The Cosmic WebThe Large Scale Structure of the Universe

Szydagis03.25.2015

University of Oregon

1 / 17

activity Describe the role that these different ingredients play in the formation of

large-scale structure Quantum mechanics Inflation Dark matter Gravity Black holes Gas of ordinary atoms Dark energy

2 / 17

Germination of the cosmic seeds

3 / 17

http://abyss.uoregon.edu/~js/ast123/lectures/lec24.html

Inflation took superstring-sized quantum fluctuations and blew them up to the bubbly, spindly structures we see on cosmological scales

These became the “wrinkles” in the CMB, first observed with COBE, which grew into huge clusters of galaxies And clusters of clusters (superclusters)

Inflation makes light speed barrier to communication a non-issue, ensuring that the universe is alike all over

Baryon Acoustic Oscillations

4 / 17

http://www.earlyuniverse.org/blog/

Hot versus cold dark matter

5 / 17

http://abyss.uoregon.edu/~js/ast123/lectures/lec24.html

(FAVORED: WIMPs)

(Topological defects like cosmic strings help)

(Mixed a.k.a. WDM also possible, like axions and sterile neutrinos)

SDSSThis is a map of some of the galaxies observed from the SDSS telescope. Courtesy of M. Blanton and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey collaboration

6 / 17

7 / 17

3D bubble-shaped voids form, with galaxies as the “skin” of the bubbles(one view)

8 / 17

Looks familiar? An artist’s conception of the human brain: neurons (brain cells) and synapses!

CMB

9 / 17

10 / 17

11 / 17

12 / 17

13 / 17

The power spectrum of the Universe

14 / 17

There is still uniformity on the largest (cosmological) scales, vs. astrophysical scales (CMB shows this). Think atoms in your body. All about scale.

Simulation videos

15 / 17

Inspirational quote plus homework Speaking of stars, that’s our next topic!

Star Facts: The Basics of Star Names and Stellar Evolution http://www.space.com/57-stars-formation-classification-and-constellations.html (for fun, do quizzes)

16 / 17

Carl Sagan. (n.d.). QuotesWave.com. Retrieved March 25, 2015, from QuotesWave.com. Website: http://www.quoteswave.com/picture-quotes/400857

17 / 17