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Higgs Potential 2025: Exploring Symmetry Breaking in Particle Physics and the Early Universe

→ Asia/Shanghai
电子科技大学 清水河校区 4号科研楼 物理学院567会议室
Zhi-Wei Wang (UESTC)
Description

希格斯势 2025：探索粒子物理与早期宇宙中的对称性破缺

将于2025年12月18日至12月22日在电子科技大学清水河校区举办

English Version Follows

   自希格斯粒子被发现以来，对其性质的精确测量、电弱对称性破缺机制的深入理解，以及对超越标准模型新物理的探索，始终是大型强子对撞机（LHC）及未来对撞机实验的核心科学目标。对称性的自发破缺不仅构成现代粒子物理标准模型的基石，也为构建新物理机制提供了重要线索。

   本次会议将围绕希格斯物理的最新进展，深入探讨希格斯粒子的实验观测结果及其在粒子物理理论和早期宇宙研究中的拓展，重点涵盖以下方向：

  • 希格斯粒子各项性质的高精度测量，特别是双希格斯粒子产生过程对自耦合常数的限制；
  • 对称性自发破缺机制的新现象及其在对撞机实验中的探测路径；
  • 与希格斯机制相关的超越标准模型的新物理理论，以及其引发的宇宙学效应，如早期宇宙相变、重子不对称生成和引力波产生等；
  • 希格斯场作为连接暗物质与标准模型的关键门户，其在暗物质直接探测实验中可能留下的信号特征及相关新粒子的搜寻策略。

   此外，会议将特别关注早期宇宙相变与对撞机实验之间的交叉关联，推动从宇宙学与高能物理的双重视角深化对希格斯机制的理解。会议拟邀请国内外理论与实验物理学者，共同交流希格斯物理与对称性破缺方向的最新研究进展，推动相关研究的纵深发展，并进一步加强在该前沿方向上的国际合作。

   本次会议由电子科技大学主办，重庆大学西南理论物理中心，北京大学，南京大学，清华大学，中国科学技术大学，中国科学院理论物理研究所，中山大学及上海交大李政道研究所协办。举办地在电子科技大学（中国成都）。会议得到重庆大学西南理论物理中心的部分资助。

会议有关事项：

一：会议时间：

2025年12月18日：希格斯冬季学校

2025年12月19日至12月21日：线下报告

2025年12月22日下午：离会

二：会议注册

网上注册截止日期：2025年12月8日 

会议网址：https://indico-tdli.sjtu.edu.cn/event/4384/

三：会议注册费（现场缴费）

教师：1500元

学生、博士后：1000元

会议期间餐饮住宿及交通费用自理。

四：组织委员会（拼音顺序）

安海鹏（清华大学）

边立功 (重庆大学）

曹庆宏（北京大学）

蒋贇（中山大学）

Roman Pasechnik (瑞典隆德大学）

王志伟（电子科技大学，大会主席）

徐来林（中国科学技术大学）

杨洪洮（中国科学技术大学）

于江浩（中国科学院理论物理研究所）

张雷（南京大学）

五：会议国际学术顾问委员会

主席（按姓名序排列）:

何小刚（李政道研究所）

Francesco Sannino（丹麦高等研究中心，量子物理研究中心）

委员会成员（按姓名序排列）:

毕效军（中科院高能所）

蔡一夫（中国科学技术大学）

龚云贵（宁波大学）

黄梅（中国科学院大学）

刘江来（李政道研究所）

舒菁（北京大学）

王伟（上海交通大学） 

武雷（南京师范大学）

杨金民（中国科学院理论物理研究所）

周宁（上海交通大学）

六：会务秘书

江璐

   电话：15021500353

   邮件：Ljiang@uestc.edu.cn

 

Higgs Potential 2025:

Exploring Symmetry Breaking in Particle Physics and the Early Universe

Since the discovery of the Higgs boson, the precise measurement of its properties, a deeper understanding of the mechanism of electroweak symmetry breaking, and the exploration of new physics beyond the Standard Model have remained central scientific goals of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and future collider experiments. The spontaneous breaking of symmetry not only forms the cornerstone of the Standard Model of modern particle physics but also provides important clues for constructing new physics frameworks.

