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We propose a new phenomenological model for quantum gravity. This is based on a new interpretation in which quantum gravity is not an interaction, rather it is just responsible for generation of space-time-matter. Then we show this model is capable of solving the important problems of cosmology and particle physics.

We propose a new phenomenological model for quantum gravity. This is based on a new interpretation in which quantum gravity is not an interaction, rather it is just responsible for generation of space-time-matter. Then we show this model is capable of solving the important problems of cosmology and particle physics.

In this paper we consider the most general least-order derivative theory of gravity in which not only curvature but also torsion is explicitly present in the Lagrangian, and where all independent fields have their own coupling constant: we will apply this theory to the case of ELKO fields, which is the acronym of the German \textit{Eigenspinoren des LadungsKonjugationsOperators} designating eigenspinors of the charge conjugation operator, and thus they are a Majorana-like special type of spinors; and to the Dirac fields, the most general type of spinors. We shall see that because torsion has a coupling constant that is still undetermined, the ELKO and Dirac field equations are endowed with self-interactions whose coupling constant is undetermined: we discuss different applications according to the value of the coupling constants and the different properties that consequently follow. We highlight that in this approach, the ELKO and Dirac field's self-interactions depend on the coupling constant as a parameter that may even make these non-linearities manifest at subatomic scales.

In this paper we consider the most general least-order derivative theory of gravity in which not only curvature but also torsion is explicitly present in the Lagrangian, and where all independent fields have their own coupling constant: we will apply this theory to the case of ELKO fields, which is the acronym of the German \textit{Eigenspinoren des LadungsKonjugationsOperators} designating eigenspinors of the charge conjugation operator, and thus they are a Majorana-like special type of spinors; and to the Dirac fields, the most general type of spinors. We shall see that because torsion has a coupling constant that is still undetermined, the ELKO and Dirac field equations are endowed with self-interactions whose coupling constant is undetermined: we discuss different applications according to the value of the coupling constants and the different properties that consequently follow. We highlight that in this approach, the ELKO and Dirac field's self-interactions depend on the coupling constant as a parameter that may even make these non-linearities manifest at subatomic scales.

Superstring theory predicts the existence of a scalar field, the dilaton. I review some basic features of the dilaton interactions and explain their possible consequences in cosmology and particle physics.

The neutrino mass generation mechanism, the nature of dark matter and the origin of the baryon asymmetry of the Universe are three compelling questions that cannot be accounted for in the Standard Model of particle physics. In this thesis we focus on all these issues by providing a possible solution in terms of a minimal extension of the Standard Model, consisting in the addition of a set of sterile fermions to the field content of the theory. Sterile fermions are gauge singlet fields, that can interact via mixing with the active neutrinos. We focus on the Inverse Seesaw mechanism, which is characterised by a low (TeV or lower) new physics scale and that can be tested in current and future experimental facilities. We present the model building analysis that points towards the minimal realisations of the mechanism, and the phenomenological study in order to accommodate light neutrino masses and to impose all the relevant experimental constraints in the model, as well as the expected experimental signatures. We show the viability of the sterile neutrino hypothesis as dark matter component, together with the characteristic features of this scenario in the minimal Inverse Seesaw mechanism. The possibility of successfully accounting for the baryon asymmetry in a testable realisation of the leptogenesis mechanism is also addressed. On the other hand it is important to look for manifestations of sterile fermions in laboratory experiments. We address this point by making predictions for the expected rates of rare lepton number violating decays of vector bosons, that can be mediated by sterile fermions, as well as by studying the impact of sterile fermions on global fit of electroweak precision data.

The past few years have seen dramatic breakthroughs and spectacular and puzzling discoveries in astrophysics and cosmology. In many cases, the new observations can only be explained with the introduction of new fundamental physics. Here we summarize some of these recent advances. We then describe several problem in astrophysics and cosmology, ripe for major advances, whose resolution will likely require new physics.

The past few years have seen dramatic breakthroughs and spectacular and puzzling discoveries in astrophysics and cosmology. In many cases, the new observations can only be explained with the introduction of new fundamental physics. Here we summarize some of these recent advances. We then describe several problem in astrophysics and cosmology, ripe for major advances, whose resolution will likely require new physics.

