Lloyd Knox (UC Davis)
Date: Tue. October 17th, 2017, 11:30 am-12:30 pmLocation: Foldy Room, Rockefeller 221
The Standard Cosmological Model: A Status Report
Overall, the standard cosmological model has enjoyed enormous empirical success. But there are a number of indicators that we might be missing something. These include the large-scale cosmic microwave background (CMB) “anomalies”, and two to three sigma discrepancies between cosmological parameters derived from larger angular scales of the CMB vs. smaller angular scales, CMB lensing potential reconstruction vs. CMB power spectra, data from the Planck satellite vs. data from the South Pole Telescope, and CMB-calibrated predictions for the current rate of expansion vs. more direct measurements. I will introduce the standard cosmological model, review these potential indicators of new physics, and discuss future measurements that promise to reveal whether these indications result from statistical flukes, systematic errors, or a breakdown of the standard cosmological model.
Lloyd Knox 10/17: