Research Group on Radio Cosmology

Radio Astronomy offers a unique window into the distribution of matter in the universe. Low frequency telescopes will soon map the 21cm line of neutral hydrogen to learn about cosmology and the first stars and galaxies. This research group works to bring together theoretical modelling and statistical tools to enable cosmology through 21cm and line intensity mapping.

From observations of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) through to mapping of the distribution of radio galaxies, radio observations have helped discern the content and structure of the Universe. A new generation of wide-area radio interferometers promises to map large volumes of the universe for the first time.

The Cosmic Dawn, the time of the first stars and galaxies, represents the observational frontier for optical telescopes such as JWST. Radio observations of the 21cm line will map out the intergalactic hydrogen giving new insight into the light from theose first galaxies. In combination, these observations will help decipher the nature of the first stars, galaxies, and black holes.

The related technique of line intensity mapping - a technique for mapping the distribution of galaxies by integrating all the line emission from a given region - promises a new route to large cosmological surveys. LIM promises improved constraints on cosmological models and confirmation of theories at higher redshifts.

This group works to develop a theoretical basis for interpreting these upcoming observations, while building the statistical tools needed to handle large data sets. We are working in the context of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and precursors to help bring in this new field of radio astronomy.

Header image credit: Pritchard & Loeb. Reports on Progress in Physics, 75, 086901 (2012)