We present further development and the first public release of our multimodal nested sampling algorithm, called MultiNest. This Bayesian inference tool calculates the evidence, with an associated error estimate, and produces posterior samples from distributions that may contain multiple modes and pronounced (curving) degeneracies in high dimensions. The developments presented here lead to further substantial improvements in sampling efficiency and robustness, as compared to the original algorithm presented in Feroz & Hobson (2008), which itself significantly outperformed existing MCMC techniques in a wide range of astrophysical inference problems. The accuracy and economy of the MultiNest algorithm is demonstrated by application to two toy problems and to a cosmological inference problem focussing on the extension of the vanilla $\Lambda$CDM model to include spatial curvature and a varying equation of state for dark energy. The MultiNest software, which is fully parallelized using MPI and includes an interface to CosmoMC, is available at http://www.mrao.cam.ac.uk/software/multinest/. It will also be released as part of the SuperBayeS package, for the analysis of supersymmetric theories of particle physics, at http://www.superbayes.org

Intersecting D6-branes provide a geometrically intuitive road to stringy particle physics models, where D6-branes stuck at orbifold singularities can lead to the stabilisation of deformation moduli, and the QCD axion can arise from the open string sector in a very constrained way compared to pure field theory. We demonstrate this interplay of different physical features here through an explicit model.

In the first Lecture, the Big Bang and the Standard Model of particle physics are introduced, as well as the structure of the latter and open issues beyond it. Neutrino physics is discussed in the second Lecture, with emphasis on models for neutrino masses and oscillations. The third Lecture is devoted to supersymmetry, including the prospects for discovering it at accelerators or as cold dark matter. Inflation is reviewed from the viewpoint of particle physics in the fourth Lecture, including simple models with a single scalar inflaton field: the possibility that this might be a sneutrino is proposed. Finally, the fifth Lecture is devoted to topics further beyond the Standard Model, such as grand unification, baryo- and leptogenesis - that might be due to sneutrino inflaton decays - and ultra-high-energy cosmic rays - that might be due to the decays of metastable superheavy dark matter particles.

The origin of the large scale structure in the universe - galaxies, quasars, clusters, voids, sheets - is one of the most important questions in cosmology. One can show that some non-thermal energy density fluctuations must have been present in the early universe. These fluctuations grew by gravitational instability to form the observed structures. There are at present two families of models to explain the origin of these initial fluctuations: inflationary models and topological defect scenarios. Current observational developments provide a link with theoretical predictions, allowing us to test our theoretical models. In this contribution, I present a sketch of the current status of the origin of cosmological structure formation.

We investigate the effect of varying boundary conditions on the renormalization group flow in a recently developed noncommutative geometry model of particle physics and cosmology. We first show that there is a sensitive dependence on the initial conditions at unification, so that, varying a parameter even slightly can be shown to have drastic effects on the running of the model parameters. We compare the running in the case of the default and the maximal mixing conditions at unification. We then exhibit explicitly a particular choice of initial conditions at the unification scale, in the form of modified maximal mixing conditions, which have the property that they satisfy all the geometric constraints imposed by the noncommutative geometry of the model at unification, and at the same time, after running them down to lower energies with the renormalization group flow, they still agree in order of magnitude with the predictions at the electroweak scale.

Existing and planned observatories for cosmic neutrinos open up a huge window in energy from 10^7 to 10^17 GeV. Here, we discuss in particular the possibilities to use extremely energetic cosmic neutrinos as a diagnostic of astrophysical processes, as a tool for particle physics beyond the Standard Model, and as a probe of cosmology.

A review is given on the consistency checks of GUT, which unify the electroweak and strong nuclear forces into a single theory. Such theories predict a new kind of force, which could provide answers to several open questions in cosmology. The possible role of such a ``primeval'' force will be discussed in the framework of the Big Bang Theory. Although such a force cannot be observed directly, there are several predictions of GUT's, which can be verified at low energies. The MSSM distinguishes itself from other GUT's by a successful prediction of many unrelated phenomena with a minimum number of parameters. Among them: a) Unification of the couplings constants; b) Unification of the masses; c) Existence of dark matter; d) Proton decay; e) electroweak symmetry breaking at a scale far below the unification scale. A combined fit shows that indeed the MSSM model can satisfy all these constraints simultaneously. The corresponding constraints on the as yet unknown top mass, the strong coupling constant, and all SUSY masses are given within the minimal model, taking into account the complete second order RGE's for the couplings and the one-loop corrected Higgs potential for the calculation of the Z and the Higgs masses.

The past few years have seen dramatic breakthroughs and spectacular and puzzling discoveries in astrophysics and cosmology. In many cases, the new observations can only be explained with the introduction of new fundamental physics. Here we summarize some of these recent advances. We then describe several problems in astrophysics and cosmology, ripe for major advances, the resolution of which will likely require new physics.

