrophysics, general relativity, theoretical and experimental particle physics.
The goal of these workshops is to assess the status of Sino-French cooperation in this multidisciplinary field, promote Sino-French cooperation and identify new projects.
This workshop in Beijing is a follow-up of the two Sino-French workshops on Galaxy formation and evolution held in 2004 and 2005, and the first workshop on the Dark Universe held in Marseilles in September 2005.
This 2006 Beijing workshop on the Dark Universe was organized by the theory group of the Institute of High Energy Physics, lead by Prof. Zhang Xin-Min, with the help of Dr. Bi Xiaojun, and by Prof. Cai-Ronggen of the Institute of Theoretical Physics (ITP), Prof. Zhu Zonghong of Beijing Normal University, Prof. Chen Xuelei and Qin Bo of the National Observatory of China (NAOC), Prof. Fan Zuhui of Peking University, and Charling Tao (CPPM/NAOC).
Participants
The 80 Chinese participants in the 2006 Beijing workshop were students and researchers from most institutes in China connected with these fields. Beyond the organizing institutes, participants came also from Tsinghua U., Shanghai Observatory, Purple Mountain Observatory in Nanjing, U. of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, Shanghai Normal U., and Beijing Polytechnic U.
The 23 French participants came from different French Universities, and IN2P3, INSU and CEA laboratories (from Paris, Marseille, Orsay, Grenoble, Annecy and Saclay). In addition, there were a few participants from Belgium, Japan and Syria.
The participants’ list can be found under
Sino-French projects
The program of the workshop can be found under
During the workshop, we visited the organizing laboratories, and had presentations of their activities. We also visited the Xinglong and Huairou observatories. Participants presented their work and identified issues that could lead to Sino-French cooperation. A summary of the projects is listed below.
Existing collaborations
Project / Description /Contact people
/ CommentsAMS / Detector on the International Space Station to detect anti matter in space. Potential detection of neutralino Dark Matter / Chen Hesheng (IHEP)/ Jean-Pierre Vialle (LAPP) / International cooperation with Chinese and French participation.
ATLAS/LHC / Detector at CERN. Many physics topics including Higgs detection and Neutralino Dark Matter / Lydia Roos (IN2P3/HEP), Emmanuel Monnier(CPPM)/ Tong Guoliang, Jin Shan (IHEP) / International cooperation with Chinese and French participation.
2006 agreement between IN2P3 and IHEP for analysis and data grid
LAMOST / Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope / Zhao Yongheng (NAOC)/ G. Lemaitre (LAM) / INSU/NAOC cooperation on instrumental development for LAMOST spectrographs.
Eclairs/SVOM / Space project for Gamma Ray Burst detection / Zhang Shuangnan (IHEP,Tsinghua), Wei JianYan (NAOC)/Jacques Paul (CEA, APC), Stéphane Basa (LAM) / Sino-French space project, first contacts during 2005 Sino-French workshops.
Determination of cosmological parameters / Phenomenology / Zhang XinMin (IHEP), Fan Zuhui (PKU)/ Charling Tao (CPPM), Jean-Marc Virey(CPT) / Cooperation after 2005 Sino-French workshops
CMB / Phenomenology / Zhu Zonghong(BNU)/ Nabila Aghanim (IAS) / Cooperation after 2005 Sino-French workshops.
SN / Standardization and systematics of SNIa / Wang Xiaofeng (Tsinghua U.)/Reynald Pain (U. Paris VI/VII), Charling Tao (CPPM) / Cooperation after 2005 Sino-French workshops. .
PANDA/XIAN / SN Projects in South Pole (Dome A) / Zhou Xu(NAOC) / Roger Malina, Stéphane Basa (LAM) / International cooperation Project under discussion
Possible new projects
Project / Description / Contact people / CommentsPOLAR / Polarimeter for space gamma ray detectors / JP Vialle (LAPP)/
Zhang ShuangNan (IHEP, Tsinghua), Wei JianYan (NAOC) / The Chinese space station has some space available for a detector. Ongoing discussions
21CMA / Low frequency radio telescope searching for light from the first stars in the Universe / Wu Xiang-Ping (NAOC) / Y. Giraud-Heraud (APC), C. Tao (CPPM) / Data Acquisition studies
FAST / Radiotelescope (SKA/10) / Nan Rendong, Jin Chengjin (NAOC)/ Y. Giraud-Heraud (APC), C.Tao (CPPM), Olivier Perdereau (LAL) / Data Acquisition studies
Planck + future CMB projects / CMB analysis / Zhang XinMin (IHEP), Zhu Zonghong (BNU), Zhang Pengjie (SHAO) / JL Puget, N. Aghanim, M. Douspis (IAS), Y. Giraud-Héraud (APC), Olivier Perdereau (LAL), Daniel Santos (LPSC, Grenoble) / Preparation of analysis proposals
Galaxy formation and bias / Phenomenology / Fan Zuhui (PKU)/Christian Marinoni(CPT) / Li Ran PhD Student
Indirect DM analysis / Phenomenology of indirect DM detection / Bi Xiaojun (IHEP), Chen Xuelei (NAOC)/ David Maurin (Paris 6), Julien Lavalle (CPPM)
Theory / Dark Energy and alternative theories / Wu Yueliang, Cai Ronggen (ITP), Zhang XinMin (IHEP)/ Pierre Binetruy(APC), Patrick Peter, Jérôme Martin (Greco,IAP), David Polarski (Montpellier) / First contacts
Daya Bay Underground laboratory / Underground lab network / Yang Changgen (IHEP)/G. Gerbier(Dapnia,CEA) / First discussions on the possibility for the foreseen Daya Bay underground Lab to link with the European ILIAS underground laboratories network
Existing cooperation have been developed, and new contacts taken. A more detailed description of each theme is being compiled and will be available on the WEB. The quality of the welcome and the strong and high level participation show that interest exists for developing Sino-French cooperation in these new exciting fields of dark matter and dark energy and the alternative theories which could explain them.
