Andrew Yee
February 8th 06, 01:09 AM
ESA News
http://www.esa.int
07 Feb 2006
Cosmic Vision 2015-2025: Fundamental Laws
Theme 3 -- What are the fundamental physical laws of the Universe?
The most important challenge facing fundamental physics today is to
understand the foundations of nature more deeply. Physicists know that the
laws of physics as formulated at present do not apply at extremely high
temperatures and energies, so that events in the first fraction of a
second after the Big Bang are not at all understood. Matter as we know it
today did not then exist; protons and electrons formed later.
Yet whatever happened during this first instant created the conditions
that led to everything we see today: atoms, stars, galaxies and people.
Many physicists believe that in these extreme conditions physics was
governed by the 'ultimate theory', a single theory that explains and
unifies all the separate laws and forces as they appear today.
3.1 Explore the limits of contemporary physics
During the period 2015-2025 it will be possible to use several maturing
technologies to conduct experiments in space to look for the slight
deviations in our standard physical laws that might contain crucial clues
to the deeper unified theory of physics that physicists seek. The European
fundamental physics community responded to the Cosmic Vision initiative
with an outpouring of suggestions for high-precision experiments in space
aimed at the areas felt most likely to uncover new physics.
Goal
Probe the limits of general relativity, symmetry violations, fundamental
constants, short-range forces, quantum physics of Bose-Einstein
condensates, and ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, to look for clues to
unified theories
Concepts
1. Use the stable and gravity-free environment of space to implement
high-precision experiments to search for tiny deviations from the standard
model of fundamental interactions
2. Test the validity of Newtonian gravity using a trans-Saturn dragfree
mission
3. Observe from orbit the patterns of light emitted from the Earth's
atmosphere by the showers of particles produced by the impacts of
sub-atomic particles of ultra-high-energy
Mission Scenarios
1. Fundamental physics explorer programme
2. Deep space gravity probe
3. Space detector for ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays
3.2 The gravitational wave Universe
Gravitational waves were predicted by Einstein almost immediately after he
formulated his theory of general relativity 90 years ago. They have the
potential to bring us completely new information about the Universe and
its most extreme objects. Observable gravitational waves should be
produced by massive objects (especially black holes) colliding or moving
in tight orbits around one another, by the Big Bang, and possibly by
unknown components of the dark matter of the Universe.
Goal
Make a key step towards detecting and studying the gravitational radiation
background generated at the Big Bang. Probe the Universe at high redshift
and explore the dark Universe
Concepts
1. Primordial gravitational waves, unaffected by ionised matter, are ideal
probes of the laws of physics at the fantastic energies and temperatures
of the Big Bang. They open an ideal window to probe the very early
Universe and dark energy at very early times
Mission Scenarios
1. Gravitational wave cosmic surveyor
3.3 Matter under extreme conditions
Black holes are the most exotic prediction of general relativity. They
have the strongest possible gravitational fields, and yet in general
relativity they are among the simplest objects to describe. The entire
gravitational field of a black hole is determined by just three
parameters: its total mass, its total spin angular momentum, and its total
electric charge. It is as if extreme gravity crushes the individuality out
of these objects, so that they are all essentially identical, regardless
of how they were formed. Gravitational wave detectors, especially LISA,
will register gravitational waves from disturbed black holes and from
objects orbiting black holes, and they will be able to test whether real
black holes are as simple as relativity predicts.
Goal
Probe general relativity in the environment of black holes and other
compact objects, and investigate the state of matter inside neutron stars
Concepts
1. The study of the spectrum and time variability of radiation from matter
near black holes shows the imprint of the curvature of space-time as
predicted by general relativity. This has strong implications for
astrophysics and cosmology in general
Mission Scenarios
1. Large-aperture X-ray observatory
For further information please contact:
SEE ALSO:
* Cosmic Vision 2015-2025: Planets and Life
http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=38646
* Cosmic Vision 2015-2025: The Solar System
http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=38656
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
* ESA BR-247: Cosmic Vision - Space Science for Europe 2015-2025
http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=38542
http://www.esa.int
07 Feb 2006
Cosmic Vision 2015-2025: Fundamental Laws
Theme 3 -- What are the fundamental physical laws of the Universe?
