International Research Fellowship Program: Probing Dark Energy and Neutrinos with Galaxy Surveys

国际研究奖学金计划使美国科学家和工程师能够在国外进行9到24个月的研究。 该计划的奖项提供了合作研究的机会，以及使用独特或互补的设施，专业知识和国外的实验条件。该奖项将支持博士莫莉斯旺森二十四个月的研究奖学金与博士莎拉Bridle在大学学院伦敦在英国。在这个项目中，PI将研究两个深奥秘的物理学？暗能量和中微子质量利用大型星系巡天。 基础物理学的差异导致星系分布中的聚类模式发生变化。 这些模式是通过对大量星系进行编目的调查来测量的，因此宇宙是一个粒子物理实验室。 然而，星系形成的复杂物理学也会影响聚集模式，导致测量暗能量和中微子性质的系统不确定性。 该项目的重点是发展这些不确定性的详细了解。 所使用的方法包括三个主要步骤：首先，建立编码星系形成物理学的理论模型，并通过与当前星系调查和模拟的数据进行比较来测试它们。 接下来，使用这些模型来计算未来星系调查中暗能量和中微子属性的精度和系统不确定性。 最后，开发可应用于未来调查数据的分析方法，以优化这些科学目标的结果。 该项目的预期成果是一个分析框架，可用于从调查数据中提取有关暗能量和中微子的信息时解释星系形成物理学。此外，PI将积极参与UCL天体物理学的公共宣传活动：在当地学校发表演讲，协助伦敦大学米尔山天文台的公众图尔斯参观和特别活动，并为课堂观察项目开发材料。

0754357SwansonThe International Research Fellowship Program enables U.S. scientists and engineers to conduct nine to twenty-four months of research abroad. The program's awards provide opportunities for joint research, and the use of unique or complementary facilities, expertise and experimental conditions abroad.This award will support a twenty-four month research fellowship by Dr. Molly Swanson to work with Dr. Sarah Bridle at University College London in the UK.In this project, the PI will research two deep mysteries of physics ? dark energy and neutrino mass ? using large galaxy surveys. Differences in fundamental physics lead to changes in the clustering patterns in the galaxy distribution. These patterns are measured by surveys that catalog vast numbers of galaxies, thus the universe as a particle physics laboratory. However, the complicated physics of galaxy formation impacts the clustering patterns as well, leading to systematic uncertainties in measuring the properties of dark energy and neutrinos. This project focuses on developing a detailed understanding of these uncertainties. The approach being used consists of three main steps: First, build theoretical models that encode the galaxy formation physics and test them by comparing to data from current galaxy surveys and from simulations. Next, use these models to compute the precision and systematic uncertainties for dark energy and neutrino properties expected from future galaxy surveys. Finally, develop analysis methods that can be applied to future survey data that will optimize the results for these science goals. The expected outcome of this project is an analytical framework that can be used to account for galaxy formation physics when extracting information about dark energy and neutrinos from survey data.Additionally, the PI will be actively involved in UCL Astrophysics public outreach activities: giving talks at local schools, assisting with tours and special events for the general public at the University of London Mill Hill Observatory, and developing materials for classroom observational projects.