Cosmological Constraints from Peculiar Velocities – Arthur Kosowski

Date: Fri. October 29th, 2010, 11:30 am-12:30 pm
Location: Rockefeller 221

Peculiar velocities of galaxies and clusters are induced during the formation of structure in the universe via gravitational forces. As such, they provide a potentially powerful route to constraining both the growth of structure and the expansion history of the universe. Traditional methods of velocity determination have not yet been able to measure velocities at cosmological distances with sufficient accuracy to allow cosmological constraints. I will discuss two possible methods of measuring peculiar velocities: directly via the kinematic Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect for galaxy clusters, and using distance measurements of type-Ia supernovae in future large surveys. I will discuss measurement prospects, and show that upcoming probes of mean pairwise velocity will have the potential to plac significant constraints on both dark energy and modifications of gravity while limiting systematic errors