September 2025
02 Sep 2025 9:00 – 05 Sep 2025 18:00
03 Sep 2025 10:00 – 06 Sep 2025 14:00
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INDARK
INFLATION, DARK MATTER AND LARGE SCALE STRUCTURE OF THE UNIVERSE
The goal of this research project is to investigate the connection between particle physics and crucial aspects of the standard cosmological model. We study theoretical aspects and phenomenology of models of the Early Universe, the nature of dark matter (DM) and dark energy (DE) or possible alternatives to Einstein’s gravity. Particular emphasis is given to the present-day and future observations of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation, the study of the Large-Scale Structure (LSS) of the Universe through present and future surveys. The results from LHC and the Planck satellite provide a treasure trove that allows to test/rule out with the highest precision/accuracy various models for the early universe. We also plan to study the astrophysical and cosmological properties of DM and DE; their influence on the formation of structure (from galaxy halos to galaxy clusters) and on CMB anisotropies.
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
The InDark group in Bologna includes researchers from Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Bologna, INAF OAS Bologna, INAF IRA Bologna, interested in a wide range of topics, such as Inflation and Early Universe, DM and DE, modified gravity, physics of the CMB, galaxy surveys, clusters of galaxies and gravitational lensing. Members of the group are also involved in:
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CMB experiments as Planck, contributing to data analysis and coordinating the scientific interpretation in the context of inflation, cosmological parameters, primordial magnetic fields, isotropy and statistics, dark energy.
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Galaxy surveys as VIPERS, EUCLID, SKA, developing data analysis tools and contributing to the scientific case and interpretation.
RESEARCH FIELDS
EARLY UNIVERSE
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The precision era of cosmological measurements has driven inflation and its alternatives to the next level in theoretical predictions and observational tests to conceive. We plan to constrain inflation with current and future data and address the fundamental questions of the models compatible with observations.
DARK MATTER AND DARK ENERGY
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Nearly the total of the energy budget of our Universe (around 95%) is dark! We enlighten the properties of DM, DE and of possible deviations from GR by cosmological data and by advanced N-body simulations.
COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND
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The accurate measurements of the CMB anisotropy pattern in temperature and polarization led cosmology enter in a era of precision.
We study data analysis methods and the implications of these and other CMB imperfections still to be discovered, such as B-mode polarization anisotropies from inflationary gravitational waves and the tiny distortions from the black body spectrum.
We study data analysis methods and the implications of these and other CMB imperfections still to be discovered, such as B-mode polarization anisotropies from inflationary gravitational waves and the tiny distortions from the black body spectrum.
LARGE SCALE STRUCTURE
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The next stage IV surveys will map billions of galaxies, measuring the baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO), gravitational lensing to unprecedent accuracy and charting thousands of clusters of galaxies.
We study the interplay of astrophysics and cosmological phenomena and develop cutting edge statistical analysis tools which allow the scientific exploitation of these future surveys.
We study the interplay of astrophysics and cosmological phenomena and develop cutting edge statistical analysis tools which allow the scientific exploitation of these future surveys.
PEOPLE
Local Coordinator: Marco Baldi
Department of Physics and Astronomy “Augusto Righi”, Via Gobetti 93/2, I-40129 Bologna
INFN Sezione di Bologna, Via Irnerio 46, I-40126 Bologna
email: marco.baldi5@unibo.it