This conference will focus on the latest developments in Higgs physics, with in-depth discussions on experimental observations of the Higgs boson and their implications for particle physics theory and early-universe research. Key topics include:

  • High-precision measurements of various properties of the Higgs boson, particularly constraints on its self-coupling constant through di-Higgs production processes;
  • New phenomena in spontaneous symmetry breaking and their detection pathways in collider experiments;
  • Beyond-Standard-Model theories related to the Higgs mechanism and their cosmological implications, such as early-universe phase transitions, baryogenesis, and gravitational wave production;
  • The Higgs field as a crucial portal connecting dark matter and the Standard Model, including potential signal signatures in direct dark matter detection experiments and strategies for searching for related new particles.

In addition, the conference will place special emphasis on the interplay between early-universe phase transitions and collider experiments, aiming to advance the understanding of the Higgs mechanism from both cosmological and high-energy physics perspectives. Leading theoretical and experimental physicists from China and abroad will be invited to exchange the latest research progress on Higgs physics and symmetry breaking, to promote further development in this frontier field, and to strengthen international collaboration.

This conference is hosted by the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), with co-sponsorship from Chongqing University’s Southwest Center for Theoretical Physics, Peking University, Nanjing University, Tsinghua University, the University of Science and Technology of China, the Institute of Theoretical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, and the Tsung-Dao Lee Institute at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

It will be held at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China in Chengdu, China, and is partially supported by the Southwest Center for Theoretical Physics at Chongqing University.

Conference Information

1. Conference Dates

  • December 18, 2025: Higgs Winter School
  • December 19–21, 2025: On-site Presentations
  • December 22, 2025 (afternoon): Departure

2. Registration

3. Registration Fees (payable on site)

  • Faculty: 1500 RMB
  • Students & Postdoctoral Researchers: 1000 RMB
  • Participants are responsible for their own meals, accommodation, and transportation during the conference.

4. Organizing Committee (in alphabetical order by pinyin)

  • Haipeng An (Tsinghua University)
  • Ligong Bian (Chongqing University)
  • Qinghong Cao (Peking University)
  • Yun Jiang (Sun Yat-sen University)
  • Roman Pasechnik (Lund University）
  • Zhiwei Wang (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Conference Chair)
  • Lailin Xu (University of Science and Technology of China)
  • Hongtao Yang (University of Science and Technology of China)
  • Jianghao Yu(Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
  • Lei Zhang (Nanjing University)

5. International Academic Advisory Committee

  • Chair (in alphabetical order by name):
    • Xiaogang He (Tsung-Dao Lee Institute)
    • Francesco Sannino (Centre for Quantum Physics, Danish Institute for Advanced Study)
  • Committee Members (in alphabetical order by name):
    • Xiaojun Bi (Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
    • Yifu Cai (University of Science and Technology of China)
    • Yungui Gong (Ningbo University)
    • Mei Huang (University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)
    • Jianglai Liu (Tsung-Dao Lee Institute)
    • Jing Shu (Peking University)
    • Wei Wang (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)
    • Lei Wu (Nanjing Normal University)
    • Jinmin Yang(Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
    • Ning Zhou (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

6. Conference Secretary

 

HP2025会议通知.pdf
Lu Jiang
  • Thursday 18 December
    • Higgs School
      Convener: Zhi-Wei Wang (UESTC)
      • 1
        电弱理论、希格斯机制与希格斯新物理 (Higgs Foundation and BSM)
        Speaker: Roman Pasechnik (Lund University)
      • 2
        早期宇宙相关的有限温场论 (Finite Temperature Field Theory at Early Universe)
        Speaker: Pedro Bittar (Perimeter Insitute)
        Effective potential v2.pdf
      • 3
        有限温度下强耦合相变：可见物质及其质量的产生 （Strongly Coupled Phase Transitions at Finite Temperature）

