Large-Scale Structure Formation

Very small quantum fluctuations in the first 10^-30th of a second in the universe seeded small density inhomogeneities. These inhomogeneities grew with time, eventually becoming the galaxies, clusters of galaxies, and super-clusters that are observed in the local universe. TA scientists use both analytic techniques as well as state-of-the-art numerical simulations to understand the details of this process. TA scientists are exploring how structure formation impacts, among other things, the morphology of galaxies and clusters, the anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background radiation, absorption features in quasar spectra, and the reionization epoch.