CAREER: Cosmology: Theoretical Research, Data Analysis with Student Involvement, and Curriculum Development

AST98-75031 Ratra目前大量的宇宙学数据，包括宇宙微波背景(CMB)各向异性观测，使广泛的宇宙学模型能够相互比较。CMB(和其他)数据将与几个模型进行比较，以确定宇宙参数值可能受到的最严格约束，从而检验非常早期宇宙的理论。该计划的成功结束将对天文学和实验室寻找宇宙中的暗物质、河外天体物理、广义相对论和超高能粒子物理产生深远的影响。CMB各向异性实验带来的兴奋和概念上的简单性使本科生有可能直接参与前沿研究，并将物理课程扩展到包括现代宇宙学研究的各个方面。这一职业发展的综合研究和教育计划将利用新数据提供的机会。物理学本科生将对CMB各向异性实验进行数学刻画，并确定它们敏感的角度尺度(它们的“窗口函数”)。将开发一个网站来传播这些窗口功能，从而提供所有CMB实验的统一和高度准确的描述(这将是一个对理论家和实验学家非常有用的资源)。新的但观测一致的宇宙将被开发出来。CMB各向异性将在这些模型中针对广泛的宇宙学参数进行计算。改进的统计技术(解释了实验系统的不确定性)将被开发出来，以使用这些预测，结合CMB实验窗口函数和数据来约束宇宙学参数。相关技术将被用来将微波数据与可能的前景污染物数据进行比较，以评估任何非CMB前景污染物的量并去除任何非CMB前景污染物。许多CMB实验的分析结果将与其他宇宙学数据的分析结果相结合，以确定对宇宙参数值的最严格限制，从而检验宇宙结构形成模型。被看好的模型将被用来预测MAP和Planck Surveyor太空任务应该看到什么。将开发一个包含当前研究主题并使用交互式多媒体工具的高年级本科生和研究生宇宙学课程。除此之外，还将有由知名宇宙学家主持的聚焦系列讲座、阅读课程和专门的部门座谈会作为补充。其目标是帮助学生发展在现代物理学这一令人兴奋的领域进行研究所需的定量推理能力，这将为他们在任何与技术相关的领域找到工作提供很好的服务。在设计本课程时，将利用堪萨斯州立大学物理教育小组对有效物理教与学的研究。他们的专业知识、帮助和基础设施将用于将本课程扩展到入门水平，以保持学生对天文事物的自然好奇心，并吸引传统上代表不足的群体的学生学习物理。较长期的目标是将一门部分基于网络的宇宙学入门课程发展成为完全基于网络的远程学习课程。教育和研究活动之间的广泛重叠是故意设计的，以确保它们相互加强。这一雄心勃勃但现实可行的职业发展计划将极大地促进基本的宇宙学知识，同时加强堪萨斯州立大学现代科学教育的许多不同方面。

AbstractAST 98-75031RatraThe current flood of cosmological data, including cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy observations, enables inter- comparison of a broad range of cosmological models. The CMB (and other) data will be compared with several models to determine the tightest possible constraints on cosmological parameter values, and so test theories of the very early universe. The successful conclusion of this program will have profound consequences for astronomical and laboratory searches for dark matter in the Universe, extragalactic astrophysics, general relativity, and very high-energy particle physics. The excitement engendered by, and the conceptual simplicity of CMB anisotropy experiments makes it possible to directly involve undergraduates in frontier research, and to expand the physics curriculum to include aspects of modern cosmology research.This integrated research and education plan for career development will take advantage of opportunities afforded by the new data. Physics undergraduates will mathematically characterize CMB anisotropy experiments and determine the angular scales to which they are sensitive (their "window functions"). A Web site will be developed to disseminate these window functions, thus providing a uniform and highly accurate characterization of all CMB experiments (a resource that will be of great use for theorists and experimentalists). Novel but observationally consistent cosmogonies will be developed. CMB anisotropies will be computed in these models, for a wide range of cosmological parameters. Improved statistical techniques (that account for experimental systematic uncertainties) will be developed to use these predictions, in conjunction with the CMB experimental window functions and data, to constrain cosmological parameters. Correlation techniques will be used to compare the microwave data to possible foreground contaminant data, to assess the amount of, and remove any non-CMB foreground contamination. Results from analyses of many CMB experiments will be combined with those from analyses of other cosmological data to determine the tightest possible constraints on cosmological-parameter values, and so test cosmic structure formation models. The favored models will be used to make predictions for what should be seen by the MAP and Planck Surveyor space missions.An upper-level undergraduate and graduate cosmogony curriculum, that incorporates topics of current research and uses interactive multimedia tools, will be developed. This will be complemented by focussed lecture series, reading courses, and special departmental colloquia from well-established cosmologists. The goal is to help students develop the quantitative reasoning abilities needed for research in this exciting area of modern physics, and that will serve them well for possible employment in any technology-related field. The research of the Kansas State University Physics Education Group on effective physics teaching and learning will be utilized while designing this curriculum. Their expertise, assistance, and infrastructure will be used to extend this curriculum to the introductory level, to sustain the natural curiosity of students for things astronomical, and to attract students from traditionally under-represented groups to physics. The longer-range goal is to develop a partially Web-based, introductory cosmogony course into a completely Web-based distance-learning one.The extensive overlap between the educational and research activities is deliberately designed to ensure that they reinforce each other. This ambitious but realistic and achievable career development plan will significantly advance fundamental cosmogonical knowledge while simultaneously strengthening many different aspects of modern science education at Kansas State University.