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Cosmic Inflation and Structure Formation Through Global Analysis

Project description

Advancing our understanding of the cosmos

Recent high-precision experiments have deepened our understanding of the cosmos by measuring the diffuse extragalactic background light. While the cosmic microwave background (CMB) offers insights into the Big Bang, the cosmic infrared and optical backgrounds (CIB and COB) illuminate the evolution of large-scale structures. Current measurements face challenges from astrophysical confusion and systematic uncertainties, making it crucial to address all sources of error. The ERC-funded Origins project provides stringent constraints on primordial inflationary gravitational waves. It will also develop the most accurate map of CIB fluctuations to date and potentially create the first map of large-scale COB fluctuations. Additionally, it will enhance our understanding of thermal dust emission in the Milky Way and improve models of zodiacal light.

Objective

During the last decades, high-precision experiments have made increasingly detailed measurements of
diffuse Extragalactic Background Light (EBL) emitted by cosmological sources. This has revolutionized
the understanding of our cosmic origins. The Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) is our most precious
resource for understanding the Big Bang, while the Cosmic Infrared and Optical Backgrounds (CIB and
COB) provide unique constraints on the evolution of large scale structure from the first galaxies to
today. Until recently, measurements of these effects were limited by either foregrounds or instrumental
noise. However, the combined signal-to-noise ratio has now grown so large that the interplay between
astrophysical confusion and instrumental systematic uncertainties dominate the error budget. To make
further process, it has become critical to account for all sources of uncertainties simultaneously. In the
Origins project, I will solve this challenge through joint integrated end-to-end analysis of multiple state-
of-the-art experiments to construct a single coherent model of all main diffuse astrophysical emission
processes from 1 um to 23 GHz. In a novel approach, Origins will utilize archival observations from
ACT, AKARI, COBE/DIRBE, COBE/FIRAS, IRAS, Planck, and WMAP, many in the form of raw time-
ordered data, with upcoming measurements from Simons Observatory and SPHEREx. This will result in
the world’s strongest and most robust constraints on primordial inflationary gravitational waves; the most
accurate map of CIB fluctuations published to date; and possibly the world’s first map of large-scale COB
fluctuations. Simultaneously, it will redefine our understanding of thermal dust emission in the Milky
Way spanning a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum, and will improve the precision of current
models of Zodiacal Light by several orders of magnitude. This Open Science project will define a new
paradigm for next-generation CMB B-mode and EBL experiments.

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 human-validated.

Programme(s)

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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.

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.

HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2024-STG

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Host institution

UNIVERSITETET I OSLO
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.

€ 1 499 984,00
Address
PROBLEMVEIEN 5-7
0313 Oslo
Norway

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Region
Norge Oslo og Viken Oslo
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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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.

€ 1 499 984,00

Beneficiaries (1)

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