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
(2010)
Primordial Non-Gaussianity and Bispectrum Measurements in the Cosmic Microwave Background and Large-Scale Structure
in Advances in Astronomy
Barrow J
(2010)
Varying alpha
in Annalen der Physik
Gibbons G
(2010)
Traffic noise and the hyperbolic plane
in Annals of Physics
Vitagliano V
(2011)
The dynamics of metric-affine gravity
in Annals of Physics
Gibbons G
(2011)
Kohn's theorem, Larmor's equivalence principle and the Newton-Hooke group
in Annals of Physics
Tauber J
(2010)
Planck pre-launch status: The Planck mission
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
De Troia G.
(2007)
Searching for non-Gaussian signals in the BOOMERANG 2003 CMB maps
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Yadav Amit P. S.
(2008)
Fast estimator of primordial non-Gaussianity from temperature and polarization anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background. II. Partial sky coverage and inhomogeneous noise
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Ita E
(2008)
Finite states in four-dimensional quantum gravity: the isotropic minisuperspace Asktekar-Klein-Gordon model
in Classical and Quantum Gravity