Testing fundamental physics with new observations

用新的观察结果测试基础物理

• 批准号: RGPIN-2015-06066
• 负责人: Pogosian, Levon
• 金额: $ 2.62万
• 依托单位: Simon Fraser University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=662346
• 关键词: Testing; fundamental; physics; new; observations

Research carried out over recent decades has established the main building blocks of the current cosmological model: Dark Matter and Dark Energy, as the two components that dominate the present density, and Inflation, as the leading mechanism for the initial conditions. These building blocks are largely phenomenological concepts - providing an economical description of the universe, while still lacking a proper theoretical understanding. With the new types and the higher precision of observations expected over the next decade, the focus is shifting to developing and testing specific theoretical proposals, as well as using Cosmology as a laboratory for testing fundamental physics. The proposed research will advance two main directions. One will focus on the problem of Cosmic Acceleration and testable aspects of gravity on cosmological scales. The second will study events that took place in the early universe and novel ways of looking for them in the cosmic microwave background (CMB).***   My group will identify all the theoretically consistent ways in which new gravitational physics can appear and, based on that, derive a set of phenomenological models that can be readily tested against data. We will develop numerical tools appropriate for tests with upcoming weak lensing, imaging, spectroscopic and 21 cm surveys, such as Euclid, LSST and SKA. At this time, my group is working closely with members of the SDSS-IV and Euclid teams, who are using statistical and numerical tools developed by us. At the same time, CMB science is experiencing a period of renewed growth.  Experiments are reaching the sensitivity levels required for studying the B-mode polarization, which is of fundamental importance for testing Inflation. My group will study cosmic strings and primordial magnetic fields (PMF) which also generate B-modes. PMF carry imprints of high energy universe and can help explain magnetic fields observed in galaxies and clusters. Another type of future CMB experiments will measure CMB spectral distortions with a qualitatively better accuracy, opening a new observational window into the early universe. My group is in a prime position to take advantage of these new CMB frontiers for testing fundamental physics.***   The work outlined in this proposal is of importance to observational teams in planning their experiments and will allow my group to take advantage of the new data as it becomes available. Our research is in areas of active international interest and will solidify Canada's role as a leading contributor to fundamental research. This proposal also provides tremendous opportunities for training students and postdocs. This includes highly transferrable skills, such as computer programming, state of the art statistical analysis, analytical problem solving, writing and communication skill, all of which will benefit Canadian economy, and society in general, independent of the career path my HQP pursue later.**

近几十年来进行的研究已经确立了当前宇宙模型的主要组成部分：暗物质和暗能量是主导当前密度的两个组成部分，暴涨是初始条件的主导机制。这些构件很大程度上是现象学的概念--提供了对宇宙的经济描述，但仍然缺乏适当的理论理解。随着未来十年观测的新类型和更高的精度，重点正在转移到开发和测试具体的理论建议上，以及将宇宙学用作测试基础物理的实验室。拟议的研究将推进两个主要方向。其中一个将集中在宇宙加速问题和宇宙尺度上重力的可测试方面。第二个将研究早期宇宙中发生的事件以及在宇宙微波背景(CMB)中寻找它们的新方法。*我的团队将确定所有理论上一致的新引力物理可能出现的方式，并在此基础上推导出一套现象学模型，这些模型可以很容易地根据数据进行测试。我们将开发适用于即将到来的弱透镜、成像、光谱和21厘米测量的测试的数值工具，如欧几里德、LSST和SKA。目前，我的小组正在与SDSS-IV和欧几里德小组的成员密切合作，他们正在使用我们开发的统计和数字工具。与此同时，CMB科学正在经历一个新的增长期。他们的实验正在达到研究B模偏振所需的灵敏度水平，而B模偏振对于测试通胀具有根本重要性。我的团队将研究宇宙弦和原始磁场(PMF)，它们也会产生B模。PMF携带着高能宇宙的印记，可以帮助解释在星系和星系团中观察到的磁场。未来的另一种CMB实验将以更高的精度测量CMB光谱失真，为早期宇宙打开一个新的观测窗口。我的团队处于有利地位，可以利用CMB的这些新前沿来测试基础物理。*本提案中概述的工作对观测团队计划他们的实验具有重要意义，并将允许我的团队在新数据可用时利用这些数据。我们的研究涉及国际上非常感兴趣的领域，并将巩固加拿大作为基础研究主要贡献者的角色。这一提议也为培养学生和博士后提供了巨大的机会。这包括高度可移植的技能，如计算机编程、最先进的统计分析、分析问题解决、写作和沟通技能，所有这些技能都将造福加拿大经济和社会，与我以后HQP追求的职业道路无关。**