Physics and Astronomy Colloquium
Exploring cosmology with the South Pole Telescope
Presented by Amy Bender, Argonne National Lab
Measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) contain the imprint of both early and late universe physics as well as a variety of millimeter-wavelength astrophysical sources. CMB measurements are a cornerstone of our now exceptionally precise Lambda-CDM model of cosmology, however, many questions remain. Did an inflationary epoch occur a fraction of a second after the Big Bang? What is the nature of dark energy? Is the Hubble constant controversial new physics or simply measurement systematics? I will describe the SPT-3G receiver that is currently installed on the South Pole Telescope and how it observes the CMB in search of answers. Now completing the fourth year of survey observations, SPT-3G data is already providing tantalizing hints about what scientific goalposts will be possible in the very near future. I'll highlight a few of these results as well as providing perspectives on the upcoming CMB-S4 experiment.
3:30 pm, Friday, December 2, 2022
PAIS-1100, PAIS
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A schedule of talks within the Department of Physics and Astronomy is available on the P&A web site at http://physics.unm.edu/pandaweb/events/index.php