NBIA Seminar: Jens Chluba

(University of Manchester)

 

What CMB spectral distortions can teach us about early-universe and particle physics

Since the measurements with COBE/FIRAS in the mid-90's we know that the CMB spectrum is extremely close to a perfect blackbody. There are, however, a number of processes in the early Universe that should create spectral distortions at a level within reach of present day technology. I will give an overview of recent theoretical and experimental developments, explaining why future measurements of the CMB spectrum will open up an unexplored new window to early-universe and particle physics, with possible non-standard surprises and several guaranteed signals awaiting us. I will highlight the complementarity of the distortion signals and the CMB anisotropies, illustrating how future distortions measurements could shed new light on different inflation models. I will also briefly discuss some of the limitations caused by CMB foregrounds.