The Universe as a laboratory for fundamental physics

  • Physics and Astronomy Colloquium

October 4, 2024 3:30 PM - October 4, 2024 4:30 PM
PAIS 1100

Host:
Dinesh Loomba
Presenter:
Dr. Francis-Yan Cyr-Racine (UNM)
Zoom Link
Cosmology has now entered a data-rich era in which it is possible to ask sophisticated questions about the origins and evolution of the Universe. Cosmological data are now precise enough to shed light on the fundamental nature of dark matter, probe the physics of neutrinos, and map out the detailed expansion history of the Universe. At the same time, persistent discrepancies between different cosmological measurements continue to challenge our theoretical understanding of cosmic evolution and of the energy content driving it. I will highlight the progress that the UNM particle cosmology research group has made in understanding the possible physical scenarios that could be responsible for these tensions. Pending yet-unknown systematics, I will argue that current measurements seriously challenge our contemporary understanding of fundamental physics, including our leading hypothesis for what dark matter is. As a way to test such scenarios, I will also highlight recent work by my group to probe dark matter physics using observations of galaxies near and far. 

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