Sergey Sibiryakov profile picture

McMaster University

Research Associate Faculty

Areas of research: Cosmology Particle Physics

Overview
My research lies in the interface of quantum field theory, particle physics, gravitation and cosmology. I'm interested in understanding the fundamental principles underlying the laws of Nature, the interplay between them and the ways to test them. Despite the impressive success of the Standard Model of particle physics (SM) and Einstein’s General Relativity (GR), there are multiple reasons to believe that they are incomplete. Here are the questions shaping my research: What are dark matter and dark energy made of? How can we test various hypotheses from observations? What information is carried by the distribution of galaxies in the universe? What are the key features of quantum gravity? What are implications of quantum gravity for the physics of other fundamental forces?
Teaching Affiliations
If you are interested in pursuing a MSc degree, please apply to the Perimeter Scholars International (PSI) masters program. If you are interested in working with me as a PhD student, please submit an application directly to my department at the McMaster University and indicate that you would like to be supervised by me. Perimeter Institute is committed to diversity within its community and I welcome applications from underrepresented groups.
Research Interests
Particle physics, cosmology, classical and quantum gravity, quantum field theory
Positions Held
  • Scientist, Institute of Physics, Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne (EPFL), 2013-2020
  • Scientific staff member, Theoretical Physics Department, CERN, 2013-2020
  • Senior Researcher, Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2010-2022
  • Researcher, Laboratory of Particle Physics and Cosmology, Institute of Theoretical Physics, Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne (EPFL), 2008-2010
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Theory Division, Physics Department, CERN, 2006-2008
  • Junior Researcher, Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2004-2008
Awards
  • Discovery Grant, Dynamics and Signatures of New Physics, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), 2021-2026
  • The Best Scientific Work in Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 2010
Recent Publications
  • Vasudevan, A., Ivanov, M. M., Sibiryakov, S., & Lesgourgues, J. (2019). Time-sliced perturbation theory with primordial non-Gaussianity and effects of large bulk flows on inflationary oscillating features. Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, 2019(09), 037. doi:10.1088/1475-7516/2019/09/037
  • Ivanov, M. M., Kaurov, A. A., & Sibiryakov, S. (2019). Non-perturbative probability distribution function for cosmological counts in cells. Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, 2019(03), 009. doi:10.1088/1475-7516/2019/03/009
  • Katz, A., Kopp, J., Sibiryakov, S., & Xue, W. (2018). Femtolensing by dark matter revisited. Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, 2018(12), 005. doi:10.1088/1475-7516/2018/12/005
  • Bar, N., Blas, D., Blum, K., & Sibiryakov, S. (2018). Galactic rotation curves versus ultralight dark matter: Implications of the soliton-host halo relation. Physical Review D, 98(8), 083027. doi:10.1103/physrevd.98.083027
  • Ivanov, M. M., & Sibiryakov, S. (2018). Infrared resummation for biased tracers in redshift space. Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, 2018(07), 053. doi:10.1088/1475-7516/2018/07/053
  • Barvinsky, A. O., Blas, D., Herrero-Valea, M., Sibiryakov, S. M., & Steinwachs, C. F. (2018). Renormalization of gauge theories in the background-field approach. Journal of High Energy Physics, 2018(7), 35. doi:10.1007/jhep07(2018)035
  • Barvinsky, A. O., Blas, D., Herrero-Valea, M., Sibiryakov, S. M., & Steinwachs, C. F. (2017). Horava Gravity is Asymptotically Free in 2+1 Dimensions. Physical Review Letters, 119(21), 211301. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.119.211301
  • Blas, D., Nacir, D. L., & Sibiryakov, S. (2017). Ultralight Dark Matter Resonates with Binary Pulsars. Physical Review Letters, 118(26), 261102. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.118.261102
