Structure formation in the universe

Workshop theme

The hot big bang theory successfully explains the basic properties of our universe, but it does not address what is perhaps the most interesting question, namely how the structures we see in the universe - planets, stars and galaxies - came to be formed.

Over the last two decades, several theories of structure formation have been investigated, and due to advances in observational techniques these theories are being tested to increasing precision. A host of new experiments, including dedicated satellites from ESA and NASA, will map the cosmic microwave sky, giving us an unprecedentedly clear view of the universe at early epochs, and on the largest visible scales. In parallel, there is a rapidly growing set of complementary data including surveys of the large scale galaxy distribution and the velocity field, of galaxies, quasars and Lyman alpha clouds at high redshift, and of the mass distribution from gravitational lensing.

Theories connecting the origin of structure to fundamental high energy physics include variants of the inflation and cosmic defect theories. According to the latest data, the simplest versions of each appear clearly ruled out. Nevertheless modifications of the theories appear viable at present. If one of the simpler modifications turns out to be correct, we shall be able to determine the cosmological parameters with some precision. Conversely, the refutation of current theories will demand new theoretical ideas.

The ASI will consist of ten days of pedagogical lectures including reviews of the current status of the observations and of the leading theories.

Workshop Schedule (updated 09.07.99):

 NB: Talks are generally 45 minutes + 10 minutes for questions)

Monday, July 26th

8:30-9:45 Registration

9:45-9:55 Welcome and Opening Remarks

9:55-10:50 Introductory Overview
M. Rees

10:50-11:10 Coffee

11:10-12:05 Inflation overview
A Albrecht

12:05-1:00 Cosmic Microwave Background & Perturbation Theory Introduction
G. Efstathiou

- Lunch Break -

2:30-4.00 Specialist Seminars at the Institute of Astronomy

Tuesday, July 27th

9:00-9:55 Quantum cosmology
V. Rubakov

9:55-10:50 Cosmological Parameters
M. Fukugita

10:50-11:10 Coffee

11:10-12:05 CMB & Perturbation Theory
G. Efstathiou

12:05-1:00 Cosmic Defects
E.P. Shellard

- Lunch Break -

2:30 Specialist Seminars at the IoA

Wednesday, July 28th

9:00-9:55 Quantum cosmology
V. Rubakov

9:55-10:50 Baryons in the Universe
C Hogan

10:50-11:10 Coffee

11:10-12:05 Before Inflation
N. Turok

12:05-1:00 Coherence
A. Albrecht

- Lunch Break -

3:00 at the Cavendish Lab
Colloquium: The Formation of Galaxies
J.P. Ostriker

Thursday, July 29th

9:00-9:55 Inflation: Preheating
A. Starobinski

9:55-10:50 Dark Matter
M. Turner

10:50-11:10 Coffee

11:10-12:05 CMB Measurements
L. Page

12:05-1:00 CMB: Ground based experiments and Interferometers A. Lasenby

- Lunch Break -

2:30 Specialist Seminars at the IoA

Evening Conference Banquet

Friday, July 30th

9:00-9:55 The Universe at High Redshift
C. Hogan

9:55-10:50 Dark Matter
M. Turner

10:50-11:10 Coffee

11:10-12:05 Dark Matter Searches
R Gaitskell

12:05-1:00 CMB Measurements
L. Page

- Lunch Break -

2:30- Free time for discussion/posters

Monday, August 2nd

9:00-9:55 Inflationary Fluctuations
E. Kolb

9:55-10:50 Cosmic Deceleration
R. Ellis

10:50-11:10 Coffee

11:10-12:05 Gravitational Lensing
F. Bernardeau

12:05-1:00 Biased clustering
J. Peacock

- Lunch Break -

2:30 Specialist Seminars at the IoA

Tuesday, August 3rd

9:00-9:55 Inflationary Fluctuations
E. Kolb

9:55-10:50 Feedback in Galaxy Formation
J. Silk

10:50-11:10 Coffee

11:10-12:05 Large Scale Structure Overview
A. Doroshkevich

12:05-1:00 LSS Measurements
A. Szalay

- Lunch Break -

2:30 Specialist Seminars at the IoA

Wednesday, August 4th

9:00-9:55 LSS Measurements
A. Szalay

9:55-10:50 2dF results
S. Maddox

10:50-11:10 Coffee

11:10-12:05 Large Scale Velocities
R. Juszkiewicz

12.05-1:00 Quintessence
P. Steinhardt

- Lunch Break -

3:00 at the Cavendish Lab
Colloquium: Future of Quantum Cosmology
S. Hawking

Thursday, August 5th

9:00-9:55 Gravitational Lensing
F. Bernardeau

9:55-10:50 Future probes of Cosmic Parameters
M. Fukugita

10:50-11:10 Coffee

11:10-12:05 Large Scale Velocities
R. Juskievicz

12:05-1:00 Analyzing CMB Data
J.R. Bond

- Lunch Break -

2:30- Specialist Seminars at the IoA

Friday, August 6th

9:00-10:00 CMB - Planck
A. Lasenby

9:55-10:50 Testing the Cosmological Principle
O. Lahav

10:50-11:10 Coffee

11:10-12:05 Analyzing CMB Data
J.R. Bond

12:05-1:00 Galaxy Formation: Observational Constraints on the Assembly History
R Ellis

- Lunch Break -

2:00-3:15 Final Panel - Silk, Ostriker, Steinhardt, others

Footnote: The organisers are grateful to NATO for providing financial support for this meeting. However we share deep concerns regarding the actions of all sides of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia including those of NATO. We have therefore decided to organise during the ASI a forum for discussion of the events currently taking place in the Balkans, providing an opportunity for the expression of concerns on all sides. The forum will take place at a venue in Cambridge. Its precise form and focus will be fixed in the light of future developments. We plan to invite a balanced set of speakers including concerned scientists as well as government and NATO representatives.