The Physics & Astronomy Colloquium Series presents Anže Slosar, of Brookhaven National Laboratory, on “21-cm Cosmology in the 20s” on Friday, Feb. 16, at 4:10 p.m. in Walter 245.
Anže Slosar
Abstract: Universe is full of neutral hydrogen that shines in the 21-cm spin-flip transition. Mapping the universe in 3D using this line is in principle an extremely cheap and simple method, but has in practice proven to be a devilishly difficult.
I will argue that this technique nevertheless offers the most promising way to complete the programmatic goal of measuring the linear scales of the universe deep into the pre-acceleration era after the current crop of optical experiments complete observing. It will give us expansion history measurements to z=6, which can constrain early dark energy and modified gravity. It will also help measure neutrino masses, constrain curvature of the universe and strongly shrink the space of allowed inflationary models. I will discuss the scientific, technological and programmatic issues that need to be overcome to make such experiment a reality.
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