Fundamental Physics and Observational Cosmology
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Department Name: Applied Maths and Theoretical Physics
Abstract
We aim to advance the confrontation between observational cosmology and fundamental physics by developing testable signatures of early universe theories which are of direct relevance to STFC-supported satellite and other experiments, such as Planck and Clover. This work entails making detailed quantitative observational predictions which can be used to distinguish between different inflation models, as well as those involving cosmic superstrings and textures. In particular, we wish to study cosmologies emerging from higher dimensional models in fundamental theory, and discover ways in which to differentiate these from conventional four-dimensional models. We will also use data from the late universe to develop probes of the cosmological constant, dark energy and the variation of the fundamental constants of nature. In addition, we will embark on a new project in gravitational physics, studying the existence, formation and consequences of black holes. We will consider the distinctive signatures of extra dimensions which the experimental study of black holes may be able to uncover.
Organisations
Publications
Liguori M
(2008)
Impact of uncertainties in the cosmological parameters on the measurement of primordial non-Gaussianity
in Physical Review D
Li B
(2008)
Detecting a Lorentz-violating field in cosmology
in Physical Review D
Hikage C
(2008)
Limits on primordial non-Gaussianity from Minkowski Functionals of the WMAP temperature anisotropies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Chen X
(2008)
Generation and characterization of large non-Gaussianities in single field inflation
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Ita E
(2008)
Finite states in four-dimensional quantized gravity
in Classical and Quantum Gravity
Battefeld D
(2008)
Magnetogenesis from cosmic string loops
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Henneaux M
(2008)
Coxeter group structure of cosmological billiards on compact spatial manifolds
in Journal of High Energy Physics
Bartolo N
(2008)
On the physical significance of infra-red corrections to inflationary observables
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Avgoustidis A
(2008)
Non-relativistic strings in expanding spacetime
in Classical and Quantum Gravity
Malik K
(2008)
Different approaches to the second-order Klein-Gordon equation
in Classical and Quantum Gravity