        本讲座以强相互作用物质相变的观点简要讨论可见物质粒子及其质量的起源，包括由其基本现象归结为相变的物理机制、强关联非微扰系统相变的判据、以及相关研究的进展现状。

        Speaker: Prof. 玉鑫 刘 (北京大学)
      • 4
        希格斯宇宙学 (Non-decoupling Effect on the Higgs Potential and its Application)
        Speaker: Shinya Kanemura (Osaka University)
  • Friday 19 December
    • Opening Speech
      Conveners: Wen-Long Zuo （Dean） (电子科技大学), Zhi-Wei Wang (UESTC)
      • 5
        Opening Speech
        Speaker: Prof. Wen-Long Zuo （Dean） (电子科技大学)
    • 希格斯科普报告
      Conveners: Qing-Hong Cao (Peking University), Zhi-Wei Wang (UESTC)
      • 19
        希格斯科普报告
        Speaker: Qing-Hong Cao (Peking University)
  • Saturday 20 December
    • Conference Photo
    • Special Session of Strongly Coupled Theory
      Convener: Zhi-Wei Wang (UESTC)
      • 28
        Searching for the CEP of QCD Phase Transition
        Speaker: 玉鑫 刘 (北京大学)
      • 29
        Mapping the QCD Phase Diagram: Insights from Lattice QCD
        Speaker: Heng-Tong Ding (Central China Normal University)
        HTD_UESTC2025-12-20.pdf
      • 30
        QCD cosmology: GWs and primordial quark star
        Speaker: Mei Huang (University of Chinese Academy of Sciences(UCAS))
      • 31
        Confining dark gauge sectors, glueball axion-like particles and Yang-Mills Cosmology
        Speaker: Roman Pasechnik (Lund University)
    • Panel Discussions
      Conveners: Francesco Sannino (Quantum Theory Center (QTC), SDU), Heng-Tong Ding (Central China Normal University), Jiang-Hao Yu, Mei Huang (University of Chinese Academy of Sciences(UCAS)), Michael Ramsey-Musolf (TDLI-SJTU), Qiang Li (Peking University), Xinchou Lou (IHEP), Zhi-Wei Wang (UESTC)
    • Conference Dinner
  • Sunday 21 December
    • Special Session of Higgs Cosmology I
      Convener: Wei Chao (BNU)
      • 34
        GW-Collider interface
        Speaker: Michael Ramsey-Musolf (TDLI-SJTU)
        MJRM Higgs Potential 25 GW.pdf
      • 35
        Bridging the MeV-Gap for Light Higgs Portal Dark Matter

        We explore the surviving parameter space for sub-GeV thermal Dark Matter (DM) within Higgs-portal models, analyzing both a minimal Majorana DM scenario with a singlet scalar mediator and leptophilic DM scenarios. These light DM candidates face severe constraints from the observed relic density, Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) measurements, and direct detection experiments. Our comprehensive analysis shows that the introduction of pseudo-scalar or leptophilic couplings is critical to evade stringent direct detection limits. Crucially, we identify the mediator resonance region as a distinct and robust parameter space that simultaneously satisfies all cosmological and direct detection constraints. This resonance mechanism provides a natural "sweet spot" that is uniquely accessible to next-generation indirect detection missions. We demonstrate that future MeV-GeV gamma-ray telescopes, such as e-ASTROGAM and the Very Large Area Space Telescope (VLAST), offer unprecedented sensitivity to definitively probe and test this key surviving region, thereby bridging the long-standing "MeV Gap" in DM searches.

