How Do Upcoming Surveys Constrain Cosmological Models and Dark Energy?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter SupersonicMan
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Hard Interesting
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around upcoming surveys aimed at constraining cosmological models and dark energy. Participants explore the methods these surveys might employ and the necessity of space-based measurements.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant lists several upcoming surveys, including DES, PanSTARRS, LSST, and SNAP, and inquires about the methods they will use to constrain cosmology and dark energy.
  • Another participant suggests that the inquiry resembles a homework problem and recommends checking the survey websites for information.
  • A participant notes that the DES is focused on whether dark energy can be treated as a cosmological constant but expresses uncertainty about the meaning of "constraining cosmology/dark energy."
  • A later reply attempts to clarify that "constraining cosmology" involves measuring parameters that describe the universe, such as total matter content and expansion rate, but suggests further reading for more details.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the methods used by the surveys or the implications of constraining cosmology and dark energy. Uncertainty remains regarding the definitions and interpretations of these concepts.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the necessity of space-based measurements and the specific methods employed by each survey are not fully explored or defined.

SupersonicMan
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Interesting problem I came across, yet I'm having some trouble with it:

Here are a few of the next generation of experiments currently being planned for constraining cosmological models. Not all of these are groundbased:

DES:https://www.darkenergysurvey.org/"
PanSTARRS:http://pan-starrs.ifa.hawaii.edu/public/"
LSST:http://www.lsst.org"
SNAP: http://snap.lbl.gov"

What are four methods these surveys will use to constrain cosmology/dark-energy (not all of the use four methods, I'm assuming). For each of these, is making the measurement from a space-based satellite necessary or warranted?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Astronomy news on Phys.org
These sound an awful lot like homework problems. Have you tried searching those websites? What have you gleaned from them so far?
 
The DES is primarily asking if dark energy can be a cosmological constant. However, I am a little uncertain about what exactly it means by "constraining cosmology/dark energy?
 
SupersonicMan said:
The DES is primarily asking if dark energy can be a cosmological constant. However, I am a little uncertain about what exactly it means by "constraining cosmology/dark energy?

"Constraining cosmology" simply means that it's attempting to measure the parameters that we use to describe our universe. This could be, for example, the total matter content, the expansion rate, or the dark energy density. If you read further into the website, you should be able to determine these details. I suggest you do that first and then ask questions about other things you don't understand.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
625
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
6K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K