Collaboration

On May 19, 2025, the Dirac Prize laureate, Professor of Theoretical Physics at Sapienza University of Rome, the former President of the Italian National Research Council and the former Director-General of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) Professor Luciano Maiani, was invited to SDIAT, delivering outstanding academic lectures: “Exotic Hadrons: From Hidden Charm to Doubly Charmed Mesons” on May 19 and “The Rise of the Standard Model: 50 Years of Particle Physics Since the Discovery of the J/Ψ Particle” on May 20. The lectures were hosted by Professor Weiwei Xu, Director of the Particle Physics Research Center.

In his lectures, Prof. Maiani provided an in-depth review of the development of the particle physics Standard Model, detailing the historical progression of this theoretical framework from its inception to its experimental validation. He also introduces the progress in particle physics over the past 50 years since the discovery of the J/ψ particle, including the discovery and study of numerous exotic hadrons, such as charm quarks, hidden-charm hadrons, and doubly charmed mesons. The Standard Model of particle physics is not only a cornerstone of modern physics but also offers essential theoretical support for understanding the fundamental components of the universe. 

Moreover, Prof. Maiani offered insights into the future directions of particle physics experiments. While acknowledging the Standard Model’s success, he noted unresolved mysteries, such as the nature of dark matter and the origins of the universe, alongside rapidly evolving fields like exotic hadron spectroscopy and lattice QCD. He urged the global scientific community to enhance collaboration and leverage the next generation of particle accelerators and innovative experimental techniques to further advance the field of particle physics.

The lectures attracted over 100 researchers and students from research institutes and universities. The Q&A session sparked lively exchanges, with participants delving into in-depth discussions with Prof. Maiani on topics including the Standard Model of particle physics, QCD theory, and high-energy physics.

During his visit, Prof. Maiani, accompanied by Professor Xu Weiwei, toured SDIAT library, AMS Global Data Center, and laboratories. He spoke highly of the institute's experimental infrastructure, research progress, and the outstanding work of its young researchers. Reflecting on CERN’s legacy, Prof. Maiani shared lessons from its groundbreaking discoveries and offered strategic advice, while encouraging SDIAT to continue devoting to its long-term basic research.