The past few years have seen dramatic breakthroughs and spectacular and puzzling discoveries in astrophysics and cosmology. In many cases, the new observations can only be explained with the introduction of new fundamental physics. Here we summarize some of these recent advances. We then describe several problems in astrophysics and cosmology, ripe for major advances, the resolution of which will likely require new physics.

We review the interpretation of gauge invariance as a mathematical redundancy required in a relativistic description of forces mediated by massless spin-1 and spin-2 particles. In this context we also review the Weinberg-Witten theorem and its implications. This leads us to consider a class of models in which long-range interactions are mediated by Goldstone bosons of spontaneous Lorentz violation. Since the Lorentz symmetry is realized non-linearly in the Goldstones, these models could evade the Weinberg-Witten theorem and the need for gauge invariance. In the case of gravity, the broken symmetry would protect the theory from having non-zero cosmological constant, while the compositeness of the graviton could provide a solution to the perturbative non-renormalizability of gravity. We also consider the phenomenology of spontaneous Lorentz violation by a vector VEV and the experimental limits thereon. We find the general low-energy effective action of the Goldstones of this kind of symmetry breaking minimally coupled to gravity. We compare this to the ghost condensate that has been proposed as a model for gravity in a Higgs phase. We then summarize the cosmological constant problems and show that models in which a scalar field causes super-acceleration of the universe generally exhibit instabilities. We discuss how the equation of state evolves in a universe where the dark energy is caused by the ghost condensate. We comment on the anthropic argument for a small cosmological constant and how it is weakened if the inflaton self-coupling varies over the landscape of possible universes. Finally, we discuss the reverse sprinkler, a problem in elementary fluid mechanics that had eluded a definitive treatment for decades.

An effect generated by the nonexponential behavior of the survival amplitude of an unstable state in the long time region is considered. We find that the instantaneous energy of the unstable state for a large class of models of unstable states tends to the minimal energy of the system ${\cal E}_{min}$ as $t\rightarrow\infty$ which is much smaller than the energy of this state for $t$ of the order of the lifetime of the considered state. Analyzing the transition time region between exponential and non-exponential form of the survival amplitude we find that the instantaneous energy of the considered unstable state can take large values, much larger than the energy of this state for $t$ from the exponential time region. Taking into account results obtained for a model considered, it is hypothesized that this purely quantum mechanical effect may be responsible for the properties of broad resonances such as $\sigma$ meson as well as having astrophysical and cosmological consequences.

An effect generated by the nonexponential behavior of the survival amplitude of an unstable state in the long time region is considered. We find that the instantaneous energy of the unstable state for a large class of models of unstable states tends to the minimal energy of the system ${\cal E}_{min}$ as $t\rightarrow\infty$ which is much smaller than the energy of this state for $t$ of the order of the lifetime of the considered state. Analyzing the transition time region between exponential and non-exponential form of the survival amplitude we find that the instantaneous energy of the considered unstable state can take large values, much larger than the energy of this state for $t$ from the exponential time region. Taking into account results obtained for a model considered, it is hypothesized that this purely quantum mechanical effect may be responsible for the properties of broad resonances such as $\sigma$ meson as well as having astrophysical and cosmological consequences.

The results presented at the 28th International Cosmic Ray Conference on neutrino and muon physics are summarized. Neutrinos and muons provide a huge amount of information on particle interactions up to very high energies and on fundamental particle properties. Results on neutrino oscillations in the atmospheric and solar neutrino sectors are summarized. Oscillations are well established in both sectors, and a more precise determination of oscillation parameters is requested in the next future. Neutrino telescopes taking data and under construction presented numerous results. Neutrinos as probes of the Universe are hopefully going to open, together with gravitational waves, a new era for Astrophysics. Cosmology has entered the precision era and the Dark Matter quest is still an open problem. Direct and indirect searches are complementary approaches to the problem. The results presented at this conference confirm that Astroparticle Physics and, in particular, Neutrino Physics are leading fields in fundamental research.

The state of our understanding of cosmology is reviewed from an astrophysical cosmologist point of view with a particular emphasis given to recent observations and their impact. Discussion is then presented on the implications for particle physics.

We discuss some current problems in the relationship between elementary particle physics and gravitation, i.e., in the subject investigated by Prof.~K.~P.~Staniukovich half a century ago. Specifically, the inflationary stage of the Universe evolution, originating from the vacuum polarization and particle creation, corrections to Newton's gravitational law due to exchange of light elementary particles or spontaneous compactification of extra dimensions, and constraints on the parameters of axions as probable constituents of dark matter in our Universe are considered. It is pointed out that presently the relationship between elementary particles and gravitation has become an experimental science, and many experiments, directed towards resolution of all related problems, are performed in many countries.

