Juri Smirnov

I am an astroparticle physicist, focusing on dark matter research, that definitely includes strong, black coffee.
The phenomenon called "dark matter" is the only hard evidence we have, that there is new physics, not yet known to us. While many problems in theoretical physics exist, which are based on aesthetic arguments, we have clear observational evidence that the universe contains an unknown substance.

Those observations are measurements of velocities of stars and galaxies, building up evidence for missing mass since the 1930th. More recently tiny inhomogeneities in the cosmic microwave background radiation confirm this story. Thus, providing evidence for missing mass, from entirely different mass and length scales.
I work on complex phenomena in the dark sector, which can explain the observational discrepancies. For example, I research bound-state formation in the dark sector, which can strongly affect dark matter production, see Figures on the right.

In addition to theoretical models, I consider experimental data and work on strategies to systematically test different dark matter production hypotheses.
If you want more details, here is an overview of my publications.

Previously I was at the CP3 Center of the Southern Denmark University and the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics.