Beyond LambdaCDM: Theoretical Predictions & Observational Constraints

超越 LambdaCDM：理论预测

• 批准号: 0903410
• 负责人: Laura Mersini-Houghton
• 金额: $ 2.5万
• 依托单位: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-07-15 至 2010-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0903410&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Beyond; LambdaCDM; Theoretical; Predictions; Observational

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).The two deepest mysteries in our understanding of nature are: the selection of the initial conditions (IC) of our universe, and the recent acceleration of the universe, attributed to dark energy (DE). The PI proposes to study both of these outstanding problems, within a new framework that extends the conventional approach and which uses observational analysis for guidance on these phenomena and for the testable predictions of the program. The radical departure of the PI's approach from the conventional approach is that it proposes to use the quantum dynamics of the gravitational and matter fields degrees of, in a multiverse framework, for selecting the IC and for extracting the cosmological implications of the landscape. The PI advocates that the only way to address the problem meaningfully is by extending our investigation to a multiverse framework. This proposal is one way resolving the puzzle of why our universe had to start with High Energy Big Bang, while avoiding paradoxes born out of previous attempts. This approach also offers a multitude of testable predictions, tracked down by superhorizon entanglement modes, thereby placing it as a strong candidate for a scientific theory of IC. Three of these predictions are already successfully tested, with the most recent test being the NASA discovery of a "dark flow" in Sept.2008. Another topic of research concerns the puzzle: what is Dark Energy? Currently, the best way to tell is by observationally finding ways to measure its pressure and equation of state w[z].Although ranked among the highest priorities in the community, this measurement has proven difficult so far. The PI proposes a complementary method, namely the use of Gravitational Waves from SBH binaries for pinning down w. This method can be quite powerful since it avoids the noise in the signal that is inherited from the vastness of structure through which the signal propagates. Besides complementing current large-scale surveys, the benefit of this method is that we can start taking data immediately and make use of existing and planned LIGO and LISA experiments. The project has many broader impacts. The PI shares the excitement of her research by giving a series of talks nationally and internationally, and by talking to media in order to help make cutting edge research accessible to a wider audience. Together with Brian Greene and J.Khoury, the PI has initiated and is co-organizing a series of conferences, "A Debate in Cosmology", on these outstanding topics, meant not only to stimulate progress and breakthroughs by bringing together authorities in the field, but also for disseminating knowledge by having online video-cams of the talks. She is also co-editing a book on Time's Arrow (NYAS) and co-authoring invited chapters for Springer's "Frontier" collection meant to disseminate cutting edge research to the general public.

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。在我们对自然界的理解中，最深刻的两个谜团是：我们宇宙初始条件（IC）的选择，以及最近宇宙的加速，归因于暗能量（DE）。PI建议在一个新的框架内研究这两个突出的问题，该框架扩展了传统的方法，并使用观测分析来指导这些现象和程序的可测试预测。PI的方法与传统方法的根本区别在于，它提出在多元宇宙框架中使用引力场和物质场的量子动力学来选择IC并提取景观的宇宙学意义。PI主张，有意义地解决这个问题的唯一方法是将我们的调查扩展到多元宇宙框架。这个提议是解决为什么我们的宇宙必须从高能大爆炸开始的难题的一种方法，同时避免了以前的尝试所产生的悖论。这种方法还提供了大量可测试的预测，通过超视界纠缠模式追踪，从而将其作为IC科学理论的强有力候选者。其中三个预测已经成功地进行了测试，最近的测试是美国宇航局在2008年9月发现的“暗流”。另一个研究主题涉及这个难题：什么是暗能量？目前，最好的方法是通过观察找到测量其压力和状态方程w[z]的方法。虽然在社区中排名最高优先级，但到目前为止，这种测量已经被证明是困难的。PI提出了一种补充方法，即使用来自SBH双星的引力波来确定w。这种方法可以是相当强大的，因为它避免了信号中的噪声，该噪声是从信号传播所通过的巨大结构中继承的。除了补充目前的大规模调查外，这种方法的好处是我们可以立即开始获取数据，并利用现有和计划中的LIGO和丽莎实验。该项目有许多更广泛的影响。PI通过在国内和国际上进行一系列讲座，并与媒体交谈，以帮助更广泛的受众获得尖端研究，从而分享她的研究的兴奋。 PI与Brian格林和J.Khoury一起发起并共同组织了一系列关于这些突出主题的会议，“宇宙学辩论”，不仅旨在通过汇集该领域的权威人士来促进进步和突破，而且还通过在线视频摄像头传播知识。她还共同编辑了一本关于《时代之箭》（NYAS）的书，并共同撰写了施普林格“前沿”系列的邀请章节，旨在向公众传播前沿研究。