“This work highlights the importance of connecting theoretical predictions with observations—here in the context of exploring dark matter’s nature—and shows that progress may require thinking beyond conventional ideas. I am honored and grateful to receive this recognition,” said Takhistov.

The selection committee said: "This paper proposes a novel observational method to test the hypothesis that primordial black holes (pBHs) are viable dark matter candidates, and it is highly valued for both its originality and potential impact. The author focuses on the possibility that pBHs could be captured by neutron stars (NSs) or white dwarfs (WDs), leading to the formation of "transmuted black holes" (transmuted BHs). The paper presents an original idea: detecting gravitational waves emitted during the mergers of binaries containing such transmuted BHs using ground-based observatories such as LIGO and Virgo, thereby providing indirect evidence for the existence of pBHs. While stellar-origin black holes are believed to have masses no less than approximately twice that of the Sun, transmuted BHs originating from NSs or WDs could potentially reside in the sub-solar mass range, offering a way to distinguish between the two based on their masses. This pioneering work opens up an observationally accessible pathway to investigate pBHs—a dark matter candidate notoriously difficult to test—and is expected to drive further developments in synergy with gravitational wave astronomy. For these reasons, the paper has been deemed highly deserving of the Particle Physics Medal: Young Scientist Award in Theoretical Particle Physics."

This work aligns closely with QUP’s interdisciplinary mission of connecting different areas of science to explore the Universe’s fundamental laws. In related work to the award, at QUP, Takhistov in collaboration with Dr. Philip Lu and HanGil Choi of Seoul National University, who participated in QUP through the QUP internship program (QUPIP), recently proposed new methods to test scenarios where dark matter may consist of both black holes and microscopic particles, published in Physical Review Letters 133, 101002, 2024 (featured in QUP’s 2024 press release).

These efforts reflect QUP’s broader strategy of leveraging diverse messengers—including gravitational waves—to uncover new physics. In parallel, experimental programs at QUP are also advancing novel approaches to study gravity and gravitational-wave detection through the development of cutting-edge quantum sensing technologies.

The award ceremony will take place during the 80th Annual Meeting of the Physical Society of Japan, to be held at Hiroshima University, September 16–19, 2025.

Related link：
QUP News｜Revealing the Different Faces of Dark Matter: Uniting Macroscopic and Microscopic Worlds
https://www2.kek.jp/qup/en/news/detail20240920.html