Cosmological Pertubations: Very Early Universe
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Portsmouth
Department Name: Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation
Abstract
This grant will support cosmology and astrophysics research in the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation (ICG) at the University of Portsmouth. The ICG was formed in 2002 through a strategic investment from the university, and now hosts 50 researchers making it one of the largest extragalactic astronomy groups in the UK.
Cosmology and astrophysics are experiencing a golden age of discovery driven by new experiments and theoretical advances. However, we still face three fundamental challenges before a more complete model of the Universe can be achieved, including "What is the origin and distribution of structures in the Universe?".
We will address this question by investigating models of inflation in the very early universe. This tests the laws of physics at extremely high energies where we need to account for the effects of both general relativity and quantum physics. String theory could offer a consistent picture of the very early universe, and we will test such ideas through the distribution of primordial density and metric perturbations that would be generated from quantum fluctuations during a period of inflation. We will make detailed predictions for observable quantities in the cosmic microwave background and large-scale structure.
Cosmology and astrophysics are experiencing a golden age of discovery driven by new experiments and theoretical advances. However, we still face three fundamental challenges before a more complete model of the Universe can be achieved, including "What is the origin and distribution of structures in the Universe?".
We will address this question by investigating models of inflation in the very early universe. This tests the laws of physics at extremely high energies where we need to account for the effects of both general relativity and quantum physics. String theory could offer a consistent picture of the very early universe, and we will test such ideas through the distribution of primordial density and metric perturbations that would be generated from quantum fluctuations during a period of inflation. We will make detailed predictions for observable quantities in the cosmic microwave background and large-scale structure.
Planned Impact
Over recent years the ICG has established a comprehensive public engagement programme, with full-time outreach officer since 2012, including:
1) Providing popular talks to numerous local astronomical societies, local schools, festivals, and public events. The ICG delivered major BBC `Stargazing Live' eventa at Portsmouth Spinnaker Tower in January 2012 and on board HMS Warrior in 2013. We also include public talks in our professional meetings, e.g., in Nov 2011, Carlos Frenk gave a popular talk to 300 people. We will continue to deliver such popular talks at roughly one a month.
2) Contributing work experience for school students (short work visits or longer Nuffield summer bursaries). Local pupils to attend our annual "Cosmology Masterclass" to provide pupils with additional material for their physics GSCE modules. We will continue this engagement with schools, building upon our strong relationship with local teachers, SEPNet and the University school liaison officer.
3) Continuing to engage local and national media. ICG has obtained excellent local exposure with frequent articles in the Portsmouth News, many radio interviews and features on local TV news. Nationally, our staff are featured in science magazines, newspapers, and BBC science shows. We will continue to liaise with the university media office and offer all staff and postdocs professional media training.
4) Deployment of the latest technologies, e.g., ICG members are deeply involved in Galaxy Zoo (GZ), which has had phenomenal impact, including the education of GZ users via blogs and forums and the development of online teaching materials. Portsmouth is an official member of the Zooniverse "Citizen Science Alliance" and we will strengthen our involvement in a broad range of citizen science projects. We will continue to engage with these new technologies and plan to make them central to our impact agenda.
5) Engaging policy makers: Bob Nichol has lobbied STFC & DIUS as Chair of the STFC Far Universe Advisory Panel (FUAP). David Willetts visited the University of Portsmouth in July 2011 to discuss a range of issues including science funding, immigration and EU competition rules. We will continue this engagement with policy makers, including local MPs.
We support all staff to consider commercial applications of their research. Portsmouth is a member of the South-East Physics network (SEPnet) which is developing a new employer engagement and impact development programme. The University Research and Innovation Services provides all staff with access and training on knowledge exchange and innovation. We are in discussion with STFC Innovation Partnerships Scheme and we will host a session on industrial applications of astrophysics research as part of the National Astronomy Meeting in 2014.
