Confronting Inflation with Observation – William Kinney

Date: Tue. October 19th, 2004, 11:30 am-12:30 pm
Location: Rockefeller 221

Inflationary cosmology is a compelling model for the early universe, but until recently it has not been subject to precise experimental test. In the last year, new observations have made it possible not only to test the general predictions of inflation, but also to distinguish among (and rule out) particular models of inflation. I will discuss the status of inflationary cosmology in light of the most recent observations, and summarize what we can expect over the next few years.