Characterizing Dark Energy and Expansion History of the Universe — Presentation Detail — Celebration of Scholars

Additional Information

More information is available at carthage.edu/celebration-scholars/. The following are members of the Research, Scholarship, and Creativity Committee who are eager to listen to ideas and answer questions:

Thomas Carr
Katherin Hilson
Kim Instenes
John Kirk
Sarah Terrill

Characterizing Dark Energy and Expansion History of the Universe

Name: Eli Favela
Major: Physics and Mathematics
Hometown: Palatine, IL
Faculty Sponsor: John Quashnock
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Senior thesis

Abstract

This is an attempt to understand modern cosmology and characterize the significance of dark energy in the universe to compare with current statements from modern cosmology. Unique cosmological models produce differences in light travel distances measured at high redshifts. Supernovae from the SCP Union2.1 SN Ia compilation are used as standard candles to determine distances at these high redshifts and constrain initial parameters. From this method, and assuming a spatially flat Euclidean space-time, dark energy is shown to comprise approximately 71.9% of the energy content in the universe today and matter contributes 28.1%. Compared to the most precise measurements to date from WMAP of 71.4% and 28.6% this study was able to fairly accurately agree with the current standard measure of dark energy. Using this measure, the age of the universe is shown to be roughly 14 billion years old.

Poster file

Submit date: March 17, 2014, 11:56 p.m.