Objective
The main goal of this project is to study the fundamental properties of field theories of space-time, their cosmological consequences and observational signatures. My approach aims to use the next generation of cosmological and astrophysical observations to test the validity of General Relativity on scales where it has not been fully tested yet and its resilience against alternative theories with modifications on cosmological scales.
I will first study the implications of the quantum aspects of modified gravity theories beyond the tree level analyses for their viability, consistency and predictability. This will reduce the allowed alternative theories significantly. I will then investigate the physical consequences of these theoretically promising theories for cosmological and astrophysical scenarios. As part of my approach, I will use large galaxy surveys to constrain effects on the dynamics of cosmic structure formation from these modifications of gravity. In addition, I will confront modified theoretical predictions with Planck measurements of the Cosmic Microwave Background, type-Ia supernova data, measurements of the Baryon Acoustic Oscillations and gravitational lensing. Along the way, my group and I will crucially contribute to the development of the necessary analytical and numerical tools to exhaustively analyse such data in the search for modifications of gravity.
In addition, the recent detection of gravitational waves by the LIGO team has paved an exciting new avenue for testing gravitational theories. These new observations will put even more stringent constraints on alternative theories. As part of the proposed research, I will also extensively exploit this new observational channel to test the validity of General Relativity and put new effects of modified gravity on trial. In particular, the propagation speed of tensor perturbations in modified gravity theories will be severely restricted by observations of gravitational waves.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
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Funding Scheme
ERC-STG - Starting GrantHost institution
69117 Heidelberg
Germany