0_common, 1_CP3, 2_IIHE, 3_Joint-THEP, 4_Antwerpen, 5_PhTh-FI-ULB, 6_IFPA-ULg, Antwerpen, BEL-center, BEL-center_pheno, BEL-center_theory, CP3, IFPA-ULg, IIHE, Joint-THEP, PhTh-FI-ULB, THEP_Leuven, VUB, common - Week of 5/17/2026

Wed May 20 2026: Joint Seminar [BEL-center:theory]

Wed May 20 2026 10:30 AM: Speakers:

Wed May 20 2026: ULB-VUB Joint Seminar, Antonio Torres Manso [Stefan Institute, Ljubljana], [BEL-center:pheno]

Wed May 20 2026 12:15 PM: Duality symmetry and anomaly for gravitational waves in curved spacetimes

The vacuum Einstein equations admit a formulation closely analogous to the source-free Maxwell theory. In particular, the linearized equations exhibit an electric-magnetic duality symmetry. We develop a framework that makes this analogy manifest by explicitly identifying the electric and magnetic components of perturbative gravitational waves. Within this formulation, we show that duality rotations between these gravitoelectric and gravitomagnetic fields constitute a Noether symmetry of the linearized theory, and we derive the associated conserved current. The corresponding conserved charge encodes the difference in intensity between the right- and left-handed circularly polarized components of the gravitational wave—that is, between its self-dual and antiself-dual parts. Remarkably, this conservation law remains valid even when the gravitational perturbations propagate on generic curved back

Wed May 20 2026: Seminar Antonio Manso

Wed May 20 2026 12:15 PM: https://indico.iihe.ac.be/event/2610/

Thu May 21 2026: ULB PhysTh journal club

Thu May 21 2026 12:30 PM:

Thu May 21 2026: Group lunch

Thu May 21 2026 1:00 PM: Group lunch B5c

Fri May 22 2026: ULB-VUB Joint Seminar, Fabrizio Rompineve [IFAE, Barcelona, Spain], [BEL-center:pheno]

Fri May 22 2026 11:00 AM: Features of Cosmological Gravitational Wave Backgrounds

New Physics in the early Universe may feature sources of gravitational waves (GWs), that can be searched for at interferometers and Pulsar Timing Arrays (PTAs).In this talk, we provide an overview of general properties of such cosmological GWs, that can help in distinguishing them from astrophysical signals. We then focus on cosmic topological defects (specifically, domain walls) as a well-motivated and interesting possible early Universe source of GWs. We present recent progress in the description of their cosmological evolution and their GW signal, as well as on the possibility to produce primordial black holes from their collapse.

Fri May 22 2026: Seminar Fabrizio Rompineve (IFAE)

Fri May 22 2026 11:00 AM: https://indico.iihe.ac.be/event/2611/