We have also met many quality master and PhD students interested in PhD and postdoctoral programs in France. Some contacts have been taken for co-tutored thesis.
The organizers also wish to thank Sun Lei, Huang Feng, Wang You Gang, Fanny Lessous and Cui Wei, who have contributed to the success of this workshop
This 2006 workshop was financed by the French Embassy in China, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) , the National Science Foundation of China (NSFC), and the Beijing Astronomical Society.
To further develop the contacts that this workshop has allowed, it seems necessary to continue this type of “collaboration” meetings on a regular basis. There have been discussions of holding one next year in Paris.
Support from funding agencies for the projects in each country, and for Sino-French cooperation, in terms of students, postdocs, and visitors programs, will be investigated, with the experience of existing projects.
The AMS project is funded by a 3-year CNRS PICS* (International Programs for Scientific Cooperation program). The LAMOST cooperation on instrumentation is also part of PICS 3010 2005-2008 program on Galaxy Formation and Evolution between INSU and NAOC. It is very likely and recommended that some of the topics addressed in this workshop could apply for a CNRS PICS status in the coming years (ECLAIRS/SVOM, SNIa, Determination of Cosmological Parameters, CMB analysis and projects, Dark Matter phenomenology, Physics and techniques for 21cm detection, …)
Discussions about the creation of an International Associated Laboratory (LIA)* are underway between IN2P3 and IHEP, and could be extended to other laboratories. But other sources of funding will be necessary for long term research stays.
For our multidisciplinary field, the concept of a GDRI***might be more appropriate, while individual projects like Eclairs/SVOM could apply for a PAI.
Extracted from CNRS cooperation tools
* PICS/International Programs for Scientific Cooperation : A PICS is a 3 year, non-renewable program established on the basis of an ongoing collaborative relationship having already resulted in co-publication.
After approval by therelevant CNRS scientific department, researchers must respond jointly to a call for proposals, which is sent out once a year (from February 1st to March 31).
A PICS is implemented after a positive co-evaluation by the CNRS and the sponsoring foreign research organization. PICS funding is intended to cover research trips, the organization of meetings, and may in some cases be used to cover operations and the acquisition of small equipment.
** LIA/International Associated Laboratories: An LIA is a "laboratory without walls". It brings together at most three laboratories from CNRS and other countries. These laboratories contribute human and material resources to a common, jointly-defined project designed to "add value" to their individual pursuits. A LIA agreement is for 4 years, renewable twice.
The laboratories comprising a LIA retain their independence, their regular status, their director and their separate locations. An overall director of the LEA/LIA is appointed on a revolving basis if so desired.
This type of collaboration does not include longterm research stays by the researchers involved in the project.
An LIA receives earmarked funding from the CNRS and the partner institution, for equipment, scientific missions, associate research posts, etc.
It is coordinated by a scientific management committee, which determines the research program to be submitted to the steering committee. The latter is composed of representatives of the two partner institutions as well as established scientists from outside the LIA.
*** GDRI/International Research Networks: A GDRI is a research network devoid of any legal status which connects public and/or private laboratories. GDRIs are set up for a period of four years, renewable twice.
A GDRI brings together several laboratories from two or more countries to coordinate research on a specified theme.
GDRI program funding is used principally for mobility, information exchange, seminars and workshops. Proposals for new GDRIs can be filed at any time. Approval of a proposed GDRI is made by CNRS and its French and foreign partner institutions.
The GDRI is overseen by a scientific management committee chaired by one or more coordinators and composed of representatives from the laboratories involved. It submits regular reports on its activity to a steering committee.
The steering committee includes a representative of each laboratory's supervisory board, other than those constituting the GDRI.
Once approved, a GDRI is the object of an agreement between the Director General of the CNRS and the home institutions of the laboratories forming the GDRI.
**** PAI/Programs for Integrated Action: An “integrated action” is a research project undertaken by two teams, one French and the other foreign. Financial support, which comes from the Ministries of Research and of Foreign Affairs in the case of France, allows the researchers considerable mobility between the two countries in order to implement the project.