  • Blas, D., Garny, M., Ivanov, M. M., & Sibiryakov, S. (2016). Time-sliced perturbation theory II: baryon acoustic oscillations and infrared resummation. Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, 2016(07), 028. doi:10.1088/1475-7516/2016/07/028
  • Barvinsky, A. O., Blas, D., Herrero-Valea, M., Sibiryakov, S. M., & Steinwachs, C. F. (2016). Renormalization of Horava gravity. Physical Review D, 93(6), 064022. doi:10.1103/physrevd.93.064022
  • Sibiryakov, S. (2014). From Scale Invariance to Lorentz Symmetry. Physical Review Letters, 112(24), 241602. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.112.241602
  • Blas, D., Ivanov, M. M., & Sibiryakov, S. (2012). Testing Lorentz invariance of dark matter. Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, 2012(10), 057. doi:10.1088/1475-7516/2012/10/057
  • Blas, D., & Sibiryakov, S. (2011). Horava gravity versus thermodynamics: The black hole case. Physical Review D, 84(12), 124043. doi:10.1103/physrevd.84.124043
  • Blas, D., Pujolàs, O., & Sibiryakov, S. (2011). Models of non-relativistic quantum gravity: the good, the bad and the healthy. Journal of High Energy Physics, 2011(4), 18. doi:10.1007/jhep04(2011)018
  • Bezrukov, F., Magnin, A., Shaposhnikov, M., & Sibiryakov, S. (2011). Higgs inflation: consistency and generalisations. Journal of High Energy Physics, 2011(1), 16. doi:10.1007/jhep01(2011)016
  • Blas, D., Pujolàs, O., & Sibiryakov, S. (2010). Consistent Extension of Horava Gravity. Physical Review Letters, 104(18), 181302. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.104.181302
  • Gregory, R., Rubakov, V. A., & Sibiryakov, S. M. (2000). Opening up Extra Dimensions at Ultralarge Scales. Physical Review Letters, 84(26), 5928-5931. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.84.5928
  • Rubakov, V. A., & Sibiryakov, S. M. (1999). False vacuum decay in the de sitter space-time. Theoretical and Mathematical Physics, 120(3), 1194-1212. doi:10.1007/bf02557243
  • Shkerin, A., & Sibiryakov, S. (2025). Simple third order operator-splitting schemes for stochastic mechanics and field theory. doi:10.48550/arxiv.2504.03844
  • Fedderke, M. A., & Sibiryakov, S. (2025). Picolensing as a probe of primordial black hole dark matter. Physical Review D, 111(6), 063060. doi:10.1103/physrevd.111.063060
  • Kovachik, A., & Sibiryakov, S. (2025). Slowly moving black holes in khronometric model. Physical Review D, 111(4), 044042. doi:10.1103/physrevd.111.044042
  • Chan, J. H. -H., Sibiryakov, S., & Xue, W. (2022). Condensation and Evaporation of Boson Stars. doi:10.48550/arxiv.2207.04057
  • Chudaykin, A., Ivanov, M. M., & Sibiryakov, S. (2022). Renormalizing one-point probability distribution function for cosmological counts in cells. doi:10.48550/arxiv.2212.09799
  • Briaud, V., Shkerin, A., & Sibiryakov, S. (2022). Thermal false vacuum decay around black holes. Physical Review D, 106(12), 125001. doi:10.1103/physrevd.106.125001
  • Shkerin, A., & Sibiryakov, S. (n.d.). Black hole induced false vacuum decay: the role of greybody factors. Journal of High Energy Physics, 2022(8), 161. doi:10.1007/jhep08(2022)161
  • Barvinsky, A. O., Kurov, A. V., & Sibiryakov, S. M. (2022). Beta functions of (3+1)-dimensional projectable Horava gravity. Physical Review D, 105(4), 044009. doi:10.1103/physrevd.105.044009
  • Chan, J. H. -H., Sibiryakov, S., & Xue, W. (2023). Boson Star Normal Modes. doi:10.48550/arxiv.2304.13054
  • Radkovski, J. I., & Sibiryakov, S. M. (2023). Scattering amplitudes in high-energy limit of projectable Horava gravity. doi:10.48550/arxiv.2306.00102
  • Chan, J. H. -H., Sibiryakov, S., & Xue, W. (n.d.). Boson star normal modes. Journal of High Energy Physics, 2023(8), 45. doi:10.1007/jhep08(2023)045
  • Besharat, A., Radkovski, J., & Sibiryakov, S. (2023). Effective Action for Dissipative and Nonholonomic Systems. doi:10.48550/arxiv.2308.08695
  • Radkovski, J. I., & Sibiryakov, S. M. (2023). Scattering amplitudes in high-energy limit of projectable Horava gravity. Physical Review D, 108(4), 046017. doi:10.1103/physrevd.108.046017
  • Chudaykin, A., Ivanov, M. M., & Sibiryakov, S. (2023). Renormalizing one-point probability distribution function for cosmological counts in cells. Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, 2023(08), 079. doi:10.1088/1475-7516/2023/08/079
  • Kovachik, A., & Sibiryakov, S. (2023). Slowly moving black holes in khrono-metric model. doi:10.48550/arxiv.2311.12936
