In a low-research day, I discussed probabilistic model results with Axel Widmark (Stockholm), a paper title and abstract with Megan Bedell (Flatiron), and Gaia DR2 Milky Way mapping with Lauren Anderson (Flatiron).
The research highlight of the day was an excellent brown-bag talk by Josh Ruderman (NYU) about thermal-relic models for dark matter. It turns out there is a whole zoo of models beyond the classic WIMP. In particular, the number-changing interactions don't need to interact with the visible sector. The models can be protected by dark-sector layers and have very indirect (or no) connection to our sector. We discussed the differences between models that are somehow likely or natural and models that are somehow observable or experimentally interesting. These two sets don't necessarily overlap that much!
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