A Quest for the Physics Beyond the Cosmological Standard Model

Author: Ackerman Mayer, Lotty

Year: 2010

Degree: Dissertation (Ph.D.)

Advisor: Carroll, Sean M.

Committee Members: Wise, Mark B.; Kamionkowski, Marc P.; Carroll, Sean M.; Golwala, Sunil

Option: Physics

DOI: 10.7907/F0TW-C269

Abstract

Recent advances in observational cosmology have culminated in the establishment of the cosmological standard model. In spite of this remarkable achievement, the underlying physics remains unknown.

In this thesis we propose models whose predictions can be compared with observations, and can thereby help us discover this as-yet unknown physics of the Universe. We examine (i) the consequences that a preferred direction during the inflationary era would have on the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) anisotropies, (ii) the effect of asymmetric beams in the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), (iii) astrophysical consequences of a dark photon that couples only to dark matter, and (iv) explore a mechanism for producing density perturbations during the period of reheating.

Files

• Lotty_thesis.pdf (application/pdf)