Dark Energy (DE) is one of the greatest mysteries in modern physics. Hence, we will conduct five linked projects to study the nature of Dark Energy using correlations among quadruplets of galaxies (quantified by the 4-Point correlation function; 4PCF) from the DESI survey. Three projects during Year I and two during Year II. First, we will measure the 4PCF of DESI, followed by measuring the matter density of our universe, hence constraining the amount of DE with simulations sensitive to the matter density. Secondly, we will examine how galaxies form and trace matter in the universe; this enables the dark energy studies proposed here by comparing theory models of the 4PCF to measurements of the DESI 4PCF. Then, we will probe the evolution of Dark Energy through measurement of the cosmic distance scale using the Baryonic Acoustic Oscillation method on the 4PCF. After that, we will push down to smaller physical scales in the correlations of pairs, triplets and quadruplets of galaxies (2,3 and 4PCF) by using the Effective Field Theory of Large Scale Structure. Finally, we will perform a joint analysis of the 2, 3 and 4PCF using the algorithms from Year I and the theoretical model developed above to realize the full benefits of the 4PCF, 3PCF and 2PCF for DE.
For the duration of the grant, the Fellow will have a doctoral advisor (Zachary Slepian) at the legal organization (University of Florida Board of Trustees) and a cross-discipline advisor (David Schlegel) at the partnering organization (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory).
