Mapping Dark Matter on Large and Small Scales with the Cosmic Microwave Background

宇宙微波背景（CMB）的光携带着大量未开发的信息，包括宇宙是如何形成的，以及难以捉摸的中微子粒子的特性。新一代的CMB实验即将上线，部分原因是对实验基础设施的重大投资。然而，迫切需要在分析当前和即将发布的数据方面进行大量投资。该奖项将允许使用先进的ACTPol （AdvACT）数据进行必要的数据分析，以测量中微子粒子的质量。该奖项还将允许开发分析，利用西蒙斯天文台（SO）的数据来探测早期宇宙的引力波，以了解宇宙是如何形成的。这一提议的更广泛的影响是，PI将为年轻的女大学生、小学生和公众带来宇宙学研究的兴奋。PI将通过以下方式来实现这一目标：1)通过石溪女性科学与工程荣誉项目（WISE）指导和指导女本科生；2)作为ASTRO项目的一部分，在当地小学担任“访问课堂天文学家”；3)每年就暗物质、暗能量、早期宇宙、引力波和宇宙中微子背景等各种主题进行数次公开演讲。这项提议的第一个研究目标是利用AdvACT的数据，测量在CMB光到达我们的过程中，引力透镜使其弯曲了多少，以便测量中微子粒子的质量。第二个研究目标是共同开发探测原始引力波的b模消光分析，以及监督关键SO科学目标所需的所有CMB透镜分析。这项提议的研究具有潜在的变革性，因为它可能导致用AdvACT数据检测中微子质量的总和。此外，这项研究可以利用SO数据探测原始引力波，为我们的宇宙如何开始提供关键的线索。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The light of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) carries a wealth of untapped information including how the Universe was created and the properties of the elusive neutrino particles. A new generation of CMB experiments are coming online, due in part to a significant investment in experimental infrastructure. However, there is a critical need to complement this with a significant investment in the analysis of the current and upcoming data. This award will allow the necessary data analysis to measure the masses of the neutrino particles with Advanced ACTPol (AdvACT) data. This award will also allow the development of analysis to detect gravitational waves from the early Universe, using Simons Observatory (SO) data,to understand how the Universe was created. The broader impacts of this proposal are that the PI will bring the excitement of cosmological research to young female undergraduates, elementary-school students, and the public. The PI will do this by: 1) mentoring and instructing women undergraduates through the Stony Brook Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Honors program, by 2) being a ``visiting classroom astronomer'' in local elementary schools as part of the Project ASTRO program, and by 3) giving public talks several times per year on a variety of topics such as Dark Matter, Dark Energy, the Early Universe, Gravitational Waves, and the Cosmic Neutrino Background. The first research objective of this proposal is to measure how much gravitational lensing has bent the CMB light as this light has travelled to us, using AdvACT data, in order to measure the masses of the neutrino particles. The second research objective is to co-develop the B-mode delensing analysis to detect primordial gravitational waves, as well as oversee all CMB lensing analyses for SO needed for key SO science goals. The proposed research is potentially transformational because it could result in a detection of the sum of the neutrino masses with AdvACT data. In addition, this research could enable a detection of primordial gravitational waves with SO data, shedding critical light on how our Universe began.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.