The most important challenge facing fundamental physics today is to
understand the foundations of nature more deeply. Physicists know that the
laws of physics as formulated at present do not apply at extremely high
temperatures and energies, so that events in the first fraction of a
second after the Big Bang are not at all understood. Matter as we know it
today did not then exist; protons and electrons formed later.
Yet whatever happened during this first instant created the conditions
that led to everything we see today: atoms, stars, galaxies and people.
Many physicists believe that in these extreme conditions physics was
governed by the 'ultimate theory', a single theory that explains and
unifies all the separate laws and forces as they appear today.
3.1 Explore the limits of contemporary physics
During the period 2015-2025 it will be possible to use several maturing
technologies to conduct experiments in space to look for the slight
deviations in our standard physical laws that might contain crucial clues
to the deeper unified theory of physics that physicists seek. The European
fundamental physics community responded to the Cosmic Vision initiative
with an outpouring of suggestions for high-precision experiments in space
aimed at the areas felt most likely to uncover new physics.
Goal
Probe the limits of general relativity, symmetry violations, fundamental
constants, short-range forces, quantum physics of Bose-Einstein
condensates, and ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, to look for clues to
unified theories
Concepts
1. Use the stable and gravity-free environment of space to implement
high-precision experiments to search for tiny deviations from the standard
model of fundamental interactions
2. Test the validity of Newtonian gravity using a trans-Saturn dragfree
mission
3. Observe from orbit the patterns of light emitted from the Earth's
atmosphere by the showers of particles produced by the impacts of
sub-atomic particles of ultra-high-energy
Mission Scenarios
1. Fundamental physics explorer programme
2. Deep space gravity probe
3. Space detector for ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays
3.2 The gravitational wave Universe
Gravitational waves were predicted by Einstein almost immediately after he
formulated his theory of general relativity 90 years ago. They have the
potential to bring us completely new information about the Universe and
its most extreme objects. Observable gravitational waves should be
produced by massive objects (especially black holes) colliding or moving
in tight orbits around one another, by the Big Bang, and possibly by
unknown components of the dark matter of the Universe.
Goal
Make a key step towards detecting and studying the gravitational radiation
background generated at the Big Bang. Probe the Universe at high redshift
and explore the dark Universe
Concepts
1. Primordial gravitational waves, unaffected by ionised matter, are ideal
probes of the laws of physics at the fantastic energies and temperatures
of the Big Bang. They open an ideal window to probe the very early
Universe and dark energy at very early times
Mission Scenarios
1. Gravitational wave cosmic surveyor
3.3 Matter under extreme conditions
Black holes are the most exotic prediction of general relativity. They
have the strongest possible gravitational fields, and yet in general
relativity they are among the simplest objects to describe. The entire
gravitational field of a black hole is determined by just three
parameters: its total mass, its total spin angular momentum, and its total
electric charge. It is as if extreme gravity crushes the individuality out
of these objects, so that they are all essentially identical, regardless
of how they were formed. Gravitational wave detectors, especially LISA,
will register gravitational waves from disturbed black holes and from
objects orbiting black holes, and they will be able to test whether real
black holes are as simple as relativity predicts.
Goal
Probe general relativity in the environment of black holes and other
compact objects, and investigate the state of matter inside neutron stars
Concepts
1. The study of the spectrum and time variability of radiation from matter
near black holes shows the imprint of the curvature of space-time as
predicted by general relativity. This has strong implications for
astrophysics and cosmology in general
Mission Scenarios
1. Large-aperture X-ray observatory
For further information please contact:
SEE ALSO:
* Cosmic Vision 2015-2025: Planets and Life
http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=38646
* Cosmic Vision 2015-2025: The Solar System
http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=38656
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
* ESA BR-247: Cosmic Vision - Space Science for Europe 2015-2025
http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=38542