Stanford UniversityKavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology

AREAS OF INQUIRY

• COSMOLOGY: KIPAC scientists study the largest features of the universe, including galaxy clusters and the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation left over from the Big Bang. It observes galaxy clusters to gain insights into their origin, the evolution of the universe, and the nature of dark matter and dark energy (see below). KIPAC is involved in efforts to measure the polarization in the CMB and to detect patterns that shed light on the very early “inflationary” stage of the universe.
  
• HIGH-ENERGY ASTROPHYSICS: KIPAC studies matter in states of extreme compression and energy, such as black holes and pulsars. This is a challenging realm for both theory and observation, where much of the matter is literally invisible and the forces at work may or may not follow the laws that apply elsewhere in the universe.
• DARK MATTER AND DARK ENERGY: Increasingly accurate observations of the universe have led to estimates of its total mass that greatly exceed the objects we can observe, leading to the conclusion that most matter is “dark” – undetectable by any known means. Astronomers also widely believe that a powerful force (“dark energy”) is working against gravity to spur the universe’s expansion. Drawing on both theoretical and experimental expertise, KIPAC is attempting to detect the particle that makes up the unseen dark matter, and to unlock the mystery of dark energy.