        Speaker: Yue-Lin Sming Tsai (Purple Mountain Observatory)
        HiggsPotential_1221.pdf
      • 36
        Cosmological and gravitational-wave phenomenology of phase transitions

        I will introduce cosmological and gravitational-wave aspects of phase-transition phenomenology, including bubble nucleation and expansion dynamics, gravitational-wave generations, curvature perturbations, primordial black holes, and, in particular, the induced gravitational waves from primordial gravitational collapse at non-linear and non-perturbative levels.

        Speaker: Shao-Jiang Wang (Institute of Theoretical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
        GWsEarlyUniverse.pdf
      • 37
        Domain walls beyond Z2

        Domain walls (DWs) are topological defects arising from spontaneous breaking of discrete symmetries. The DW property is determined by both the symmetry and potential of the new Higgs which triggers the symmetry breaking. While most phenomenological studies on GWs from DWs focus on those from Z2 breaking, I will extend to those beyond Z2. The latter are widely predicted in, e.g., flavour symmetries in quark or lepton sectors, remnant discrete symmetries from the breaking of Peccei-Quinn symmetry, etc. In this talk, after a brief review of Z2 DW, I will discuss the properties of DWs from general ZN breaking with N an integer, referring to Abelian DWs. Then, I will move to non-Abelian DWs, namely, DWs arising from non-Abelian discrete symmetry breaking. I will focus on the widely studied octahedral symmetry S4 and tetrahedral symmetry A4. I will also discuss on gravitational waves related to these DWs, in particular their differences from the that from Z2 DWs

        Speaker: Ye-Ling Zhou (HIAS-UCAS)
        ZhouYL_Higgs2512.pdf
    • Special Session of Higgs Cosmology II
      Convener: Prof. Igor Ivanov (Sun Yat-sen University)
      • 38
        Higgs field in cosmology

        Higgs field in cosmology

        Speaker: Chengcheng Han (Sun Yat-sen university)
        ChengchengHan-2.pdf
        ChengchengHan.pptx
      • 39
        Implications of symmetry non-restoration in the early universe

        In this talk, I will present the physics induced by the electroweak symmetry non-restoration (ESNR) in the early universe. I will show that ESNR may trigger SU(3)_C symmetry breaking and restoration. In addition, ESNR can also trigger the Leptogenesis without requiring any B-L violation.

        Speaker: Wei Chao (BNU)
        2025-12-21-CW-成都.pdf
    • Special Session of Higgs Cosomology and GUT
      Convener: Yun Jiang
      • 54
        Pati-Salam model spontaneously broken by Higgs fields in fundamental representations

        We present a supersymmetric Pati-Salam model with small representations as a potential candidate for physics beyond the Standard Model. The model features a Higgs sector with bifundamental fields $H_R+\bar H_R=(4,1,2)+(\bar 4,1,2)$, $H_L+\bar H_L=(4,2,1)+(\bar 4,2,1)$ as well as a pair of bi-doublet fields $h_a=(1,2,2)$ where $ a=1,2$, with three families of fermions accommodated in $ (4,2,1)+(\bar 4,1,2)$ as usual. The matter spectrum is augmented with three copies of neutral singlets that mix with ordinary neutrinos to realize the seesaw mechanism. The model introduces supersymmetric R-symmetry and a global discrete $\mathbb{Z}_n$ symmetry ($n > 2$) that prevents disastrous superpotential couplings, while its spontaneous breaking implies the existence of domain walls that are successfully addressed. Interestingly, the one-loop beta coefficient of the $SU(4)_C$ gauge coupling is zero in the minimal $\mathbb{Z}_3$ model, rendering the corresponding gauge coupling near-conformal in the UV. Meanwhile, Landau poles are avoided up to the Planck scale and proton decay is suppressed, resulting in a proton lifetime beyond current experimental bounds. By virtue of the extended Higgs sector, the key advantage of this PS model is its ability to disentangle quark and lepton masses through higher-dimensional effective operators, addressing a common limitation in GUT models with small Higgs representations. This makes the model more economical and easier to be constructed from string theory, particularly in several heterotic and F-theory models where Higgses in the adjoint representation are absent.

