Periodic Reporting for period 3 - CMBforward (A programme for cosmology from current and next-generation Cosmic Microwave Background experiments)
Période du rapport: 2023-04-01 au 2024-09-30
CMBforward is a project to advance the state of the art in cosmology with new Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) polarisation data.
The current Standard Model of cosmology remains deeply unsatisfactory and incomplete from a theoretical viewpoint, despite the huge progress made with CMB observations from the Planck satellite. The next frontier to address our most important and unresolved questions in cosmology is the analysis of very precise and accurate measurements of CMB polarisation. Over the next five years, high-resolution and high-sensitivity CMB polarisation data will be collected by current and future ground-based experiments. The Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) is one of the leading experiments currently operating and from 2023 the new Simons Observatory (SO) will supersede all existing and funded instruments. Data from ACT and SO will provide the statistical improvement needed to reach fundamental theoretical targets and explore regions currently poorly measured, uncovering new regimes to characterise the cosmological model and to test its validity.
This project capitalises on the PI’s expertise built with Planck and ACT, and leadership in SO, to deliver new CMB cosmology from ACT (during 2020-23) and SO (from 2023). The main focus of the project is the development of new, more precise, and robust data analysis techniques for analysis and scientific exploitation of the high volume of incoming data. The team leads work that will take great strides in constraining the properties of neutrinos, the nature of the primordial fluctuations seeding the cosmic structures, the physics of dark matter and dark energy, and the time of cosmic dawn. Recognising the need and importance of a new dedicated CMB satellite, we also work closely with other European partners and space agencies to design the future LiteBIRD CMB mission.
The current Standard Model of cosmology remains deeply unsatisfactory and incomplete from a theoretical viewpoint, despite the huge progress made with CMB observations from the Planck satellite. The next frontier to address our most important and unresolved questions in cosmology is the analysis of very precise and accurate measurements of CMB polarisation. Over the next five years, high-resolution and high-sensitivity CMB polarisation data will be collected by current and future ground-based experiments. The Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) is one of the leading experiments currently operating and from 2023 the new Simons Observatory (SO) will supersede all existing and funded instruments. Data from ACT and SO will provide the statistical improvement needed to reach fundamental theoretical targets and explore regions currently poorly measured, uncovering new regimes to characterise the cosmological model and to test its validity.
This project capitalises on the PI’s expertise built with Planck and ACT, and leadership in SO, to deliver new CMB cosmology from ACT (during 2020-23) and SO (from 2023). The main focus of the project is the development of new, more precise, and robust data analysis techniques for analysis and scientific exploitation of the high volume of incoming data. The team leads work that will take great strides in constraining the properties of neutrinos, the nature of the primordial fluctuations seeding the cosmic structures, the physics of dark matter and dark energy, and the time of cosmic dawn. Recognising the need and importance of a new dedicated CMB satellite, we also work closely with other European partners and space agencies to design the future LiteBIRD CMB mission.
During this reporting period we have:
* Delivered new cosmological results from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope 4th data release. We have built and released the likelihood software characterising the data and performed the scientific exploitation of the data. We presented new measurements and limits on key cosmological parameters of the standard cosmological model and commonly-explored single parameter extensions, as well as dedicated papers exploring more extended dark energy, dark matter and neutrino physics models. The results also contribute to important open discussions in cosmology concerning tensions between early and late-time Universe estimates of its expansion rate and the clustering of matter. The team is now leading the analysis of the ACT data release 6 which will be exploring the full ACT survey and which will bring us beyond the state of the art set by Planck.
We have also extracted astrophysical information from the ACT data, presenting, releasing and interpreting measurements of astrophysical sources and structures. These include the largest-to-date catalog of galaxy clusters and unprecedented measurements of the polarised Milky Way structure.
* Started the development of the analysis pipeline for the upcoming Simons Observatory. We are building new techniques, software and analysis pipelines to take in and analyse the 2023+ SO observations. These include new, professionally developed open-source codes which have been tested on simulations and Planck data and are being further tested on ACT. In particular, the CMBforward team leads construction of cosmological likelihoods. We have also contributed to the definition and presentation of the Simons Observatory Galactic Science program. The PI chairs the SO Theory and Analysis committee which oversees the full analysis team.
* Contributed to the design and definition of the LiteBIRD mission. This includes new work towards the definition of the instrument, requirements and scientific capabilities of LiteBIRD. The PI is a founding member of the LiteBIRD European collaboration and a member of the European and global governance. During this reporting period we made significant progress towards the consolidation of the multi-partner European support.
We have published ~40 papers; released new software; organised, attended and contributed to ~15 conferences/workshops; held press releases and engaged with the general public and media channels.
* Delivered new cosmological results from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope 4th data release. We have built and released the likelihood software characterising the data and performed the scientific exploitation of the data. We presented new measurements and limits on key cosmological parameters of the standard cosmological model and commonly-explored single parameter extensions, as well as dedicated papers exploring more extended dark energy, dark matter and neutrino physics models. The results also contribute to important open discussions in cosmology concerning tensions between early and late-time Universe estimates of its expansion rate and the clustering of matter. The team is now leading the analysis of the ACT data release 6 which will be exploring the full ACT survey and which will bring us beyond the state of the art set by Planck.
We have also extracted astrophysical information from the ACT data, presenting, releasing and interpreting measurements of astrophysical sources and structures. These include the largest-to-date catalog of galaxy clusters and unprecedented measurements of the polarised Milky Way structure.
* Started the development of the analysis pipeline for the upcoming Simons Observatory. We are building new techniques, software and analysis pipelines to take in and analyse the 2023+ SO observations. These include new, professionally developed open-source codes which have been tested on simulations and Planck data and are being further tested on ACT. In particular, the CMBforward team leads construction of cosmological likelihoods. We have also contributed to the definition and presentation of the Simons Observatory Galactic Science program. The PI chairs the SO Theory and Analysis committee which oversees the full analysis team.
* Contributed to the design and definition of the LiteBIRD mission. This includes new work towards the definition of the instrument, requirements and scientific capabilities of LiteBIRD. The PI is a founding member of the LiteBIRD European collaboration and a member of the European and global governance. During this reporting period we made significant progress towards the consolidation of the multi-partner European support.
We have published ~40 papers; released new software; organised, attended and contributed to ~15 conferences/workshops; held press releases and engaged with the general public and media channels.
The goal of the project for the next period is to lead the cosmological analysis of the ACT data release 6 and of the first year of SO observations. These datasets will have the sensitivity to match and then supersede the current state of art, enabling crucial tests of the standard cosmological model, deeper characterisation of its components and assumptions, and exploration of new physics signatures. These data have the potential to make new discoveries in cosmology and fundamental physics, such as the mass of neutrino particles, the presence of a background of primordial gravitational waves, and the particle nature of dark matter. The work will also play a major role in addressing current tensions between the CMB and other datasets, making sure that we have a coherent description of the whole Universe.
The team will also continue to contribute to the LiteBIRD’s mission definition, supporting the activities needed to pass the next international review phases.
The team will also continue to contribute to the LiteBIRD’s mission definition, supporting the activities needed to pass the next international review phases.