Novel Astrophysical Windows into Fundamental Physics: From Big Bang to Black Holes, and the Dark Universe

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When it comes to witnessing the inner workings of our cosmos, the past few years could not have been more exciting: The Large Hadron Collider has discovered the last missing piece of the puzzle in the Standard Model of Particle Physics, the elusive Higgs particle (2013 Nobel Prize). LIGO and Virgo observatories can now map tiny ripples in the geometry of spacetime (so-called gravitational waves) emanating from merging Black Holes, reaching us from across the universe (2017 Nobel prize). The Event Horizon Telescope has provided us with the first image of a monstrous Black Hole feeding at the heart of a giant galaxy. Last but not least, thanks to advances in precision cosmology (as recognized in 2006, 2011, and 2019 Nobel prizes), we can now measure cosmic expansion at sub-percent precision, revealing new twists in the mystery of Dark Energy, and even possible cracks in the nature of gravity on the largest observable scales. Nevertheless, a description of Quantum Gravity, where our theories of the micro- and macro-worlds would meet, remains as elusive as ever. On the gravity side, Dark Matter, Dark Energy, Big Bang, and Black Holes are indispensable components of our observable universe, yet have remained impregnable to our theoretical scrutiny. On the quantum side, in spite of great theoretical advances in proposals for Quantum Gravity, finding concrete models of these ubiquitous astrophysical phenomena remains an uphill battle. This proposal aims to exploit novel experimental and observational opportunities to tackle these deep theoretical mysteries. The Equivalence Principle (or the universality of the speed of light) was one of the greatest insights that led Einstein to the theory of Relativity. However, despite its great empirical success, Relativity predicts its own demise, e.g., at the earliest moments of the Big Bang when temperatures exceed 1031 C and within the hearts of Black Holes that form upon the death of massive stars. Could it be that the Equivalence Principle is violated in such extreme conditions, in a theory of Quantum Gravity? This simple assertion can potentially solve many of the puzzles associated with the Big Bang and Black Holes and lead to sharp predictions for cosmological and gravitational wave observations that I plan to test with upcoming experiments. I also plan to explore other novel windows into the Dark Universe, probing the nanostructure of Dark Matter and the gravity of a dynamical quantum vacuum. These goals can only be achieved through a talented and diverse cohort of junior scientists, pushing the boundaries of human knowledge while learning invaluable skills, ranging from Data Science and Mathematical Modeling to Scientific Collaboration. Their noble pursuit will not only bring us a unique cosmic perspective and lay the foundations of future technologies, but also instill a culture of scholarship, curiosity, and innovation that will ultimately enrich our lives, right here in Canada and across the world.