Descripción del proyecto
Una nueva era en el análisis de los datos sobre la radiación de fondo cósmico de microondas
Las observaciones de la radiación de fondo cósmico de microondas (RFCM o CMB, por sus siglas en inglés) —la radiación de fondo que dejó el Big Bang— son importantes para sondear las etapas iniciales y finales de la evolución del universo. A fin de aprovechar los conocimientos obtenidos de los datos procedentes del satélite Planck de la Agencia Espacial Europea y del Telescopio Cosmológico de Atacama (ACT, por sus siglas en inglés), el equipo del proyecto financiado con fondos europeos CMBforward desarrollará métodos avanzados de análisis de datos para interpretar los nuevos datos sobre la RFCM procedentes del ACT (entre 2020 y 2022) y del nuevo Observatorio Simons (a partir de 2022) que harán avanzar el estado de la técnica. Se dedicará un gran esfuerzo a acotar las propiedades de los neutrinos y a investigar la naturaleza de las fluctuaciones primordiales que guían las estructuras cósmicas, la física de la materia y la energía oscuras, y el momento del amanecer cósmico.
Objetivo
After almost two decades, the Standard Model of cosmology remains deeply unsatisfactory and incomplete from a theoretical viewpoint. Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) observations provide a unique window into the early universe and are key to answering our most important and unresolved questions.
The CMB has been mapped recently with unprecedented precision by the Planck satellite. However, its full potential in testing fundamental physics lies in measurements of its polarization at high resolution and sensitivity. This will be unlocked for the first time with current and future ground-based experiments. The Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) is one of the leading experiments currently operating and from 2021 the new Simons Observatory (SO) will supersede all existing and funded instruments.
CMBforward is a programme capitalizing on my expertise built with Planck and ACT, to deliver new CMB cosmology from ACT (during 2020-22) and SO (from 2022) that will advance the state of the art. I will lead work that will take great strides in constraining the properties of neutrinos, the nature of the primordial fluctuations seeding the cosmic structures, the physics of dark matter and dark energy, and the time of cosmic dawn. Recognizing the need and importance of a new dedicated CMB satellite, I will also lead, working closely with other European partners and space agencies, the design of the next CMB mission with European contribution.
This proposal presents a workplan for the development of new, more precise, and robust data analysis techniques, and requests support for the research time and resources needed for analysis and scientific exploitation of the high volume of incoming data. Building on my expertise in characterizing and interpreting CMB data, and with leadership established and secured in key current and future experiments, this project is unique in bringing together past, present and future CMB studies, and will be at the forefront of key frontiers in cosmology.
Ámbito científico
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
ERC-STG - Starting GrantInstitución de acogida
CF24 0DE Cardiff
Reino Unido