Existing and planned neutrino detectors, sensitive in the energy regime from 10^{17} eV to 10^{23} eV, offer opportunities for particle physics and cosmology. In this contribution, we discuss particularly the possibilities to infer information about physics beyond the Standard Model at center-of-mass energies beyond the reach of the Large Hadron Collider, as well as to detect big bang relic neutrinos via absorption dips in the observed neutrino spectra.

This essay elucidates recent achievements of the "nongravitating vacuum energy" (NGVE) theory" which has the feature that a shift of the Lagrangian density by a constant does not affect dynamics. In the first order formalism, a constraint appears that enforces the vanishing of the cosmological constant \Lambda. Standard dynamics of gauge unified theories (including fermions) and their SSB appear if a four index field strength condensate is present. At a vacuum state there is exact balance to zero of the gauge fields condensate and the original scalar fields potential. As a result it is possible to combine the solution of the \Lambda problem with inflation and transition to a \Lambda =0 phase without fine tuning after a reheating period. The model opens new possibilities for a solution of the hierarchy problem.

Lectures presented at the 42nd Scottish Universities Summer School in Physics, St. Andrews, Scotland, August 1993.

Superfluid 3He-A and high-temperature superconductors both have gapless fermionic quasiparticles with the "relativistic" spectrum close to the gap nodes. The interaction of these "relaitivistic" fermions with bosonic collective modes of the order parameter is described by the quantum field theory, which results in a close connection with particle physics. Many phenomena in high-energy physics and cosmology can thus be simulated in superfluid phases of 3He and in unconventional superconductors. This includes axial anomaly, vacuum polarization, zero-charge effect, fermionic charge of the vacuum, baryogenesis, event horizon, vacuum instability, Hawking radiation, etc. Analogs of some of these phenomena, which are related to the axial anomaly, have been experimentally simulated in superfluid 3He. This includes the baryogenesis by textures (Manchester), the baryogenesis by cosmic strings (Manchester) and the generation of the primordial magnetic field via the axial anomaly (Helsinki).

We propose a model of cosmology and particle physics in which all relevant scales arise in a natural way from an intermediate string scale. We are led to assign the string scale to the intermediate scale M_* \sim 10^{13} GeV by four independent pieces of physics: electroweak symmetry breaking; the \mu parameter; the axion scale; and the neutrino mass scale. The model involves hybrid inflation with the waterfall field N being responsible for generating the \mu term, the right-handed neutrino mass scale, and the Peccei-Quinn symmetry breaking scale. The large scale structure of the Universe is generated by the lightest right-handed sneutrino playing the role of a coupled curvaton. We show that the correct curvature perturbations may be successfully generated providing the lightest right-handed neutrino is weakly coupled in the see-saw mechanism, consistent with sequential dominance.

In this review we first discuss the string theoretical motivations for induced decoherence and deviations from ordinary quantum-mechanical behaviour; this leads to intrinsic CPT violation in the context of an extended class of quantum-gravity models. We then proceed to a description ofprecision tests of CPT symmetry and quantum mechanics using mainly neutral kaons and neutrinos. We also emphasize the possibly unique role of neutral meson factories in providing specific tests of models where the quantum-mechanical CPT operator is not well-defined, leading to modifications of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen particle correlators. Finally, we discuss experimental probes of decoherence in a cosmological context, including studies of dissipative relaxation models of dark energy in the context of non-critical (non-equilibrium) string theory and the associated modifications of the Boltzmann equation for the evolution of species abundances.

We propose a simple extension of the minimal supersymmetric standard model by introducing a gauge singlet in addition to right-handed neutrinos. The model resolves the strong CP problem by Pecci-Quinn symmetry, explains the origin of left-handed neutrino masses as well as MSSM $\mu$-parameter. It also gives rise to thermal inflation, baryogenesis and dark matter in a remarkably consistent way. Interestingly, resolution of moduli problem by thermal inflation constrains tightly axion coupling constant and flaton decay temperature to be $f_a \sim 10^{12} \GeV$ and $T_\mathrm{d} \sim 100 \MeV$, respectively. Model parameters in this case are likely to give right amount of baryon asymmetry and dark matter at present. The main component of dark matter is expected to be the axino whose mass is nearly fixed to be about $1 \GeV$.

