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Network in Neutrinos, Nuclear Astrophysics, and Symmetries (N3AS) Seminars

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Cosmology of Dark Energy Radiation
Date: Tuesday, November 12th
Time: 2:00 pm
Place: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 989 8774 9464 Passcode: 986897
Speaker: Dr. Kim Berghaus , Caltech
Abstract: If dark energy evolves in time its dynamical component could be dominated by a bath of dark radiation. Since dark energy was subdominant in the early universe, the dark energy radiation evades the usual stringent constraints on extra relativistic species from the cosmic microwave background, allowing for up to 9% of the energy density today to be dark radiation. In this talk, I will discuss how dark energy radiation can emerge from a fundamental theory, its predictions for cosmological observables, as well as discovery potential and constraints with existing and future precision cosmological datasets including measurements of the cosmic microwave background, baryon acoustic oscillations, and supernova data. Considering extensions that allow the dark radiation to populate neutrinos, axions, and dark photons, I will discuss the direct detection prospects of a thermal background comprised of these candidates consistent with cosmological constraints on dark energy radiation. A dark photon background is the most promising prospect for direct detection, and experimental programs such as the late dark energy radiation experiment (LADERA) will probe new parameter space.

NOTE: All participants and hosts are now required to sign into a Zoom account prior to joining meetings hosted by UC Berkeley.
Host: Baha Balantekin
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