Symmetry in Nuclear and Particle Astrophysics
A special issue of Symmetry (ISSN 2073-8994). This special issue belongs to the section "Physics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 24
Special Issue Editor
Interests: cosmology; particle astrophysics; axions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Nuclear astrophysics and particle astrophysics are two intertwined disciplines at the frontier of modern physics, devoted to understanding the fundamental processes that govern the universe at both the smallest and largest scales. Nuclear astrophysics explores the role of nuclear reactions in stellar environments, from the synthesis of elements in stars and supernovae to the energy production in various astrophysical sites. It seeks to connect experimental nuclear physics with astronomical observations to build a coherent picture of stellar evolution and cosmic chemical enrichment.
Particle astrophysics, on the other hand, investigates the nature and origin of high-energy particles in the cosmos, including cosmic rays, neutrinos, and dark matter candidates. It combines techniques from particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology to address some of the most profound open questions, such as the composition of dark matter, the origin of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, and the properties of neutrinos. Central to this analysis are black holes, key actors in high-energy astrophysics, which offer unique laboratories to test gravity, explore matter under extreme conditions, and study the interplay between nuclear and particle processes in compact environments.
These two fields are deeply connected. Understanding nucleosynthesis and stellar explosions requires input from particle physics, including reaction cross sections and neutrino properties, while many signatures of particle astrophysics are imprinted in the nuclear processes occurring in astrophysical environments. Moreover, the accelerated expansion of the universe, attributed to the elusive dark energy, raises deep questions that touch both particle theory and cosmology, motivating searches for new fields and interactions beyond the Standard Model. Recent breakthroughs in gravitational wave detections and multi-messenger astronomy have opened new observational windows into these domains, revealing previously inaccessible physical phenomena and strengthening the synergy between theory, observation, and experiment.
This Special Issue welcomes original research articles and reviews that contribute to the advancement of nuclear and particle astrophysics. Topics include, but are not limited to, stellar nucleosynthesis, nuclear reaction rates, cosmic rays, neutrino astrophysics, dark matter searches, black hole physics, dark energy models, and the theoretical and experimental tools that connect these vibrant fields.
Dr. Luca Visinelli
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Symmetry is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- astrophysics
- astroparticle physics
- nuclear astrophysics
- dark matter
- dark energy
- black hole physics
- cosmology
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