We show a low energy physical meaning of nonlinear supersymmetric general relativity (NLSUSY GR) in asymptotic Riemann-flat space-time by studying the vacuum structure of N = 2 linear supersymmetry (LSUSY) invariant QED, which is equivalent to N = 2 NLSUSY model, in two dimensional space-time. Two different vacuum field configurations of SO(3,1) isometry describe the two different physical vacua, i.e. one breaks spontaneously both U(1) and SUSY and the other breaks spontaneously SUSY alone, where the latter elucidates the mysterious relations between the cosmology and the (low energy) particle physics and gives a new insight into the origin of mass.

Astrophysical and cosmological consequences of a standard $\nu_{\tau}$ of (15 +- 3) keV/c^{2} mass are discussed in the light of the recent results of the solar, atmospheric and LSND neutrino experiments and theoretical prejudices.

It has very recently been demonstrated by Csaki, Kaloper and Terning (CKT) that the faintness of supernovae at high redshift can be accommodated by mixing of a light axion with the photon in the presence of an intergalactic magnetic field, as opposed to the usual explanation of an accelerating universe by a dark energy component. In this paper we analyze further aspects of the CKT mechanism and its generalizations. The CKT mechanism also passes various cosmological constraints from the fluctuations of the CMB and the formation of structure at large scales, without requiring an accelerating phase in the expansion of the Universe. We investigate the statistical significance of current supernova data for pinning down the different components of the cosmological energy-momentum tensor and for probing physics beyond the standard models.

A short chronology of relevant developments in the history of basic science.

A short chronology of relevant developments in the history of basic science.

It is argued that the surface radius of a compact source can not be less than its gravitational radius due to the strong gravitational time dilation effects. The such "topological" difference between the Newtonian and relativistic gravity leads to the known observable effects. The hierarchy of supercompact stars, more massive than neutron stars, such as heavy baryon, quark (subquark?) and other heavy particle stars is predicted instead of the black holes. The lack of the cosmological singularity and a gravitational nature of the regularizations of loop divergencies in quantum field theory are also discussed.

It is argued that the surface radius of a compact source can not be less than its gravitational radius due to the strong gravitational time dilation effects. The such "topological" difference between the Newtonian and relativistic gravity leads to the known observable effects. The hierarchy of supercompact stars, more massive than neutron stars, such as heavy baryon, quark (subquark?) and other heavy particle stars is predicted instead of the black holes. The lack of the cosmological singularity and a gravitational nature of the regularizations of loop divergencies in quantum field theory are also discussed.

I describe and analyze the various energy scales that emerge from studying the structure of the Standard Models of particle physics and cosmology. Remarkably, save for the scale of the cosmological vacuum energy, all the scales below the Fermi scale appear to be naturally associated with generalized see-saw mechanisms. I also briefly discuss the known and presumed CP-violating phases emerging from physics associated with these models and their physical extensions. I end by commenting on the insights one might expect to gain from experiment on these issues in the next decade.

Neutrinos are the only particles in the Standard Model of particle physics that have only been observed with left handed chirality to date. If right handed neutrinos exist, they would not only explain the observed neutrino oscillations, but could also be responsible for several phenomena in cosmology, including the baryon asymmetry of the universe, dark matter and dark radiation. A crucial parameter in this context is their Majorana mass, which in principle could lie anywhere between the eV scale and GUT scale. The implications for experiments and cosmology strongly depend on the choice of the mass scale. We review recent progress in the phenomenology of right handed neutrinos with different masses, focusing on scenarios in which the mass is at least a keV. We emphasise the possibility to discover heavy neutrinos that are responsible for the baryon asymmetry of the universe via low scale leptogenesis in near future experiments, such as LHC, BELLE II, SHiP, FCC-ee or CEPC.

Neutrinos are the only particles in the Standard Model of particle physics that have only been observed with left handed chirality to date. If right handed neutrinos exist, they would not only explain the observed neutrino oscillations, but could also be responsible for several phenomena in cosmology, including the baryon asymmetry of the universe, dark matter and dark radiation. A crucial parameter in this context is their Majorana mass, which in principle could lie anywhere between the eV scale and GUT scale. The implications for experiments and cosmology strongly depend on the choice of the mass scale. We review recent progress in the phenomenology of right handed neutrinos with different masses, focusing on scenarios in which the mass is at least a keV. We emphasise the possibility to discover heavy neutrinos that are responsible for the baryon asymmetry of the universe via low scale leptogenesis in near future experiments, such as LHC, BELLE II, SHiP, FCC-ee or CEPC.

