Astrophysics

This talk will cover a number of fun topics related to studying and understanding the Cosmic Microwave Background, including where it came from, how it is like an inside-out star, CMB numerology, how much information it contains and how it is evolving in time.

Models such as Natural Inflation that use Pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone bosons (PNGB's) as the inflaton are attractive for many reasons. However, they typically require trans-Planckian field excursions $\Delta \Phi>M_{\rm Pl}$, due to the need for an axion decay constant $f>M_{\rm Pl}$ to have both a sufficient number of e-folds {\em and} values of $n_s,\ r$ consistent with data.  Such excursions would in general require the addition of all other higher dimension operators consistent with symmetries, thus disrupting the required flatness of the potential and rendering the theory non-predictive. We show that in the case of Natural Inflation, the existence of spinodal instabilities (modes with tachyonic masses) can modify the inflaton equations of motion to the point that versions of the model with $f<M_{\rm Pl}$ can still inflate for the required number of e-folds. The instabilities naturally give rise to two separate phases of inflation with different values of the Hubble parameter $H$ one driven by the zero mode, the other by the unstable fluctuation modes. The values of $n_s$ and $r$ typically depend on the initial conditions for the zero mode, and, at least for those examined here, the values of $r$ tend to be unobservably small.

We explore the brightness frontier in time domain radio astronomy and its possible usefulness for cosmology.  It is argued that the brightest known source of emission, Crab nanoshots, are caused by Schwinger pair production.  The same mechanism may be the source of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) if this emission is form coalescing neutron stars.  It is then shown how using FRBs as triggers can extend the reach of gravitational radiation and neutrino telescopes.  Finally we discuss how combining FRB monitoring, large neutrino telescopes, combined with preexisting galaxy catalogs could provide an accurate cosmological distance estimator.