Fundamental Physics and Cosmology

该奖项资助塔夫茨大学亚历山大维伦金教授的研究活动。暴胀理论在过去三十年中一直是领先的宇宙学范式，导致了我们对宇宙的全球看法的重大变化。根据新的世界观，宇宙中的大部分体积都处于爆炸性的暴胀膨胀状态。我们生活在一个通货膨胀已经结束的地区，其他具有不同属性的地区正在不断形成。 Vilenkin教授将开发方法来测试这个多元宇宙理论观测。 作为这项研究的一部分，Vilenkin教授还将研究宇宙弦的可能观测特征。 宇宙弦是非常细和高能量的线性物体。 粒子物理学的许多模型预测，这样的弦一定是在早期宇宙中形成的，如果是这样，它们就能产生各种各样的效应，这些效应在现在是可以观察到的。 特别是，这种弦可能是最高能量的宇宙射线的原因，这很难通过传统的天体物理过程来解释。 宇宙弦的探测将是非常重要的，因为它将打开一扇独特的窗户，进入粒子加速器无法到达的非常高能量的物理学。 因此，这项研究通过促进美国基础科学的发展符合国家利益。 Vilenkin教授还将继续努力向公众传达这些想法。 在更技术的层面上，我们将使用Vilenkin教授及其合作者开发的强大统计方法来探索多元宇宙模型的预测。 其中一个预测是形成质量分布非常广泛的黑洞。 这个效应可以解释在大多数星系中心观测到的超大质量黑洞的起源，将使用数值模拟进行研究。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award funds the research activities of Professor Alexander Vilenkin at Tufts University.The theory of inflation, which has been the leading cosmological paradigm over the last three decades, has led to a major change in our global view of the universe. According to the new worldview, much of the volume in the universe is in the state of explosive inflationary expansion. We live in a region where inflation has ended, and other such regions with diverse properties are constantly being formed. Professor Vilenkin will develop methods to test this multiverse theory observationally. As part of this research, Professor Vilenkin will also study possible observational signatures of cosmic strings. Cosmic strings are very thin and highly energetic linear objects. Many models of particle physics predict that such strings must have formed in the early universe, and if so they can produce a variety of effects which are observable at the present time. In particular, such strings could be responsible for cosmic rays at the highest energies, which are hard to explain through conventional astrophysical processes. A detection of cosmic strings would be of great importance, as it would open a unique window into the physics of very high energies, inaccessible in particle accelerators. As such, this research is in the national interest by furthering the development of basic science in the United States. Professor Vilenkin will also continue his efforts to communicate these ideas to the general public. At a more technical level, the predictions of the multiverse model will be explored using the powerful statistical methods developed by Professor Vilenkin and his collaborators. One of the predictions is the formation of black holes with a very wide distribution of masses. This effect, which may explain the origin of supermassive black holes observed at the centers of most galaxies, will be studied using numerical simulations.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.