Cosmological Signatures of New Physics Beyond the TeV Scale

University Of California-Davis, Davis CA

Investigators

Abstract

The proposed research involves exploring novel connections between cosmology and the new physics beyond the Standard Model. The PI plans to use the Cosmic Microwave Background as a probe of the new physics near the scale of inflation that could leave a small, but detectable, imprint in the CMB anisotropy. The PI proposes a new explanation for the Type IA supernovae observations, which are postulated to be fainter because of dynamical conversion of photons into axions, without cosmic acceleration. The PI proposes that a new particle, the ultralight axion might be another interpretation of recent data which would replace the need for dark energy in the universe. The PI also proposes to investigate whether the dynamics of extra dimensions can generate the primordial seed for extra-galactic magnetic fields.