International Center for Quantum-field Measurement
Systems for Studies of the Universe and Particles (QUP, WPI)
& Theory Center at the Institute of Particle and Nuclear Studies (IPNS),
High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK)
& Graduate University of Japan for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI),
& Visiting Scientist, Kavli IPMU, University of Tokyo
I am a theoretical physicist working at the interface of particle physics, astrophysics, cosmology and experiment. My research addresses fundamental questions about the constituents of the Universe and the interactions that govern them, from the nature of dark matter and the physics of the early Universe to the existence of new particles and forces beyond the Standard Model and tests of fundamental symmetries. I develop new strategies to investigate these questions across a broad range of scales and experimental and observational probes, including neutrinos, gravitational waves, compact objects and other extreme astrophysical environments, large scale particle detectors and quantum sensors.
My work is closely connected to experiments, including leading and coordinating analyses in major international collaborations. I am a member of Super-Kamiokande, Hyper-Kamiokande, GNOME and other particle, multimessenger and quantum sensing efforts.
Previously, I was a Kavli Fellow at the Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU), the University of Tokyo, and a Postdoctoral Scholar in theoretical physics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). I received my Ph.D. in experimental particle physics from the University of California, Irvine, where I analyzed data from the Super-Kamiokande experiment and set leading limits on nucleon decay.
For publications, see INSPIRE.
Selected publications:
X. Ma, V. Takhistov, N. Mizuochi, E.D. Herbschleb, "Beyond qubits: Multilevel quantum sensing for dark matter", Physical Review A (Letter), 113 (2026) 6, L060802, [arXiv:2510.19918]
H.G. Choi, S. Jung, P. Lu, V. Takhistov, "Coexistence Test of Primordial Black Holes and Particle Dark Matter from Diffractive Lensing", Physical Review Letters, Vol. 133, No. 10, 101002 (2024), [arXiv:2311.17829]
K. Fridell, C. Hati, V. Takhistov, "Noncanonical nucleon decays as window into light new physics", Physical Review D (Letter), Vol. 110, No. 3, L031701 (2024), [arXiv:2312.13740]
P. Lu, V. Takhistov, G.M. Fuller, "Signatures of a High Temperature QCD Transition in the Early Universe", Physical Review Letters, Vol. 130, No. 22, 221002 (2023), [arXiv:2212.00156]
K.D. Lozanov, V. Takhistov, "Enhanced Gravitational Waves from Inflaton Oscillons'', Physical Review Letters, Vol. 130, No. 18, 181002 (2023), [arXiv:2204.07152]
S. Iguro, R. Plestid, V. Takhistov, "Monopoles From an Atmospheric Collider'', Physical Review Letters, Vol. 128, No. 20, 201101 (2022), [arXiv:2111.12091]
V. Takhistov et al., "A Test for the Origin of Solar Mass Black Holes", Physical Review Letters, Vol. 126, No. 7, 071101 (2021), [arXiv:2008.12780]
P. Lu, V. Takhistov et al., "Constraining Primordial Black Holes with Dwarf Galaxy Heating", Astrophysical Journal Letters, Vol. 908, L23, (2021), [arXiv:2007.02213]
A. Kusenko, M. Sasaki, S. Sugiyama, M. Takada, V. Takhistov, E. Vitagliano, "Exploring Primordial Black Holes from Multiverse with Optical Telescopes", Physical Review Letters, Vol. 125, No. 18, 181304 (2020), [arXiv:2001.09160]
G.M. Fuller, A. Kusenko, D. Radice, V. Takhistov, "Positrons and 511 keV radiation as tracers of recent binary neutron star mergers", Physical Review Letters, Vol. 122, No. 12, 121101 (2019), [arXiv:1811.00133]
G.M. Fuller, A. Kusenko, V. Takhistov, "Primordial Black Holes and r-Process Nucleosynthesis", Physical Review Letters, Vol. 119, No. 6, 061101 (2017), (Selected Physics Viewpoint Highlight) (Selected Editor's Suggestion) (Selected Featured in Physics) [arXiv:1704.01129]
V. Takhistov et al. (Super-Kamiokande Collaboration), "Search for Nucleon and Dinucleon Decays with an Invisible Particle and a Charged Lepton in the Final State at the Super-Kamiokande Experiment", Physical Review Letters, Vol. 115, No. 12, 121803 (2015), [arXiv:1508.05530]
V. Takhistov et al. (Super-Kamiokande Collaboration), "Search for Trilepton Nucleon Decay via p → evv and p → μvv in the Super-Kamiokande Experiment", Physical Review Letters, Vol. 113, No. 10, 101801 (2014), [arXiv:1409.1947]
Selected Research Highlights
Gravitational lensing of black holes
(interactions.org)
Magnetic monopoles from cosmic rays (physicsworld.com)
Origin of solar-mass black holes (livescience.com)
Primordial black holes from multiverse (phys.org)
Physical Review Letters Viewpoint highlight on primordial black holes captured by stars (physics.aps.org)
Inside Super-Kamiokande (photo I took during work on detector upgrade, 2018)