Precision Cosmography with Strong Lensing Galaxy Clusters

Descrizione del progetto

Combinare dati da singoli ammassi di galassie per gettare luce sulla materia e l’energia oscure

La matematica è il linguaggio attraverso cui descriviamo il nostro mondo fisico mediante l’utilizzo di equazioni in cui sono presenti sia costanti, sia variabili. Il modello cosmologico standard, la nostra miglior descrizione dell’origine e dell’evoluzione dell’universo e della predominanza della materia e dell’energia oscure, non fa eccezione. I progressi compiuti a livello tecnologico e il miglioramento delle osservazioni sperimentali hanno suggerito la necessità di rivedere le incertezze di modellizzazione associate ai parametri cosmologici o alle costanti che limitano il modello. Il progetto ROSEAU, sostenuto dal programma di azioni Marie Skłodowska-Curie, sta perseguendo proprio questo scopo avvalendosi di una sonda cosmologica indipendente e complementare intesa a migliorare la precisione dei valori stimati riferiti ai parametri cosmologici.

Obiettivo

The standard cosmological model states that 95% of the total mass-energy content of the Universe is made of dark matter and dark energy. Ambitious theoretical, technical, and observational efforts, within Europe, currently aim at shedding light on the nature and properties of these, still highly mysterious, components. As state-of-the-art experiments become more precise, some tension between measurements has arisen pointing to underlying biases or a call for new physics. It is then crucial to further explore and develop other independent and complementary cosmological probes today. The aim of the project is to perform pRecision cOsmography with Strong lEnsing gAlaxy clUsters (ROSEAU) by carrying out a complementary analysis using state-of-the-art observations and simulations. The objectives of ROSEAU are to 1) assess the impact of modelling uncertainties for precision cosmography within parametric algorithms with simulations, 2) examine the recovery of cosmological parameters by combining galaxy clusters over a wide range of redshifts, and 3) combine, for the first time, constraints from individual observed clusters at different redshifts to improve the precision on the estimation of the cosmological parameters. ROSEAU is an innovative project built to impact several areas within the cosmology and strong lensing fields. The project will be completed at the University of Milan, in a leading multi-disciplinary and collaborative environment. I will bring extensive experience in the strong lensing modelling and some unique expertise on the cosmography technique. This will facilitate the research in the group and the transfer of knowledge, and expand my observational and modelling experience, transferable skills, and professional networks. Carrying out ROSEAU within a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship will enhance the development of my career as a complete and independent leading researcher, with a reinforced position within the strong lensing and cosmology fields.