In this brief article, I summarize attempts with collaborators over the last couple of years to extend the Galileon idea in two important ways. I discuss the effective field theory construction arising from co-dimension greater than one flat branes embedded in a flat background - the multi-Galileons - and then describe symmetric covariant versions of the Galileons, more suitable for general cosmological applications. These generalized Galileons can be thought of as interesting four-dimensional field theories in their own rights, but the work described here may also make it easier to embed them into higher dimensional theories. I also briefly mention some intriguing properties, including freedom from ghosts and a non-renormalization theorem, that hint at possible applications in particle physics and cosmology

In this brief article, I summarize attempts with collaborators over the last couple of years to extend the Galileon idea in two important ways. I discuss the effective field theory construction arising from co-dimension greater than one flat branes embedded in a flat background - the multi-Galileons - and then describe symmetric covariant versions of the Galileons, more suitable for general cosmological applications. These generalized Galileons can be thought of as interesting four-dimensional field theories in their own rights, but the work described here may also make it easier to embed them into higher dimensional theories. I also briefly mention some intriguing properties, including freedom from ghosts and a non-renormalization theorem, that hint at possible applications in particle physics and cosmology

A cosmological scenario which explains the values of the parameters of the standard models of elementary particle physics and cosmology is discussed. In this scenario these parameters are set by a process analogous to natural selection which follows naturally from the assumption that the singularities in black holes are removed by quantum effects leading to the creation of new expanding regions of the universe. The suggestion of J. A. Wheeler that the parameters change randomly at such events leads naturally to the conjecture that the parameters have been selected for values that extremize the production of black holes. This leads directly to a prediction, which is that small changes in any of the parameters should lead to a decrease in the number of black holes produced by the universe. On plausible astrophysical assumptions it is found that changes in many of the parameters do lead to a decrease in the number of black holes produced by spiral galaxies. These include the masses of the proton,neutron, electron and neutrino and the weak, strong and electromagnetic coupling constants. Finally,this scenario predicts a natural time scale for cosmology equal to the time over which spiral galaxies maintain appreciable rates of star formation, which is compatible with current observations that $\Omega = .1-.2$.

This writeup summarises some of the highlights from the 2015 Rencontres de Blois, with a compression ratio of about 100:1 relative to the original presentations.

We discuss a high-scale SUSY breaking scenario with the wino dark matter in the five-dimensional supergravity model on $S^1/Z_2$. The extra U(1) symmetries broken by the orbifold projection control the flavor structure of soft SUSY-breaking parameters as well as the Yukawa couplings, and a scalar component of the one of moduli multiplets, which arise from extra-dimensional components of the U(1) vector multiplets, induces the slow-roll inflation. Because of the supersymmetric moduli stabilization as well as the moduli inflation, it is found that the correct dark matter relic abundance is non-thermally generated by the gravitino decaying into the wino.

In this article we will overview several aspects of the string landscape, namely intersecting D-brane models and their statistics, possible model independent LHC signatures of intersecting brane models, flux compactification, moduli stabilization in type II compactifications, domain wall solutions and brane inflation.

We describe one of the remarkable problems of theoretical physics persevering up to the beginning of the millennium. All gaugetheories with spontaneous gauge symmetry breaking from the standard model of particle physics with the electroweak symmetry breaking at the Fermi scale, 246 GeV, up to strings, supergravity, and the M(embrane)-theory superunification with symmetry breaking starting near the Planck scale, $10^{19}$ GeV, foresee that the spontaneous symmetry breakings induce a vacuum energy at least 50 orders of magnitude larger than the stringent experimental bound $G\Lambda\lesssim 10^{-122}$ on the value of the cosmological constant $\Lambda$. This fact seems to have a universal character since it occurs from the Fermi scale up to the Planck one. It is the vacuum catastrophe.

Many direct parallels connect superfluid 3He with the field theories describing the physical vacuum, gauge fields and elementary fermions. Superfluid $^3$He exhibits a variety of topological defects which can be detected with single-defect sensitivity. Modern scenarios of defect-mediated baryogenesis can be simulated by the interaction of the 3He vortices and domain walls with fermionic quasiparticles. Formation of defects in a symmetry-breaking phase transition in the early Universe, which could be responsible for large-scale structure formation and for microwave-background anisotropy, also may be modelled in the laboratory. This is supported by the recent observation of vortex formation in neutron-irradiated 3He-B where the "primordial fireball" is formed in an exothermic nuclear reaction.