Project description
Solving the universe’s dark mysteries
Cosmology’s Lambda Cold Dark Matter (ΛCDM) model has successfully explained the universe’s evolution across vast scales and epochs, portraying a cosmos dominated by dark matter and dark energy. Yet, the true nature of these enigmatic components remains unresolved. Recent anomalies challenge the balance between cosmic expansion and structure growth, leaving cosmologists without a clear solution. Could the answers lie in the extreme environments of the cosmic web, such as voids and superclusters? The EU-funded MAPEX project seeks to solve this mystery by leveraging cutting-edge data from the Vera Rubin Observatory and the Legacy Survey of Space and Time. Combining machine learning techniques with cosmological data, MAPEX pioneers the use of deep learning to explore gravitational signals and uncover hidden truths about our universe.
Objective
The consensus ΛCDM (Lambda-Cold Dark Matter) model of cosmology has shown remarkable explanatory power over a variety of cosmic scales and epochs, and it narrates a reassuring story of a universe currently filled mostly with dark matter and dark energy. Yet, this explanation is not fully satisfactory because the actual nature of the dark components remains a puzzle. Furthermore, cosmologists have recently reported significant anomalies concerning the delicate balance of cosmic expansion and structure growth, without a compelling solution.
The main objective of the MAPEX project is to reassess this far-reaching problem from a new perspective, and determine if cosmological tensions can be traced to the most extreme cosmic web environments: deep voids and dense superclusters. This EU-funded action will allow me to access unprecedented new data taken at the Vera Rubin Observatory, solidifying and broadening the Hungarian contributions to the next-generation Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) project based in Chile. To go beyond the state-of-the-art, I will acquire extensive skills on machine learning techniques from expert researchers at Konkoly Observatory to combine with my groundwork results on cosmological data analysis from, above all, the Dark Energy Survey (DES).
As a key innovation, I will develop deep learning models to study extreme voids and superclusters. First, I will apply convolutional neural network methods to augment traditional cross-correlations between galaxy density fluctuations and the anisotropies of the Cosmic Microwave Background. Then, I will capture the dependence of their gravitational signals on the physical properties of dark energy and dark matter. The proposed analyses of simulations and early observational LSST data will help resolve whether some as-yet unknown physical effects or systematic biases complicate the picture in cosmology. Either way we will gather fundamentally new knowledge about the Universe on the largest scales.
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.
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.
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy astrophysics dark matter
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy physical cosmology
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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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HORIZON.4.1 - Widening participation and spreading excellence
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.4.1.5 - Fostering brain circulation of researchers and excellence initiatives
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-WIDERA-2022-TALENTS-04
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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.
1121 Budapest
Hungary
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.