Chennai Mathematical Institute

Seminars




3:30 pm, Seminar Hall
CMI Silver Jubilee Colloquium
In pursuit of elusive cosmic gravitational waves

Tarun Souradeep
IUCAA, Pune.
03-03-15


Abstract

Exquisite measurements of temperature fluctuations and polarisation of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation have not only pinpointed a `standard' model of cosmology, but have also been remarkably consistent with broad, generic expectations of an (postulated) epoch of inflation in the early universe. Same mechanism in inflation that produces the measured CMB anisotropy also produces a stochastic cosmic gravitational wave background. CMB B-mode polarisation measurements at an appropriate level of sensitivity and over a select angular scales holds the key to this promising probe of the early universe. I review the promise, struggle and challenges of this intense pursuit and describe the current status after recent results from Planck and BICEP and the future prospects.