Quantum Field Theory and Cosmology

量子场论和宇宙学

• 批准号: 0855021
• 负责人: Richard Woodard
• 金额: $ 13.5万
• 依托单位: University of Florida
• 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: 2009-06-01 至 2012-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0855021&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Quantum; Field; Theory; Cosmology

Among of the most exciting events of recent years has been the mounting evidence that the very early universe underwent a period of accelerated expansion known as primordial inflation. During primordial inflation there is a vast enhancement of quantum effects, which are ordinarily very small. These quantum effects can become so strong that conventional techniques for computing them break down. The main goal of this project is to develop new techniques for reliably computing these quantum effects, so that people can know precisely what they are. Another goal is to search for observable consequences of these enhanced quantum effects that may be masquerading as modifications of the gravitational force.Such a study is interesting because many aspects of the current universe can only be understood, without using quantum effects, by supposing that cosmological evolution is driven by enormous quantities (about 96% of the total) of exotic mass and energy that has not been detected in Earth-bound laboratories. It is possible that some of the inexplicable features of cosmology are the result of quantum effects that became strong during primordial inflation. The broader impacts of this project lie in the promotion of teaching, training and learning.

近年来最激动人心的事件之一是越来越多的证据表明，非常早期的宇宙经历了一段被称为原始膨胀的加速膨胀时期。在太初暴胀期间，量子效应得到了极大的增强，而量子效应通常是很小的。这些量子效应可以变得如此强大，以至于传统的计算技术都无法发挥作用。该项目的主要目标是开发可靠计算这些量子效应的新技术，以便人们能够准确地知道它们是什么。另一个目标是寻找这些可能伪装成引力变化的增强量子效应的可观察结果。这样的研究是有趣的，因为当前宇宙的许多方面只能通过假设宇宙演化是由大量的外来质量和能量驱动的（约占总量的96%）来理解，而这些外来质量和能量在地球上的实验室中还没有被探测到。宇宙学中一些无法解释的特征可能是量子效应在太初暴胀期间变得强大的结果。该项目更广泛的影响在于促进教学、培训和学习。