Deciphering the Dynamics of Cosmic Structure

This project uses data of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) to reconstruct the dynamically evolving cosmic structure and test the physics of cosmic acceleration.

The standard model of cosmology provides a phenomenological description of the expansion of the universe and the growth of structure that has passed observational tests for two decades.

However, the model postulates the existence of ingredients, dark matter, and dark energy, which are not present in the Standard Model of particle physics and have so far eluded direct observations.

Now, increasing observational tensions suggest a lack of our physical understanding of the present evolution of our universe.

To gain more fundamental insights, I will reconstruct the dynamical evolution of cosmic structures over the critical time when the universe transitioned from dark matter to dark energy domination using data of the LSST.

I will use my reconstructions to constrain the physics model of the accelerating cosmic expansion and to investigate cosmological tensions by cross-correlation with observations of the cosmic microwave background.

Using LSST’s ground-breaking capabilities and my novel approach of Bayesian physical forward modeling of cosmic structures will enable me to improve parameter constraints by one order of magnitude.

I will also provide the community with accurate reconstructions of density and velocity fields, as well as improved photometric redshift estimates, required for cosmological analyses.