Fundamental Physics from Cosmic Microwave Background Anisotropies and Gravitational Waves

宇宙微波背景各向异性和引力波的基础物理

• 批准号: RGPIN-2018-05876
• 负责人: Johnson, Matthew
• 金额: $ 4.77万
• 依托单位: York University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=713928
• 关键词: Fundamental; Physics; Cosmic; Microwave; Background

Two new observational capabilities promise to revolutionize our understanding of the fundamental laws of nature and the history and evolution of the Universe: the sensitivity frontier of the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB; light from the early Universe) and the detection of gravitational waves (ripples in spacetime). The proposed research program aims to make the necessary connections between these new observational frontiers and theoretical physics to realize this promise, maximizing the science return from impending cosmological and gravitational wave datasets. This timely program has the potential to address some of the most fundamental questions in science such as: What is the nature of dark matter and dark energy? How did the Universe begin? What is the nature of gravitation? Ongoing high-resolution measurements of the CMB have reached the precision necessary to access the secondary CMB temperature and polarization anisotropies created when CMB photons interact gravitationally or electromagnetically with dark matter or free electrons, respectively. Using analytic methods and large cosmological simulations, the proposed research will establish how the secondary CMB, in concert with large scale structure (LSS) surveys, can be used to constrain models of the early Universe such as cosmic inflation, dark energy physics, and the nature of gravitation on cosmological scales. The detailed forecasts performed in this research will define the boundary of knowledge accessible in future observations of the CMB and LSS. The first detections of gravitational waves from binary black hole and binary neutron star mergers has ushered in the era of gravitational wave astronomy. These events probe gravity at strengths previously inaccessible to experiment. The observed accelerated expansion of the Universe, associated with dark energy, also operates in such a strong gravity regime. The proposed research will exploit connections between these two strong gravity frontiers in order to devise new tests of dark energy, gravitation, and particle physics using black holes, neutron stars, and binary systems. Employing detailed relativistic simulations and analytic calculations, we will elucidate the imprint of fundamental physics on gravitational waveforms and electromagnetic couterparts, producing detailed forecasts for existing and near-future gravitational wave observatories. The proposed research will vigorously advance my broad goal of developing new ways of testing fundamental physics through its impact on cosmology and astrophysics. The associated training program will produce uniquely qualified HQP well versed in theory and data as well as highly specialized analytic and numerical methods. These skills will enable HQP to pursue a successful future either in high-impact science or industries associated with Canada's growing knowledge economy.

两项新的观测能力有望彻底改变我们对自然基本规律以及宇宙历史和演化的理解：宇宙微波背景辐射（CMB；来自早期宇宙的光）的敏感前沿和引力波（时空波纹）的探测。拟议的研究计划旨在在这些新的观测前沿和理论物理学之间建立必要的联系，以实现这一承诺，最大限度地提高即将到来的宇宙学和引力波数据集的科学回报。这个及时的计划有可能解决科学中一些最基本的问题，例如：暗物质和暗能量的本质是什么？宇宙是如何开始的？万有引力的本质是什么？ 正在进行的 CMB 高分辨率测量已经达到了获取 CMB 光子分别与暗物质或自由电子进行引力或电磁相互作用时产生的次级 CMB 温度和偏振各向异性所需的精度。拟议的研究将利用分析方法和大型宇宙学模拟，确定二次宇宙微波背景如何与大尺度结构（LSS）调查相结合，用于约束早期宇宙的模型，例如宇宙膨胀、暗能量物理和宇宙学尺度上的引力性质。本研究中进行的详细预测将定义 CMB 和 LSS 未来观测中可获取的知识边界。 首次探测到双黑洞和双中子星合并产生的引力波开创了引力波天文学时代。这些事件以以前无法进行实验的强度探测重力。观察到的与暗能量相关的宇宙加速膨胀也在如此强大的引力状态下运行。拟议的研究将利用这两个强引力前沿之间的联系，以便利用黑洞、中子星和双星系统设计暗能量、引力和粒子物理的新测试。通过详细的相对论模拟和分析计算，我们将阐明基础物理对引力波和电磁对应物的影响，为现有和近期的引力波观测站提供详细的预测。 拟议的研究将大力推进我的总体目标，即通过其对宇宙学和天体物理学的影响来开发测试基础物理的新方法。相关的培训计划将培养出精通理论和数据以及高度专业化的分析和数值方法的独特合格的总部。这些技能将使 HQP 能够在高影响力的科学或与加拿大不断增长的知识经济相关的行业中追求成功的未来。