Nathan J. Carlson is a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto and the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA). Nathan’s work in theoretical cosmology focusses on linking early universe physics to large scale structure of the universe as we see it today. He is the lead developer for the WebSky2.0 simulations, which will produce mock maps for current and upcoming CMB and LIM surveys, including a suite of primordial non-Gaussianity models. Nathan is also the organizer for CITA’s weekly Cosmolunch meetings.
Title: Searching for primordial intermittent non-gaussianity with the WebSky2.0 mocks
Abstract: The WebSky2.0 programme is generating mock sky maps for upcoming CMB and LIM observatories. The WebSky simulations model the distribution of dark matter halos evolving with redshift, and apply response functions to reconstruct sky maps statistically analogous to observations. This allows for multiple lines of investigation into the evolution of structure in universe. WebSky maps can be generated for a universe with any power spectrum, which opens up the possibility to look for traces of primordial physics in the large scale structure of the universe. Primordial intermittent non-gaussianities (PINGs) are of particular interest. PINGs are a generic feature that can arise during multi-field inflation which give rise to isolated peaks in the matter field and may not be observable in the CMB bispectrum. I present the latest WebSky2.0 mock maps various surveys and show how they can be used in the search for PINGs and other signatures of new physics in the early universe.