Thesis

The ESPRESSO Road to Fundamental Cosmology

• Call:

  IDPASC Portugal - PHD Programme 2015

• Academic Year:

  2015 / 2016

• Domains:

  Cosmology | Astrophysics

• Supervisor:

  Carlos Martins

• Co-Supervisor:

• Institution:

  Universidade do Porto

• Host Institution:

  CAUP

• Abstract:

  The full cosmological impact of astrophysical tests of fundamental physics, including those of the spacetime stability of nature’s fundamental couplings, has only emerged recently. In part this was due to the work done within CAUP’s Dark Side project, and these tests are now being included in studies for ESA and ESO’s next-generation of facilities. While a detection of variations of fundamental couplings will be direct evidence of Equivalence Principle violations and a fifth force in Nature, any such measurements (even null results) can provide tight constraints on additional dynamical degrees of freedom (such as fundamental scalar fields) that are now known to be among Nature’s building blocks. This thesis will explore the role of these astrophysical tests on cosmology and fundamental physics, with some emphasis on dynamical dark energy. Starting with the experience gained from a recent UVES Large Program, the work will concentrate on the ESPRESSO fundamental physics tests, contributing both to the GTO preparation and its subsequent exploitation. The ESPRESSO experience will also lead to more detailed and realistic feasibility studies for ELT-HIRES.