PHYS/ASTR Colloquium: “Cosmic Hotspots as Probes of Ultra-high Energy Particle Physics” - Dr. Soubhik Kumar (Postdoc, U.C. Berkeley & LLNL)

Abstract: The past decade has seen enormous advances in cosmological probes of the Universe. At the same time, we now precisely understand the fundamental constituents of objects at a scale a thousand times smaller than the size of a proton. However, particle physics and cosmology combined can let us probe the Universe in even more powerful ways. After reviewing aspects of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and cosmic inflation, I will show how particles up to a trillion times heavier than a top quark can lead to localized hotspots on the CMB. I will then discuss how current and future cosmological surveys can look for such hotspots and become unique probes of particle physics operating at these very high scales.

Note:  Students are invited (and encouraged) to enjoy a pizza lunch with the speaker.  Lunch is between noon and 1:30 in TH123.