        Speaker: Ruiwen Ouyang (HIAS, UCAS)
        ruiwen talk 12-21.pdf
      • 55
        电弱相变中的规范依赖性研究

        我们将在报告中讨论有限温度场论在电弱相变研究中的规范依赖性。

        Speaker: 仁晖 覃 (重庆大学)
      • 56
        数值模拟计算假真空衰变率的新方案

        We propose a novel approach to calculate the false vacuum decay rate, which goes beyond the saddle-point approximation when large thermal fluctuations appear. Utilizing the extension of the Wigner function in quantum field theory, we numerically calculate the decay rate of the false vacuum through functional integral. We observe that the decay rate for the thermal fluctuation scenarios and its dependence on the potential shape, and found that the false vacuum decay occurs following an exponentially decay rate, and the speed of vacuum decay decreases when the initial energy of the system decreases and the potential height increase.

        Speaker: 海洋 王 (重庆大学)
      • 57
        Exact parametrization of a minimal seesaw model

        We propose a parametrization of neutrino masses and mixing in the minimal seesaw model (MSM). The MSM, which introduces two heavy sterile neutrinos, is the minimal extension of the Standard Model in addressing the tiny masses of active neutrinos. The parametrization includes 11 free parameters: 6 neutrino oscillation parameters (2 mass-squared differences $\Delta m^2_{21}$, $\Delta m^2_{31}$, 3 mixing angles $\theta_{12}$, $\theta_{13}$, $\theta_{23}$, and 1 Dirac phase $\delta_{\rm CP}$), 1 mass parameter in $0\nu2\beta$ decay $m_{ee}$, and 4 additional parameters: 2 heavy neutrino masses $M_1$ and $M_2$, 1 active-sterile mixing angle $\theta_{14}$ and 1 CP-violating phase $\delta_{14}$. This parametrization is derived exactly from the most general neutrino mass matrix in the MSM without any approximation. We further discuss its implications in phenomenological studies.

        Speaker: Zi-Qiang Chen (UCAS,HIAS)
      • 58
        Probing quark-lepton correlation in GUTs with high-precision neutrino measurements

        GUTs unify quarks and leptons into same representations and predict correlations between their masses and mixing. We take new data of JUNO and perform numerical scans to explore the flavor space compatible with data in SO(10) GUTs. The quark-lepton correlation shows the preference of normal ordering for light neutrino masses, predicts favored region of the CP-violating phase in neutrino oscillations, and classifies GUT models based on their testability in neutrinoless double beta decay experiments. The quark-lepton correlation predicts mass spectrum of right-handed neutrinos, pointing to the energy scale of baryon and lepton number violation and providing sources for baryogenesis. We emphasize that, as the high precision measurements of neutrino physics is coming, the quark-lepton correlation will provide increasingly important role in the testability of GUTs, complementary to the proton decay measurement.

        Speaker: Gao-Xiang Fang (HIAS, UCAS, Hangzhou)
      • 59
        Gauge Coupling Evolution in an SU(8) GUT

        Although the Standard Model has achieved remarkable success, its limitations motivate physicists to continuously explore new fundamental particle theories. Among the numerous candidate theories, Grand Unified Theories (GUTs) have attracted significant attention due to their simplicity and potential to unify the three fundamental interactions.

        We present a detailed study of the running of gauge couplings along several gauge symmetry breaking chains (SWW, WSW, and WWS) in the SU(8) Grand Unified Theory. By relaxing the third law of grand unification proposed by H. Georgi, we obtain the left-handed fermion representation set with the minimal fermion degrees of freedom in this GUT while ensuring anomaly cancellation. Furthermore, from the perspectives of gauge symmetry and global symmetry, we determine the representations of Higgs fields and Yukawa interactions.

