Interacting dark energy models in light of cosmological data

Prof Carsten van de Bruck

The current cosmological standard model, the LCDM model, comes under scrutiny from recent cosmological observations: on the one hand, the expansion rate today, as measured from early time and late time probes does not agree. In addition, results from the DESI experiment suggest that dark energy evolves in time.

In this project we will investigate dynamical dark energy models based on theories of modified gravity as well as interacting dark energy models, in which dark matter and dark energy interact. In this project you will construct models motivated from fundamental physics and you will compare theories to the latest cosmological data.

A background in cosmology, field theory and some experience with coding is recommended.