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No time for cosmology: Decoding dynamics from static cosmological correlations

Project description

Decoding primordial perturbations and the emergence of time

Deciphering the universe’s inception relies on decoding primordial perturbations imprinted at the hot Big Bang. These spatial correlations contain invaluable cosmological information about epochs prior to the Big Bang, but they become elusive due to their evolution, which cannot be directly probed. Traditional approaches falter in elucidating this temporal progression directly from static patterns. With this in mind, the ERC-funded NOTIMEFORCOSMO project will explore the reformulation of cosmological perturbation theory. It aims to unveil the emergence of time from the static distribution of cosmic perturbations. Through systematic development of innovative tools that decode dynamics and kinematics intrinsically from the hot Big Bang, it seeks to unlock the secrets of the universe’s genesis. This approach offers a potential glimpse into the universe’s origins and its imprint in cosmic correlations.

Objective

"The beginnings of the universe are encoded in the statistical properties of primordial perturbations imprinted at the hot Big Bang. Our understanding of primordial cosmology comes from measurements of these imprinted spatial correlations. They form a static pattern, and its apparent lack of causality is elegantly explained by an earlier period of time evolution. This time evolution from very primordial eras of the universe can not be observed directly. For conceptual and practical purposes, a reformulation of cosmological perturbation theory in which time is emergent is of fundamental importance. We hypothesize that there is an intrinsic description of primordial fluctuations that only uses their statistical properties and in which time emerges. Our approach has three steps. First, we propose a systematic development of the theory of ""boundary differential equations"" for cosmological correlation functions, and the development of new kinematical variables for cosmological correlators. With these tools in hand, we will calculate a large set of ``theoretical data"": cosmological correlations of many different particles, coming from a variety of early universe scenarios. With this data in hand, we will search for new principles from which time evolution emerges from the static distribution of cosmological perturbations. Having a reformulation of cosmological evolution with emergent time, a glimpse into the possible beginning of our universe might become accessible, as well as its imprint in cosmological correlations."

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) ERC-2023-COG

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Host institution

SCUOLA NORMALE SUPERIORE
Net EU contribution
€ 1 610 469,00
Address
PIAZZA DEI CAVALIERI 7
56126 Pisa
Italy
Region
Centro (IT) Toscana Pisa
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
€ 1 610 469,00

Beneficiaries (1)