Why to apply

Invisibles deals with some of the most pressing questions of human identity:

• what are we and the rest of the universe made of?
• what laws our substance(s) obey?
• what makes up most of our universe?

These questions stem from basic human curiosity and have led to what we call science since ancient times. They continue to attract many of the best young minds. The discovery of neutrino oscillations and the likely existence of Dark Matter (DM) have major implications for these fundamental mysteries. These phenomena constitute the first clues ever of particle physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics (BSM).

There is a strong synergy between the study of the physics of neutrinos and that of dark matter, which needs to be structured and optimized, creating new long-lasting links and fostering new interdisciplinary research. A wide experimental program focused on the properties of both types of particles -neutrinos and dark matter- is imminent and major breakthroughs are expected over the next few years. A qualitative change is taking place as well: we have entered the era of precision and discovery in neutrino and dark matter physics. It is essential that we exploit the information obtained from neutrino, astrophysics and cosmology experiments, in addition to that from particle accelerators -such as LHC- to develop a new theoretical understanding aimed at unveiling the fundamental laws of Nature and the evolution of the Universe.

The road to building the New Standard Model (SM) of particle physics is clear: this theory needs to encompass the nature and properties of neutrinos and dark matter, as well as those of ordinary matter. The mission of Invisibles is to train the new generation of young researchers to accomplish this task, allowing them to build the necessary background in particle physics, cosmology and astrophysics, and fostering their growth as independent researchers, within the first transnational program focused on neutrino and dark matter physics. Invisibles aims at creating a common virtual laboratory for all network members to work together and train the new generation.

The Invisibles network is dominantly focused on phenomenological aspects, but it will also train a fraction of experimentalists and involves all major experiments in the domain, including experimental world leaders as coordinators of some nodes. Methodological characteristics includes:

1. A multidisciplinary approach;
2. Complementarity and synergy of research in neutrino and dark matter physics, in theory and experiment;
3. World-leadership in all relevant areas, theoretical and experimental;
4. A tool to overcome the fragmentation of European research, creating a forum on neutrino and dark matter physics;
5. A pivotal support of experimental physics;
6. Timeliness, given the tantalizing data that starts to be gathered;
7. Strong integration of individual ESR training and research;
8. Worldleadership in essential research-related industry and technology transfer, with participation of essential industries, e.g. Hamamatsu and others.