CAREER: Observational Signatures of Fundamental Physics in the Cosmos

职业：宇宙基础物理的观测特征

• 批准号: 0844825
• 负责人: Rachel Bean
• 金额: $ 62.78万
• 依托单位: Cornell University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-09-01 至 2015-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0844825&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Observational; Signatures; Fundamental; Physics

Arguably, both dark energy and inflation can currently be viewed more as paradigms than theories, since a compelling, underlying mechanism for each is still to be found. By contrast, the precision, angular coverage and depth of astrophysical observations are increasing at an impressive rate. Crucially, a number of multi-color imaging and spectroscopic large scale structure surveys are taking observations, or are being actively developed. Dr. Rachel Bean (Cornell University) will establish the required theoretical tools and observational requirements to ensure that the large scale structure cosmological surveys in progress, or being developed, in the coming five years will be optimally applied to decipher and constrain the full array of signatures that dark energy and inflation can leave. The work will also detail the observational implications of tightly delineated theories of brane inflation and alternative theories of gravity that promise distinctive properties, but which have not, as yet, been studied in the necessary detail. In combination, these approaches will yield an improved insight into the physical origins of these two, major, outstanding questions in cosmology.The research program to be carried out under this award actively involves training of undergraduate and graduate students. One emphasis is on increasing interaction between the Cornell Physics and Astronomy students, giving each opportunities to develop both an understanding of, and research experience in, the underlying theories and how experimental data are used to judge a theory's merit. Dr. Bean will also develop a middle-school "Afterschool Universe" program in astronomy and cosmology, in collaboration with the Cornell Department of Astronomy education and public outreach (EPO) coordinator. The joint goal of Dr. Bean and the EPO coordinator is specifically to increase opportunities and involvement in physical sciences for under-represented communities in the upstate New York region. In addition, Dr. Bean will continue giving lectures on topics in fundamental physics and the "cosmos as the ultimate laboratory" for New York State school teachers with the Cornell Center for Nanoscale Science Institute for Physics Teachers. Dr. Bean will also make a second online lecture for the Cornell Adult University "Cyber-Tower". The materials associated with the lectures, and the online lectures themselves, will be available online to educators and the public.

可以说，暗能量和通货膨胀目前更多地被视为范式而不是理论，因为两者都有一个令人信服的基本机制仍有待找到。相比之下，天体物理观测的精度、角度覆盖范围和深度正在以令人印象深刻的速度增加。至关重要的是，许多多色成像和光谱大型结构调查正在进行观测，或正在积极开发。 雷切尔·比恩博士（康奈尔大学）将建立所需的理论工具和观测要求，以确保未来五年正在进行或正在开发的大规模结构宇宙学调查能够得到最佳应用，以破译和限制暗能量和暴胀可能留下的全部特征。这项工作还将详细介绍严格描述的膜膨胀理论和其他引力理论的观测意义，这些理论承诺具有独特的性质，但迄今为止尚未进行必要的详细研究。结合起来，这些方法将更好地洞察宇宙学中这两个主要的、突出的问题的物理起源。该奖项下将开展的研究计划积极涉及对本科生和研究生的培训。其中一个重点是增加康奈尔大学物理系和天文学系学生之间的互动，让每个人都有机会发展对基础理论的理解和研究经验，以及如何使用实验数据来判断理论的优点。 比恩博士还将与康奈尔大学天文学教育和公共外展部 (EPO) 协调员合作，开发一个中学“课后宇宙”天文学和宇宙学项目。 Bean 博士和 EPO 协调员的共同目标是为纽约州北部地区代表性不足的社区增加参与物理科学的机会和参与。 此外，比恩博士将继续与康奈尔大学纳米科学研究中心物理教师中心一起为纽约州学校教师进行基础物理和“宇宙作为终极实验室”等主题的讲座。 Bean 博士还将为康奈尔成人大学“Cyber​​-Tower”进行第二次在线讲座。与讲座相关的材料以及在线讲座本身将在线向教育工作者和公众提供。