Measuring Inflation with CLASS
Embargo until
Date
2015-08
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
jhu
Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
Abstract
Using the Cosmology Large Angular Scale Surveyor (CLASS), we will measure the polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) to constrain inflationary theory. The gravitational waves generated during the inflationary epoch imprinted specific polarization patterns -- quantifiable by tensor-to-scalar ratio $r$ -- onto the CMB, which CLASS is designed to detect. Furthermore, we will be able to make assertions about the energy scale during inflation by discovering the features of the polarization power spectrum, providing a probe into physics of energy scales not conceivable in particle-accelerator physics. CLASS is a unique ground based experiment with extensive consideration given to mitigating systematic uncertainties.
Description
Keywords
CMB, CLASS