Seminer: Cosmological Scale Tests of General Relativity / Edmund Bertschinger

Tarih: 26 Mart 2013 Salı 13:40

Yer: Sabancı Üniversitesi, FENS G035

Abstract

We do not know the cause of cosmic acceleration.  A century ago, the correct answer to then-surprising observations of planetary motions was to modify the prevailing theory of gravity.  Confirmation of the new theory of general relativity came in 1919 through comparison of the motion of planets and light in the sun’s gravitational field.  Today we are called again to test general relativity on much larger length scales in light of the surprising observation of cosmic acceleration. General relativity can be tested on cosmological scales by comparing the motion of galaxies and light.  Preliminary tests support general relativity but much better tests will be possible with future large surveys of galaxy clustering and weak gravitational lensing.