1) Providing popular talks to numerous local astronomical societies, local schools, festivals, and public events. The ICG delivered major BBC `Stargazing Live' eventa at Portsmouth Spinnaker Tower in January 2012 and on board HMS Warrior in 2013. We also include public talks in our professional meetings, e.g., in Nov 2011, Carlos Frenk gave a popular talk to 300 people. We will continue to deliver such popular talks at roughly one a month.
2) Contributing work experience for school students (short work visits or longer Nuffield summer bursaries). Local pupils to attend our annual "Cosmology Masterclass" to provide pupils with additional material for their physics GSCE modules. We will continue this engagement with schools, building upon our strong relationship with local teachers, SEPNet and the University school liaison officer.
3) Continuing to engage local and national media. ICG has obtained excellent local exposure with frequent articles in the Portsmouth News, many radio interviews and features on local TV news. Nationally, our staff are featured in science magazines, newspapers, and BBC science shows. We will continue to liaise with the university media office and offer all staff and postdocs professional media training.
4) Deployment of the latest technologies, e.g., ICG members are deeply involved in Galaxy Zoo (GZ), which has had phenomenal impact, including the education of GZ users via blogs and forums and the development of online teaching materials. Portsmouth is an official member of the Zooniverse "Citizen Science Alliance" and we will strengthen our involvement in a broad range of citizen science projects. We will continue to engage with these new technologies and plan to make them central to our impact agenda.
5) Engaging policy makers: Bob Nichol has lobbied STFC & DIUS as Chair of the STFC Far Universe Advisory Panel (FUAP). David Willetts visited the University of Portsmouth in July 2011 to discuss a range of issues including science funding, immigration and EU competition rules. We will continue this engagement with policy makers, including local MPs.
We support all staff to consider commercial applications of their research. Portsmouth is a member of the South-East Physics network (SEPnet) which is developing a new employer engagement and impact development programme. The University Research and Innovation Services provides all staff with access and training on knowledge exchange and innovation. We are in discussion with STFC Innovation Partnerships Scheme and we will host a session on industrial applications of astrophysics research as part of the National Astronomy Meeting in 2014.
Organisations
Publications
Pace F
(2014)
A comparison of structure formation in minimally and non-minimally coupled quintessence models
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hull M
(2015)
A Higgs mechanism for vector Galileons
in Journal of High Energy Physics
Hull M
(2014)
A Higgs Mechanism for Vector Galileons
Fidler C
(2015)
A new line-of-sight approach to the non-linear Cosmic Microwave Background
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Collett TE
(2018)
A precise extragalactic test of General Relativity.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Nichol B. C.
(2021)
A quantum network of entangled optical atomic clocks
in arXiv e-prints
Bartolo N
(2016)
A relativistic signature in large-scale structure
in Physics of the Dark Universe
Bartolo N
(2015)
A relativistic signature in large-scale structure
Deaconu C.
(2020)
A search for ultrahigh-energy neutrinos associated with astrophysical sources using the third flight of ANITA
in arXiv e-prints
Hannestad S
(2015)
Active-sterile neutrino oscillations in the early Universe with full collision terms
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Collaboration N
(2020)
Adjusting Neutrino Interaction Models and Evaluating Uncertainties using NOvA Near Detector Data
in arXiv e-prints
Acero M
(2020)
Adjusting neutrino interaction models and evaluating uncertainties using NOvA near detector data
in The European Physical Journal C
Acero M. A.
