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
Ma Y
(2011)
Testing a direction-dependent primordial power spectrum with observations of the cosmic microwave background
in Physical Review D
Hanson D
(2009)
CMB lensing and primordial non-Gaussianity
in Physical Review D
Lindblom L
(2008)
Gauge drivers for the generalized harmonic Einstein equations
in Physical Review D
Fergusson J
(2014)
Efficient optimal non-Gaussian CMB estimators with polarization
in Physical Review D
Chen X
(2010)
Large non-Gaussianities with intermediate shapes from quasi-single-field inflation
in Physical Review D
Bean R
(2008)
Comparing infrared Dirac-Born-Infeld brane inflation to observations
in Physical Review D
Avgoustidis A
(2010)
Effect of kinematic constraints on multitension string network evolution
in Physical Review D
Dias Ó
(2009)
Instability and new phases of higher-dimensional rotating black holes
in Physical Review D
Barrow J
(2008)
Varying alpha: New constraints from seasonal variations
in Physical Review D
Brax P
(2010)
Dilaton and modified gravity
in Physical Review D
Sollom I
(2009)
Cold dark matter isocurvature perturbations: Constraints and model selection
in Physical Review D
Gruetjen H
(2014)
Towards efficient and optimal analysis of CMB anisotropies on a masked sky
in Physical Review D
Regan D
(2012)
Universal non-Gaussian initial conditions for N -body simulations
in Physical Review D
Li B
(2008)
Microscopic and macroscopic behaviors of Palatini modified gravity theories
in Physical Review D
Brax P
(2010)
Higgs production as a probe of chameleon dark energy
in Physical Review D
Monteiro R
(2009)
Thermodynamic instability of rotating black holes
in Physical Review D
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
Li B
(2009)
Structure formation by a fifth force: N -body versus linear simulations
in Physical Review D
Hanson D
(2010)
Asymmetric beams and CMB statistical anisotropy
in Physical Review D
Li B
(2011)
f ( T ) gravity and local Lorentz invariance
in Physical Review D
Shaw D
(2011)
Testable solution of the cosmological constant and coincidence problems
in Physical Review D
Fergusson J
(2010)
General CMB and primordial bispectrum estimation: Mode expansion, map making, and measures of F NL
in Physical Review D
Fergusson J
(2009)
Shape of primordial non-Gaussianity and the CMB bispectrum
in Physical Review D
Upadhye A
(2010)
Constraining chameleon field theories using the GammeV afterglow experiments
in Physical Review D