Leiden University Scholarly Publications

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Cañas Herrera, G. (2022)

Playing dice with the universe: Bayesian statistical analyses of cosmological models and new observables

Doctoral Thesis
The ultimate goal of cosmologists is to find a cosmological model able to explain the current observational data. In this sense, the Standard Cosmological model establishes that our universe is mainly composed of two unknown components: a type of matter that is known to only interact through gravitation, Cold Dark Matter, and a substance responsible for the current accelerated expansion of the universe that can be modelled by a cosmological constant. Still, this model, though successful, fails to answer hot-burning questions in the field. For this reason, theoretical cosmologists focus on developing further modifications of the model to test them against astrophysical data and check whether alternative scenarios can provide a better explanation of the observations.
This thesis is dedicated to the Bayesian statistical analyses of extensions of the Standard Cosmological model using several astronomical data sets, and to the forecast of new observables and experiments. The first...Show moreThe ultimate goal of cosmologists is to find a cosmological model able to explain the current observational data. In this sense, the Standard Cosmological model establishes that our universe is mainly composed of two unknown components: a type of matter that is known to only interact through gravitation, Cold Dark Matter, and a substance responsible for the current accelerated expansion of the universe that can be modelled by a cosmological constant. Still, this model, though successful, fails to answer hot-burning questions in the field. For this reason, theoretical cosmologists focus on developing further modifications of the model to test them against astrophysical data and check whether alternative scenarios can provide a better explanation of the observations.
This thesis is dedicated to the Bayesian statistical analyses of extensions of the Standard Cosmological model using several astronomical data sets, and to the forecast of new observables and experiments. The first part focuses on data science and inflation, and it aims to constrain inflationary models using advanced inference techniques. The second part of the thesis is dedicated to the novel concept of cross-correlations of gravitational-wave physics and large scale structure observables. The third part of this thesis is dedicated to the incoming ESA Euclid satellite, and in particular, it focuses on a crucial data science analysis software for the mission: the code “Cosmological Likelihood for Observables in Euclid”, also known as CLOE.
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Cosmology
Inflation
Bayesian Statistical Analysis
Gravitational-waves
All authors
Cañas Herrera, G.
Supervisor
Achúcarro, A.
Co-supervisor
Silvestri, A.
Committee
Martinelli, M.; Pourtsidou, A.; Eliel, E.R.; Hoekstra, H.; Schalm, K.E.
Qualification
Doctor (dr.)
Awarding Institution
Leiden Institute of Physics (LION), Faculty of Science, Leiden University
Date
2022-10-19
Title of host publication
Casimir PhD Series
ISBN (print)
9789085935322

Publication Series

Name
2022-21