(2021)
An Improved Measurement of Neutrino Oscillation Parameters by the NOvA Experiment
in arXiv e-prints
Koyama K
(2015)
Astrophysical probes of the Vainshtein mechanism: Stars and galaxies
in Physical Review D
Goldstein D
(2015)
AUTOMATED TRANSIENT IDENTIFICATION IN THE DARK ENERGY SURVEY
in The Astronomical Journal
Delubac T
(2015)
Baryon acoustic oscillations in the Ly a forest of BOSS DR11 quasars
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Martin J
(2016)
Bell inequalities for continuous-variable systems in generic squeezed states
in Physical Review A
Taruya A
(2014)
Beyond consistency test of gravity with redshift-space distortions at quasilinear scales
in Physical Review D
Foreman W
(2020)
Calorimetry for low-energy electrons using charge and light in liquid argon
in Physical Review D
Assadullahi H
(2015)
CMB hemispherical asymmetry from non-linear isocurvature perturbations
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Bruni M
(2014)
Computing general-relativistic effects from Newtonian N-body simulations: Frame dragging in the post-Friedmann approach
in Physical Review D
Song Y
(2015)
Consistent modified gravity analysis of anisotropic galaxy clustering using BOSS DR11
in Physical Review D
Allison P
(2020)
Constraints on the diffuse flux of ultrahigh energy neutrinos from four years of Askaryan Radio Array data in two stations
in Physical Review D
Vennin V
(2015)
Correlation functions in stochastic inflation
in The European Physical Journal C
Vennin V
(2015)
Correlation Functions in Stochastic Inflation
Vennin V
(2015)
Cosmic inflation and model comparison
in Comptes Rendus Physique
Falck B
(2015)
Cosmic web and environmental dependence of screening: Vainshtein vs. chameleon
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Aubourg É
(2015)
Cosmological implications of baryon acoustic oscillation measurements
in Physical Review D
Koyama K
(2015)
Cosmological Tests of Modified Gravity
Koyama K
(2016)
Cosmological tests of modified gravity.
in Reports on progress in physics. Physical Society (Great Britain)
Comelli D
(2015)
Cosmology of bigravity with doubly coupled matter
Comelli D
(2015)
Cosmology of bigravity with doubly coupled matter
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Pourtsidou A
(2015)
Cross-correlation cosmography with intensity mapping of the neutral hydrogen 21 cm emission
in Physical Review D
Abbott T
(2020)
Dark Energy Survey Year 1 Results: Cosmological constraints from cluster abundances and weak lensing
in Physical Review D
Troxel M
(2018)
Dark Energy Survey Year 1 results: Cosmological constraints from cosmic shear
in Physical Review D
Abbott T
(2018)
Dark Energy Survey year 1 results: Cosmological constraints from galaxy clustering and weak lensing
in Physical Review D
Gatti M
(2018)
Dark Energy Survey Year 1 results: cross-correlation redshifts - methods and systematics characterization
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Chang C
(2018)
Dark Energy Survey Year 1 results: curved-sky weak lensing mass map
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Prat J
(2018)
Dark Energy Survey year 1 results: Galaxy-galaxy lensing
in Physical Review D
Hoyle B
(2018)
Dark Energy Survey Year 1 Results: redshift distributions of the weak-lensing source galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Drlica-Wagner A
(2018)
Dark Energy Survey Year 1 Results: The Photometric Data Set for Cosmology
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Luque E
(2018)
Deep SOAR follow-up photometry of two Milky Way outer-halo companions discovered with Dark Energy Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Abed Abud A.
(2021)
Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) Near Detector Conceptual Design Report
in arXiv e-prints
Abi B.
(2020)
Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), Far Detector Technical Design Report, Volume II: DUNE Physics
in arXiv e-prints
Papadopoulos A
(2015)
DES13S2cmm: the first superluminous supernova from the Dark Energy Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
DUNE Collaboration DUNE
(2021)
Design, construction and operation of the ProtoDUNE-SP Liquid Argon TPC
in arXiv e-prints
Nadlinger D. P.