  • Barvinsky, A. O., Kurov, A. V., & Sibiryakov, S. M. (2023). Asymptotic freedom in (3+1)-dimensional projectable Horava gravity: Connecting the ultraviolet and infrared domains. Physical Review D, 108(12), l121503. doi:10.1103/physrevd.108.l121503
  • Chan, J. H. -H., Sibiryakov, S., & Xue, W. (n.d.). Condensation and evaporation of boson stars. Journal of High Energy Physics, 2024(1), 71. doi:10.1007/jhep01(2024)071
  • Besharat, A., Radkovski, J., & Sibiryakov, S. (2024). Effective action for dissipative and nonholonomic systems. Physical Review E, 109(5), l052103. doi:10.1103/physreve.109.l052103
  • Pîrvu, D., Shkerin, A., & Sibiryakov, S. (2024). Thermal False Vacuum Decay Is Not What It Seems. doi:10.48550/arxiv.2407.06263
  • Pîrvu, D., Shkerin, A., & Sibiryakov, S. (2024). Thermal false vacuum decay in (1+1)-dimensions: Evidence for non-equilibrium dynamics. doi:10.48550/arxiv.2408.06411
  • Pîrvu, D., Johnson, M. C., & Sibiryakov, S. (n.d.). Bubble velocities and oscillon precursors in first-order phase transitions. Journal of High Energy Physics, 2024(11), 64. doi:10.1007/jhep11(2024)064
  • Barvinsky, A. O., Kurov, A. V., & Sibiryakov, S. M. (2024). Renormalization group flow of projectable Horava gravity in (3+1) dimensions. doi:10.48550/arxiv.2411.13574
  • Pîrvu, D., Shkerin, A., & Sibiryakov, S. (2024). Thermal false vacuum decay in (1+1) dimensions: Evidence for nonequilibrium dynamics. International Journal of Modern Physics A, 39(34), 2445007. doi:10.1142/s0217751x24450076
  • Barvinsky, A. O., Kurov, A. V., & Sibiryakov, S. M. (2025). Renormalization group flow of projectable Horava gravity in (3+1) dimensions. Physical Review D, 111(2), 024030. doi:10.1103/physrevd.111.024030
  • Besharat, A. (2024). Open Quantum Dynamics On Lie Groups: An Effective Field Theory Approach. (PhD Thesis).
  • Kayssi, A. (2024). One-point matter PDF’s beyond tophat filters. (Master's Thesis).
  • Kovachik, A. (2023). Slowly Moving Black Holes In Khrono-Metric Model. (Master's Thesis).
Seminars
  • Observational constraints on primordial black holes: Present and future, New Horizon of Black Hole Physics, Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kyoto, Japan, 2025/01/28
  • RG flow of projectable Horava gravity in (3+1)d, Workshop "Lorentz Violations in Gravity: Part II", Centro de Ciencias de Benasque Pedro Pascual, Benasque, Spain, 2024/12/12
  • Thermal False Vacuum Decay is Not What It Seems, Particle Theory Seminar, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States, 2024/10/10
  • Thermal false vacuum decay is not what it seems, Efim Fradkin Centennial Conference, P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 2024/09/06
  • Theoretical status of Horava gravity, 50 Years of Horndeski Gravity: Exploring Modified Gravity, 2024/07/18, PIRSA:24070075
  • Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetime (PM) - 2023-03-31, Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetime, 2023/03/31, PIRSA:23030098
  • Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetime (PM) - 2023-03-24, Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetime, 2023/03/24, PIRSA:23030097
  • Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetime (PM) - 2023-03-17, Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetime, 2023/03/17, PIRSA:23030096
  • Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetime (PM) - 2023-03-10, Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetime, 2023/03/10, PIRSA:23030095
  • Status update on Horava gravity, 2023/03/08
  • Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetime (AM) - 2023-03-03, Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetime, 2023/03/03, PIRSA:23030088
  • Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetime (PM) - 2023-03-03, Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetime, 2023/03/03, PIRSA:23030094
  • Condensation and Evaporation of Boson Stars, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States, 2022/11/11
  • On thermal false vacuum decay around black holes, 2022/09/14
  • Condensation and Evaporation of Boson Stars, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, 2022/09/12
  • Black hole catalysis of false vacuum decay from first principles, HECAP Seminar, ICTP, Trieste, Italy (online), 2022/07/26