Project description
Using supernovae to solve the mystery of accelerating cosmic expansion
Discrepancies regarding how the universe expands are challenging the idea that dark energy is just a fixed cosmological constant, urging the need for new, independent cosmological measurements. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the PEGASUS project will map how fast massive cosmic structures grow by tracking Type Ia supernovae. Researchers will first build an analytical pipeline using current ATLAS survey data. This system will then be scaled to process 200 000 supernovae from the Rubin Observatory. The data will be combined with that of weak gravitational lensing with the aim of exposing the true nature of dark energy.
Objective
Understanding the nature of dark energy, which drive the accelerated expansion of the universe, is one of the greatest questions in modern cosmology. Today, the rise of persistent tensions in observational data is challenging the standard description of dark energy as a cosmological constant, urging the need for new, independent cosmological measurements. Constraints on the growth of cosmic structure (GoS) constitute a key path to address these tensions by probing both dark energy and gravity.
My MSCA fellowship proposes to develop a novel approach to constrain GoS using Type Ia Supernovae (SNe Ia). SNe Ia are one of the main probe of modern cosmology, enabling precise distance measurement across the universe. However, the number of SNe Ia available for cosmological analysis has remained relatively low, reaching about 2 000 SNe Ia in the most recent dataset. The Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time (Rubin-LSST), starting in fall 2025, will revolutionize the field by delivering ~200 000 cosmological-grade SNe Ia. This unprecedented sample will, for the first time, unlock precise constraints of the GoS from SNe Ia only.
In this fellowship, I will (1) lead the first pre-LSST measurement of the GoS using the SN Ia data from the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System survey; (2) scale up the methodology developed in the analysis of ATLAS data for Rubin-LSST, delivering a robust GoS analysis pipeline validated on realistic simulations and first-year data; (3) establish synergies between Rubin-LSST probes by extending the pipeline to a joint analysis of GoS using SNe Ia and Weak Lensing data, and deliver a proof-of-concept measurement with first-year data. By laying the essential groundwork for these novel analyses in the Rubin-LSST era, this project will open new avenues to understand the nature of dark energy and gravity.
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 planetary sciences asteroids
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy physical cosmology
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy stellar astronomy supernova
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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-MSCA-2025-PF
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
OX1 2JD Oxford
United Kingdom
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.