Tufts/CfA/MIT Cosmology Seminar, at Tufts:

Tuesday, September 23, 2003
2:30 pm
Robinson Hall, Room 250
Refreshments at 2:00 in Knipp Library, Room 251

"Current and Future CMB Measurements and New Physics"


Levon Pogosian
Tufts University

Abstract:

In this talk I will discuss several topics related to the recent and future CMB data and their influence on cosmological model building.

One of the most intriguing results from the WMAP experiment is the observed lack of power on large scales, when compared to the prediction of the ``standard'' LambdaCDM model. Several alternate models have been proposed that give better fits on large scales, all of which involve introducing an additional parameter. I will discuss applying Bayesian model-comparison to select amongst them.

I will also talk about implications of possible detection of the B-type polarization. If observed, depending on the scale, B-type polarization could be due to, among other possibilities, primordial gravitational waves, cosmological magnetic fields and cosmic strings. I will discuss current constraints on the cosmic string contribution from WMAP and 2dFGRS experiments. If time permits, I will describe how measurements of the Faraday rotation of the CMB can help to isolate the helical component of a cosmological magnetic field.

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