Investigating Fundamental Physics with Cosmological Probes

用宇宙学探测器研究基础物理

基本信息

批准号：
2013953
负责人：
Mark Hertzberg
金额：
$ 24万
依托单位：
Tufts University
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Continuing Grant
财政年份：
2020
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2020-09-01 至 2024-08-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2013953&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
Investigating Fundamental Physics Cosmological Probes

项目摘要

This award funds the research activities of Professor Mark Hertzberg at Tufts University.Many branches of modern physics are built upon the Standard Model of particle physics and cosmology. Future developments in fundamental physics will arise from addressing several unexplained features of our universe. Some of the most pressing questions arise in cosmology: What physics lies beyond the Standard Model that might be relevant to the early universe? What is the nature of dark matter? What is the underlying structure of gravitation? As part of his research, Professor Hertzberg will investigate specific aspects of these important questions by building theoretical models and comparing to cosmological data. This research therefore advances the national interest by pursuing basic scientific questions of high significance. This project will also have broader impacts. It will involve mentees, who will play an important role in developing models and in computational work, and help them develop essential research skills. More technically, this project will explore new physics required for consistent dynamics of the Standard Model after inflation, explore novel probes of light axion dark matter and new dark-matter models, and investigate the origin of Poincare symmetry from consistency of the gravitational sector. This work involves forming theoretical models, requiring both internal consistency and agreement with observations, all studied rigorously using the guiding principles of effective field theory. On the front concerning physics beyond the Standard Model, the primary objectives are to constrain features of the Standard Model, including the Higgs boson and models of inflation, from consistency with early-universe dynamics. On the dark-matter front, the primary objectives are to investigate astrophysical consequences from dark-matter candidates, such as novel properties of axions, and to explore natural models of dark matter. On the gravitational front, the primary objectives are to determine the necessary and sufficient conditions to build a local theory of gravitons.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该奖项为塔夫茨大学（Tufts University）的马克·赫兹伯格（Mark Hertzberg）教授的研究活动提供了资金。现代物理学的许多分支是建立在粒子物理和宇宙学的标准模型基于的。基本物理学的未来发展将通过解决我们宇宙的几个无法解释的特征。宇宙学中出现了一些最紧迫的问题：哪些物理学超出了可能与早期宇宙相关的标准模型？暗物质的本质是什么？重力的基础结构是什么？作为他的研究的一部分，赫兹伯格教授将通过构建理论模型并与宇宙学数据进行比较来研究这些重要问题的特定方面。因此，这项研究通过提出高意义的基本科学问题来推动国家利益。该项目还将产生更广泛的影响。它将涉及受训者，他们将在开发模型和计算工作中发挥重要作用，并帮助他们发展基本的研究技能。从技术上讲，该项目将探索通货膨胀后标准模型一致动力学所需的新物理学，探索光轴线暗物质和新的深色物质模型的新型探针，并研究引力部门一致性的庞加雷对称性的起源。这项工作涉及形成理论模型，需要内部一致性和与观察的一致性，所有这些模型都使用有效现场理论的指导原则进行了严格的研究。在标准模型之外的物理方面的正面，主要目标是限制标准模型的特征，包括Higgs Boson和通货膨胀模型，与早期宇宙动力学的一致性。在黑暗的前沿，主要目标是研究黑暗候选者的天体物理后果，例如轴心的新特性，并探索暗物质的自然模型。在引力方面，主要目标是确定建立当地重力理论的必要条件。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并使用基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛的影响审查标准，认为值得通过评估来获得支持。