(2021)
Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution
in arXiv e-prints
Agnello A
(2015)
Discovery of two gravitationally lensed quasars in the Dark Energy Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Description | Research at the ICG has helped understand the formation and evolution of the universe. This information is important to advance our understand of fundamental physics as well as being of great interest and fascination by the general public. |
Exploitation Route | Research at ICG is published in peer-reviewed journals and have received significant citations over the last decade. Researchers at the ICG are some of the highest cited astrophysicists and cosmologists in the UK, showing their work is used and influential (mainly by other academics in our field of research) |
Sectors | Education |
Description | Research at the ICG has helped understand the formation and evolution of the universe. This information is important to advance our understand of fundamental physics as well as being of great interest and fascination by the general public. |
First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
Sector | Education |
Impact Types | Cultural,Societal |
Description | Continuation of funding as new STFC consolidated grant "Cosmology and Astrophysics at Portsmouth" |
Amount | £1,378,546 (GBP) |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2013 |
End | 04/2015 |
Description | Astronomical Societies |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Many of the co-I's have given public talks at both local astronomy societies (South Downs, Eastbourne, Isle of Wight, Southampton, Hampshire, Farnham, Worthing, Guildford etc.) and national astronomical society meetings (BAA, SPA). Increased awareness of Portsmouth research across the region |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016 |
Description | Cosmology Masterclass |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Since 2012 the Cosmology Masterclass has engaged and inspired over 200 A level students with research at the ICG. The Cosmology Masterclass began as a collaboration with The Portsmouth Grammar School in 2010 and is now held annually on campus, with several additional 'mini-Masterclasses' each year at local colleges. - Feedback from the 2013 event was some of the best the University has received for an A level event. - Over the years 13 students have subsequently joined ICG for summer placements of which four cite their experiences at ICG as helping them to decide to pursue STEM subjects at university. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010,2012,2013,2014 |
Description | Galaxy Zoo |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Members of the public are asked to classify images of galaxies on www.galaxyzoo.org to contribute to astronomical research, resulting in nearly 50 peer reviewed publications to date. Galaxy Zoo has produced a unique database that could not have been obtained without the involvement of the public; visual classifications for over a million galaxies. This database has significant scientific value for astronomy as well as other subjects (computer vision). The public have also been involved in the scientific process and via webblogs and forums, have learnt about the science of GalaxyZoo, as well as being involved. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016 |
URL | http://www.galaxyzoo.org |
Description | Public Talks |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Co-Is are regularly invited to give public talks at a variety of events in the local area, nationally and aboard. These include Science Festivals, Astronomy Festivals, community events, and special interest group meetings. These talks always spark a lot of questions and discussion following the talk. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018 |
Description | Schools Physicist of the Year Awards |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Schools were asked to nominate year 9 and 12 pupils as their "Ogden schools physicist of the year". Award winners were invited to an awards ceremony with their parents and teachers. The event sparked lots of discussion and questions between the students, parents and ICG researchers. In 2016, the awards were changed to be for year 10 and year 12 pupils. One school has requested further activities from the ICG. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016,2017 |
Description | Stargazing Live 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | 5500 people attended a BBC Learning Stargazing Live event for which the ICG was the main academic partner. The event was held in Portsmouth due to the success of the previous year's event at the Historic Dockyard. Members of the public participated in a number of activities linked to ICG research, sparking questions and discussion. - there was an increase in traffic to the ICG website two days after the event |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Stargazing Live 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | 450 members of the public attended the annual Stargazing Live at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard event organised by the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation with HMS Warrior and Action Stations. The majority of Co-Is participated in the event, talking to attendees about their research through stands and hands-on activities. The event was also attended by several local councillors. Many attendees reported that the event had inspired them to find out more about astronomy or attend more science-related events. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | TV appearance - Horizon - Nichol |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Professor Bob Nichol featured in an episode of BBC Horizon: Dancing in the Dark - The End of Physics? The Horizon crew accompanied Professor Nichol to Chile and, in the documentary, he discusses the scope of cosmology, the observational evidence for the nature of dark matter, and the mystery of dark energy which is expected to occupy astrophysics for some time. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Work Experience Programme |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | In 2014, 2015 and 2016 the ICG held a work experience week for Year 10 pupils to experience a cosmology research environment. Pupils were selected from local schools through a competitive process. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016 |