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Shedding Light on the Nature of Dark Matter and Dark Energy with Multi-Wavelength All-Sky Surveys

Project description

Research lights the way to more accurate cosmological models

Despite two decades of intensive research, the nature of dark energy and dark matter remains elusive. Galaxy clusters are typically formed in the highest density peaks of the dark matter density field, offering a powerful probe into structure formation. Galaxy cluster abundance in the universe strongly depends on the underlying cosmological model. The EU-funded DarkQuest project will leverage data from the first all-sky survey in the 0.2-10 keV X-ray band, eROSITA, as well as available weak lensing signal data to constrain cosmological models. The project aspires to measure the energy density of the total matter, the normalised power spectrum of dark energy, dark energy’s equation of state, and neutrino masses with unprecedented levels of precision.

Objective

Despite two decades of intensive efforts after the discovery of the accelerating expansion of the Universe, the nature of dark energy that dominates 68 percent of the energy density remains unknown. The majority of the remainder is in dark matter. Similarly, the elementary particles which constitute its mass is unidentified. Galaxy clusters trace the highest peaks in the cosmic density field and offer an independent and powerful probe of the growth of structure. Their overall abundance on the sky is strongly dependent on underlying cosmology. With the new availability of all sky surveys of galaxy clusters in the X-ray band with eROSITA and the utility of weak lensing signal in accurate estimation of cluster masses, we are on the verge of constraining cosmology with percent level precision. We propose to measure the energy density of the total matter, the normalization of the power spectrum of dark energy, the dark energy equation-of-state, and neutrino masses with a percent level accuracy. All sky survey observation with eROSITA and complimentary weak lensing observations with HSC also offer new prospects to test general relativity at large scales, and constrain well-motivated dark matter models (e.g. warm dark matter and self-interacting dark matter). Europe will have an opportunity to be on the forefront of observational cosmology and set the stage for the upcoming experiments if this proposal is funded. Given my expertise in the field of galaxy clusters and my role as the chair of the clusters and cosmology working group of the eROSITA consortium, I am uniquely suited to lead this effort and accomplish the goals of this proposal.

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) ERC-2020-COG

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Host institution

MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 2 000 000,00
Address
HOFGARTENSTRASSE 8
80539 MUNCHEN
Germany

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Region
Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 2 000 000,00

Beneficiaries (1)

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