Cosmological Probes of Light Relics

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xix

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2. Introduction

   • Benjamin Wallisch

   Pages 1-7

3. Review of Modern Cosmology

   • Benjamin Wallisch

   Pages 9-47

4. Light Species in Cosmology and Particle Physics

   • Benjamin Wallisch

   Pages 49-80

5. New Target for Cosmic Axion Searches

   • Benjamin Wallisch

   Pages 81-99

6. Searching for Light Relics with the CMB

   • Benjamin Wallisch

   Pages 101-133

7. Searching for Light Relics with LSS

   • Benjamin Wallisch

   Pages 135-160

8. Measurement of Neutrinos in the BAO Spectrum

   • Benjamin Wallisch

   Pages 161-178

9. Conclusions and Outlook

   • Benjamin Wallisch

   Pages 179-181

10. Back Matter

    Pages 183-220

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The wealth of recent cosmic microwave background and large-scale structure data has transformed the field of cosmology. These observations have not only become precise enough to answer questions about the universe on the largest scales, but also to address puzzles in the microscopic description of Nature. This thesis investigates new ways of probing the early universe, the properties of neutrinos and the possible existence of other light particles. In particular, based on detailed theoretical insights and novel analyses, new evidence for the cosmic neutrino background is found in the distribution of galaxies and in cosmic microwave background data. This tests the Standard Model of particle physics and the universe back to a time when it was about one second old. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that future observations will be capable of probing physics beyond the Standard Model since they can achieve a particular target which would either allow the detection of any light particles thathave ever been in thermal equilibrium or imply strong bounds on their properties.

                             

• Cosmic Neutrinos/Cosmic Neutrino Background
• Light Thermal Relics
• Early Universe Cosmology
• Cosmological Probes of Particle Physics
• Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB)
• Large-scale Structure (of the Universe) (LSS)
• Neutrino-induced Phase Shift
• Axions/Axion-like Particles
• Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO)
• Spectrum of Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO spectrum)

• School of Natural Sciences, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, USA

  Benjamin Wallisch

Benjamin Wallisch is currently a postdoctoral member at the Institute for Advanced Study and a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, San Diego. He obtained his doctorate in theoretical physics at the University of Cambridge after completing a Bachelor of Science at the Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg and obtaining Master's degrees at these institutions.

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