Final Report Summary - MDEPUGS (Measuring Dark Energy Properties Using Galaxy Surveys)
This grant has enabled a team of astronomers at the University of Portsmouth to help produce some of the largest ever maps of the Universe ever made. They then statistically analysed these maps, measuring the scale of the Universe and the rate at which large-scale structure is growing within in. These measurements confirm the picture where the expansion of the Universe is currently accelerating, being driven by an unknown physical process, which has been termed "Dark Energy". The rate of structure growth is consistent with General Relativity, supporting Einstein's theory. The team has also prepared and applied novel analysis techniques that further support this model, and has undertaken predictive work for the next generation of galaxy surveys including the European Space Agency Euclid mission.