Project description
Searching for the needle in our primordial haystack
‘Inflation’ refers to the postulated rapid expansion of the universe after the Big Bang. Cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation is the remnant of the first light able to travel freely through the universe; it was released soon after the Big Bang and is thus the earliest observable. Gravitational waves would have left their signatures on the CMB in the form of tiny specific anisotropies in CMB polarisation called B-modes, but these are yet to be detected. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the CMB-INFLATE project is targeting data analysis and modelling innovations leading to the identification of the mechanism behind cosmic inflation with future experiments at large angular scales.
Objective
The cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation was emitted when the Universe was 380,000 years old and is observed today at 2.7 K. It is a wonderful probe to study the evolution of the Universe. Tiny anisotropies in its temperature and polarization are induced by quantum scalar (density) and tensor fluctuations (gravitational waves, GW) generated during inflation, a period of accelerated expansion arising 10-35 s after the big bang. Primordial GW imprinted a unique parity-odd pattern on CMB polarization, called B-modes. Such modes, undetected as of today, are a direct probe of the poorly known physics of inflation, and main target of several forthcoming observational projects. These will be search for B-modes at large (> 10°) and intermediate (~1°) angular scales. Among such efforts, Japan is proposing a satellite project (LiteBIRD, to be launched end 20's) with contributions from EU agencies, NASA and CSA. Large angular scales are difficult to measure due to Galactic emissions and instrumental systematics, requiring careful, detailed modelling and advanced data analysis techniques. EU scientists rely on the legacy of the ESA Planck mission (2009), but improvements of analysis methods and modelling of the instruments are now required. The main goal of CMB-INFLATE is to build a community of scientists dedicated to the development of innovative analysis of large angular scale CMB polarisation data to identify the inflation mechanism. CMB-INFLATE will focus on: (1) modelling hardware developed in three continents, including polarization modulators, optical systems, and detectors; (2) the development and implementation of innovative techniques to mitigate systematics from the sky and the instrument. Such advancements will be provided by a wide-scale international consortium involving instrumentalists, data analysis experts and theoreticians. The CMB-INFLATE outcome is expected to strengthen European leadership in the field of primordial GW and connected science.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors optical sensors
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy observational astronomy gravitational waves
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering signal processing
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy physical cosmology big bang
- natural sciences computer and information sciences data science data processing
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.3. - Stimulating innovation by means of cross-fertilisation of knowledge
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-RISE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-RISE-2020
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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.
75006 Paris
France
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.