Research in astrophysics, cosmology and gravitation involves study of the earliest moments in the evolution of the cosmos. From the earliest moments of the universe to the present day, careful observations of our universe reveal the interplay of dark matter, dark energy, gravity, neutrinos, and baryons. University of Washington research in cosmology and gravity is deep and broad, with world leading efforts in dark matter detection (ADMX, DAMIC), laboratory tests of gravity, 21 cm cosmology measurements of the epoch of reionization, cosmic microwave background measurements giving constraints on neutrino mass, supernovae, galaxy clustering, and weak lensing measurements of dark energy (Rubin), direct measurements of the local Hubble constant, and the development of new astrophysical signatures and multi-messenger astrophysics. Researchers in this area have strong ties with the UW Astronomy, with faculty often involved in advising students from either department. The Dark Universe Science Center (DUSC) serves as a focal point for cosmology research in both departments.
Research Strengths
- Astrophysical signatures of new physics (Baryakhtar, Garcia Garcia, Loverde)
- Cosmology theory (Baryakhtar, Garcia Garcia, Loverde)
- Dark matter experiment (Chavarria, Rybka)
- Laboratory tests of gravity (Gundlach)
- Nuclear & milti-messenger astrophysics (Reddy)
- Quantum gravity (Turiaci)
- Radio cosmology (Morales, Loverde)