        The massless fermion spectrum, the two-loop renormalization group equations for gauge couplings at each stage, the CKM mixing matrix, and the relationship between gauge couplings before and after symmetry breaking are derived in detail by analyzing the breaking of the group structure. We then provide benchmark points for some parameters (especially each symmetry breaking scale) based on the measured values of the CKM matrix. Using the renormalization group equations, we calculate the coupling constants at different stages and plot the coupling running diagrams.

        The results show that the minimal setup of the SU(8) GUT does not achieve the unification of gauge couplings. However, introducing numerous additional Higgs fields can strengthen the coupling strength of non-Abelian groups, leading to an unnatural unification. Moreover, the $\mathcal{N}$ = 1 supersymmetric extension can modify the $\beta$ coefficients and achieve the unification of coupling constants within the framework of affine Lie algebra. These results provide important references for the development of GUTs and demonstrate the potential of the SU(8) GUT in unifying gauge interactions.

        Speaker: 占鹏 侯 (华中师范大学)
    • Special Session of Higgs Cosmology III
      Convener: Ye-Ling Zhou (HIAS-UCAS)
      • 60
        Charge-breaking opportunities for the early Universe

        The hot early Universe must have evolved through phase transitions around the electroweak epoch. In multi-Higgs models, this evolution could be much more intricate than a single-step EWPT. In this talk, I will discuss a peculiar regime in the two-Higgs-doublet model, in which thermal evolution of the early Universe passes through an intermediate phase with a charge-breaking vacuum. Remarkably, this regime is realized in a specific part of the parameter space that can be tested at colliders. I will also argue that multi-Higgs-doublet models allow for a different type of phase transitions, with two neutral minima separated by a charge-breaking bubble wall. This intriguing evolution scenario remains largely unexplored.

        Speaker: Prof. Igor Ivanov (Sun Yat-sen University)
        Igor-Ivanov-Higgs-potential-2025.pdf
      • 61
        Darkogenesis via Supercooled Phase Transition

        We discuss the intriguing possibility that the recently reported nano-Hz gravitational wave signal by Pulsar Timing Array (PTA) experiments is sourced by a strong first-order phase transition in a dark sector. The phase transition has to be strongly supercooled to explain the signal amplitude. However, such strong supercooling exponentially dilutes away any pre-existing baryon asymmetry and dark matter, calling for a new paradigm of their productions. We then develop a mechanism of cold darkogenesis that generates a dark asymmetry during the phase transition from the textured dark SU(2) Higgs field. This dark asymmetry is transferred to the visible sector via neutron portal interactions, resulting in the observed baryon asymmetry. Furthermore, the mechanism naturally leads to the correct abundance of asymmetric dark matter. Collider searches for mono-jets and dark matter direct detection experiments can dictate the viability of the model. We also discuss another scenario of darkogenesis where the number asymmetry is generated from the decay of a mother particle produced via parametric resonance during the phase transition induced due to its coupling to the order parameter scalar. It is shown that the correct baryon asymmetry and dark matter abundance can be realized for a dark phase transition at O(1) GeV. The scenario will be tested further in neutron-antineutron oscillation experiments.

        Speaker: Yuichiro Nakai
        Higgs2025.pdf
      • 62
        Cosmological phase transitions with low nucleation rates

        Cosmological phase transitions played a crucial role in shaping the early universe. This talk explores non-standard first-order transitions with extremely low nucleation rates, highlighting two novel possibilities: transitions completing with super-Hubble bubble separation, and bubble-free transitions driven by collapsing domain-wall structures. These scenarios lead to distinctive cosmological signatures—including primordial black holes, topological-defect dynamics, and unconventional gravitational-wave spectra—broadening the landscape of testable early-universe physics.

        Speaker: Yun Jiang
    • Conclusion Remark
      Convener: Zhi-Wei Wang (UESTC)