Discovering New Physics Beyond the Standard Model with Cosmological Data Sets

过去几十年的宇宙学观测为我们提供了一个标准的宇宙学模型，其中描述数据的六个参数受到百分比级别精度的限制。然而，在我们对宇宙的理解中，一些基本问题仍未得到解答。该项目将解决基础物理学中的以下主要难题：(1)在宇宙中播下第一批结构种子的物理学是什么？(2)暗物质的本质是什么？它与粒子物理有什么关系？德沃金博士将继续与波士顿地区女孩STEM合作组织合作，努力改善学术界的性别失衡。宇宙微波背景（CMB）中温度波动的形状可能包含关于宇宙假设的最早阶段的重要信息，即暴胀。该项目将开发分析CMB数据的方法，以帮助缩小暴胀可能性的范围。可能比氢轻的暗物质粒子也将被研究。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Cosmological observations over the last few decades have provided us with a standard model of cosmology, where the six parameters that describe the data are constrained with percent-level accuracy. However, fundamental questions in our understanding of the universe remain unanswered. This project will address the following major puzzles in fundamental physics: (1) What is the physics that seeded the first structures in the universe? (2) What is the nature of Dark Matter and how is it related to particle physics? Dr. Dvorkin will continue to collaborate with the Boston Area Girls STEM Collaborative in an effort to improve gender imbalance in academia.The shape of temperature fluctuations across the sky in the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) can potentially contain important information regarding the hypothetical earliest phase of the universe known as inflation. This project will develop methods to analyze CMB data to help narrow down the shape of the inflation potential. Possible dark matter particles lighter than hydrogen will also be investigated.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.