Theoretical Investigations of SZ Effects and Small-scale CMB Polarization and Temperature Anisotropies

PI将进行理论研究，以最大限度地提高星系团中Sunyaev-Zeldovich效应（SZE）调查的科学回报，并激励测量宇宙微波背景辐射（CMB）的偏振和温度各向异性，其角分辨率比计划的空间任务高5至10倍。 这些观测将收紧当前的宇宙学参数约束，并对暗能量状态方程和中微子质量提供非常严格的限制。 对于SZE调查，调查将集中在星系团特有的速度，以及如何将它们作为宇宙学探测器，预计将与超新星观测高度互补。 通过创建星系团的合成多频观测，并研究对实验参数和星系团参数的依赖性，该项目还将了解特殊速度观测的回报以及如何获得这些回报。 开发的工具将有助于其他领域，例如如何使星系团数计数成为精确的宇宙学探测器。通过高分辨率CMB数据约束宇宙学参数是复杂的CMB光子与本地宇宙的相互作用，通过汤姆逊散射和引力透镜。 然而，这些复杂性也可以证明是一个布恩，因为它们提供了一种探测暗能量和黑暗时代的手段。 这项工作将产生考虑到这些高阶效应的预测，并将量化高阶统计如何用于探测暗能量和黑暗时代。 这些结果将指导计划中的仪器的设计，也许会激励新的仪器，并为未来的数据分析奠定基础。每年将有两名本科生（包括一名来自代表性不足的群体）和两名研究生为研究计划做出贡献。 从研究计划的材料将用于低司天文学课程，高司天体物理学课程，和高级研究生课程。 也将有公开讲座的结果和一个普遍访问的网站将由一名本科生创建。

AST-0307961KnoxThe PI will carry out theoretical investigations to maximize the scientific return from surveys of the Sunyaev-Zeldovich Effect (SZE) in galaxy clusters, and to motivate measurements of the polarization and temperature anisotropies of the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation (CMB) with an angular resolution five to ten times better than that of planned space missions. Those observations will tighten the current cosmological parameter constraints as well as provide very restrictive limits on the dark energy equation of state and on the neutrino mass. For the SZE surveys the investigation will focus on galaxy cluster peculiar velocities and how to use them as cosmological probes in a way expected to be highly complementary to supernova observations. By creating synthetic multi-frequency observations of galaxy clusters, and studying the dependence on experimental parameters and cluster parameters, the project will also understand the rewards of peculiar velocity observations and how to reap those rewards. The developed tools will help in other areas, such as how to make galaxy cluster number counts a precision cosmological probe.Constraining cosmological parameters with high-resolution CMB data is complicated by the interaction of the CMB photons with the local Universe, via Thomson scattering and gravitational lensing. However, these complications can also prove a boon since they offer a means of probing the dark energy and the dark ages. This work will produce forecasts that take into account these higher order effects, and will quantify how well higher order statistics can be used to probe the dark energy and the dark ages. These results will guide the design of planned instruments, perhaps motivate new ones, and lay the groundwork for future data analysis.Two undergraduates (including one from an under-represented group) and two graduate students each year will contribute to the research program. Materials from the research program will be used in a lower division astronomy course, an upper division astrophysics course, and an advanced graduate course. There will also be public lectures about the results and a generally accessible web site to be created by an undergraduate student.