RUI: Cosmic Microwave Background Analysis in the Post-WMAP Era

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AST-0507395BunnThis project addresses several timely questions relating to the analysis and interpretation of observations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Cosmology has become a data-rich field, especially with current and forthcoming CMB sky maps, which form a snapshot of the Universe at an age of a few hundred thousand years. Such maps have improved dramatically over the years and are now largely responsible for our detailed understanding of the contents and history of the Universe. CMB polarization maps may even be able to provide direct evidence for an inflationary epoch during the Universe's earliest moments. This research will develop methods for analyzing CMB polarization maps, especially the separation of components, and for characterizing common contaminants (such as Galactic dust) and their statistical properties. Theoretical work will also include how much extra cosmological information can be obtained from observations of the CMB quadrupole in remote galaxy clusters.This work will be carried out in collaboration with talented undergraduates, many from under-represented groups, who will be introduced to the excitement of research in astrophysics.