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
Regan D
(2010)
Cosmic string power spectrum, bispectrum, and trispectrum
in Physical Review D
Barrow J
(2011)
Cosmological magnetic field survival Cosmological magnetic field survival
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Henneaux M
(2008)
Coxeter group structure of cosmological billiards on compact spatial manifolds
in Journal of High Energy Physics
Aref'eva I
(2010)
Critical trapped surfaces formation in the collision of ultrarelativistic charges in (A)dS
in Journal of High Energy Physics
Davis A
(2008)
Cusps on cosmic superstrings with junctions
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Brax P
(2008)
D -term uplifted racetrack inflation
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Gibbons G
(2010)
Dark energy and projective symmetry
in Physics Letters B
Steinhardt P
(2009)
Dark energy, inflation, and extra dimensions
in Physical Review D
Zhao H
(2010)
DARK FLUID: A UNIFIED FRAMEWORK FOR MODIFIED NEWTONIAN DYNAMICS, DARK MATTER, AND DARK ENERGY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Chen X
(2009)
Decaying hidden dark matter in warped compactification
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics