From Planck to Planets: Probing the Structure of the Universe

我们建议开展一项研究计划，探索从早期宇宙到现在的结构形成。我们的计划解决了STFC路线图中的几个关键科学问题，并包含五个相互关联的主题：（A）宇宙微波背景的研究，（B）群体和集群的宇宙学模拟，（C）引力透镜，星系形成和暗物质，（D）整个宇宙的星星形成，（E）银河系及其组成部分：研究太阳系外行星，黑洞和银河系结构与引力微透镜。天体物理学正进入一个激动人心的精确时代。过去十年的许多观测表明，宇宙的几何形状是平坦的，宇宙由暗物质和暗能量主导，普通物质仅占总物质能量密度的5%左右。结构形成的标准（LambdaCDM）模型在解释许多观测结果方面是成功的。然而，许多关键问题仍有待回答，特别是今天的结构，如太阳系外行星，恒星，星系是如何从早期宇宙中微小的量子波动中出现的，这些波动在宇宙微波背景辐射中显现出来。我们的建议结合了Jodrell Bank天体物理中心的理论和多波长（从无线电到伽马射线）观测专业知识，以解决这个关键问题。我们将使用现有的和下一代的地面仪器和空间卫星（如普朗克）实现了几个重要目标：精确确定宇宙学参数，理解引力的本质（主题A）和探测星系团中的热气体含量（主题A和B）;恒星如何以及在何处形成，以及随后的超新星爆炸和中心超大质量黑洞的吸积如何调节星系的形成，星系团和星系团（主题B和D）;恒星如何与我们自己和其他星系中的暗物质混合（主题B-E）;最后是用引力微透镜技术发现恒星质量的黑洞和太阳系外行星（主题E）。我们将利用Jodrell Bank的标志性地位进行公共宣传，特别是通过Jodrell Bank游客中心和英国排名第一的定期广泛主题天文学播客The Jodcast。Jodrell Bank天体物理中心得到了曼彻斯特大学的大力支持-该中心最近搬到了新的Alan Turing大楼，在过去三年中任命了八名新学者，以进一步巩固教学和研究活动。

We propose to carry out a research programme to probe structure formation from the early Universe to the present day. Our programme addresses several key Science Questions in the STFC roadmap, and contains five interlinked themes: (A) studies of the cosmic microwave background, (B) cosmological simulations of groups and clusters, (C) gravitational lenses, galaxy formation and dark matter, (D) star formation throughout the universe, (E) the Galaxy and its constituents: Investigating extrasolar planets, black holes and the Galactic structure with gravitational microlensing. Astrophysics is now entering an exciting precision era. Many observations in the last decade indicate that the geometry of the Universe is flat and the Universe is dominated by dark matter and dark energy, with the ordinary matter contributing only about 5% to the total matter-energy density. A standard (LambdaCDM) model of structure formation is successful in explaining many observations. However, many key questions remain to be answered, in particular how present-day structure such as extrasolar planets, stars, galaxies emerge from the tiny quantum fluctuations in the early universe, which reveals themselves in cosmic microwave background radiation. Our proposal combines theoretical and multi-wavelength (ranging from radio to gamma-ray) observational expertise at the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics to address this critical question. We will use existing and next generation ground-based instruments and space satellites (such as PLANCK) to achieve several important goals: to determine precisely the cosmological parameters, to understand the nature of gravity (theme A) and probe the hot gas content in clusters of galaxies (themes A and B); how and where stars form and how the subsequent supernova explosions and accretions onto central super-massive black holes regulate the formation of galaxies, groups and clusters (themes B and D); how stars mix with dark matter in our own and other galaxies (themes B-E), and finally the discovery of stellar-mass black holes and extrasolar planets with the gravitational microlensing technique (theme E). We will exploit the iconic status of Jodrell Bank to perform public outreach, in particular through the Jodrell Bank Visitor Centre and the UK's top-ranked regular broad-topic astronomy podcast, The Jodcast. Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics enjoys strong support from The University of Manchester - the Centre has recently moved to the new Alan Turing building, and eight new academics have been appointed in the last three years to further consolidate the teaching and research activities.