Astronomical Consequences of Fundamental Physics

Cornell University, Ithaca NY

Investigators

Abstract

The nature of dark energy and whether string theory can be tested by astronomical observations are two pressing questions facing Astronomy and its relationship to Particle Physics. This proposal has three main focuses. One is the study of models of the dark energy that arise from modifications of general relativity, and practical tests of such theories ranging from laboratory experiments to solar system tests to observational cosmology. The second is to determine what kinds of observations and experiments would be needed to definitively conclude that the dark energy is simply a cosmological constant. The third focus is how one might detect cosmic superstrings, which may arise in superstring inflation and could be abundant today. Explicity we will perform a numerical simulation of the binding of two cosmic strings to form a lower energy state, an incompletely understood process that is crucial to the evolution of cosmic string networks. The PI's will investigate how to search large, wide-field, high angular resolution astronomical surveys for evidence of gravitational lensing by cosmic strings. Broader Impacts of the proposed research will include the training Cornell Ph. D. students.The research will aslo promote links between the cosmological community and the string community.