C. Kiefer

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Modern theories of cosmology assume that the Universe underwent
a period of exponential expansion ("inflation") at an early stage.
Inflation does not only solve some of the conceptual problems of
earlier cosmological models, but also allows a causal explanation of
structure formation. Moreover, it necessarily predicts the creation
of gravitons, the spin-2 particles associated with the quantized
gravitational field. In March 2014, the south-pole experiment
Bicep2 announced the observational confirmation of such
primordial gravitons.
If true, this would constitute a major step towards an understanding
of quantum gravity and the origin of our Universe.
In my talk, I shall summarize the physics that is needed to understand
this result, review the observations, and give an outlook on future
developments.

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Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität zu Köln
Seminarraum Theoretische Physik
Contact: not specified