Kim Berghaus

Kim Berghaus is a Sherman Fairchild Postdoctoral Scholar Research Associate in Theoretical Physics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), affiliated with the Department of Physics within the Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy. Their research focuses on particle cosmology, dark matter detection, and beyond Standard Model physics, addressing topics like warm inflation, cosmological tensions, and sub-GeV dark matter detection through experimental collaborations such as IceCube and DESI.

Research interests include theoretical frameworks for dark energy radiation, thermal friction effects in cosmology, and axion physics. Berghaus has contributed to developing novel detection methods like multi-modal Brillouin microscopy and high-resolution spectrometers for studying cellular forces and sub-GHz signals. Their work bridges particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology to explore phenomena at the intersection of fundamental theory and observational data.

Key research areas span:

• Warm inflation models and scalar field dynamics
• Dark matter signatures in ultra-high-energy neutrino observatories
• Experimental techniques for sub-GeV dark matter detection
• Cosmological parameter estimation using BAO measurements
• Axion-QCD interactions and open theoretical questions

Publications emphasize resolving cosmological tensions through thermal friction mechanisms, analyzing relic particle decays, and advancing detector technologies. Berghaus has collaborated on Snowmass Cosmic Frontier reports outlining future dark matter detection strategies and contributed to high-impact experimental methodologies in both particle physics and biophysics.