Abstract: Inflationary cosmology postulates that the Universe underwent a period of accelerated expansion in the first $10^{-30}$,s after the Big Bang. Inflationary models are attractive because they solve outstanding problems in cosmology: the origin of structure, the absence of monopoles, and the horizon and flatness problems. Although…

“ACTPol: An instrument for small-scale CMB polarization observations” Speaker: Emily Grace, Princeton University ACTPol is a polarization sensitive upgrade to the Atacama Cosmology Telescope which aims to probe the small scale polarization anisotropy of the CMB, a signal which promises to constrain the sum of the neutrino masses and the…

Title: Roche Accretion Of Stars Close To Massive Black Holes Speaker: Lixin (Jane) Dai Stanford University Abstract: We consider the Roche accretion in an Extreme Mass-Ratio Inspiral (EMRI) binary system formed by a star orbiting a massive black hole. The ultimate goal is to constrain the mass and spin of the black hole and confirm general…

Speaker John Appel, Princeton “Observing the Multiverse with Cosmic Wakes
Fethi M Ramazanoglu, journal discussion on "Nothing" by A. Brown & A. Dahlen Guilherme Pimentel - journal discussion TBD
http://www.physics.princeton.edu/cosmology/journalclub/

Inaugural Math-Physics GR Seminar Speaker: Mihalis Dafermos, University of Cambridge “The mathematical approach to general relativity"
***Lunch will be provided***