• Andreas Albrecht
• Professor
• Ph.D. - University of Pennsylvania, 1983
• Cosmology

Since that time, the field of Cosmology has undergone an amazing transformation, and I have come around to the view that to do cosmology in this age is to participate in one of the great scientific events of all time. What has caused this transformation? One of the key driving forces is new technology, which is opening up many new possibilities for gathering data. Today we know the positions of a couple of million galaxies (already many times more than when I started my Ph.D.). In a few years that number will increase by a factor of more than 100. Dedicated satellites are being built that will probe the Universe to greater depths than ever before, and thus reveal detailed facts about the Universe in areas about which we can only speculate today.

But the new data is only half the story. In the last couple of decades we have also seen dramatic developments on the theoretical side. In particular, a host of specific models have emerged which describe how the Universe evolved in the first stages of the Big Bang, and how the Galaxies and other structures began to form. It is already clear that these models have numerous characteristic observable signatures that will allow them to be tested by the new data. In fact, a large range of models has already been ruled out. One of the great challenges currently facing the theorists is to make predictions to the level of precision commanded by the observations. This task involves digging deep into the astrophysical issues that affect the observations as well as understanding the high energy physics which is needed to describe the ultra-hot early stages of the Big Bang. There are even links with condensed matter physics, due to the key role that phase transitions are expected to have had in the early Universe. Modern technology is contributing crucially to the theoretical side of the effort as well, by providing ultra-fast computers of ever-increasing speed.

The fundamental challenge for cosmologists of our time is to make the most of the tremendous opportunities that we are faced with. This is an epoch where our understanding of the Universe can deepen very rapidly. Are we up to the challenge? Will people look back on this era as one in which we used our precious new data to sow confusion or to reveal great truths about the Universe? My personal research goal is to do as much justice as possible to the opportunities that lie before us.

At any given time, my main research focus might be on a very astrophysical problem, aimed at carefully establishing the link between the complex astrophysical objects we observe today (such as galaxies) and the early Universe. Or it could be on some fundamental problem in early Universe theory, which typically involve deep connections with high energy physics. The diversity of physics that is relevant to modern cosmology certainly adds to the challenge, but ultimately also adds to the sense of adventure as one explores one of the great frontiers of human knowledge.

Pedro Ferreira (1995) "Observational Consequences of Cosmological Phase Transitions"
Faculty member at Oxford University.

James Robinson (1997) "Testing Theories of Structure Formation in the Early Universe"
Postdoctoral Fellow at UC Berkeley. (PPARC Fellowship at Cambridge University starts Fall 2000)

Benjamin Wandelt (1998) "Confronting Theories of Structure Formation with Observation"
Postdoctoral Fellow at Princeton University.

Jochen Weller (2000)
Postdoctoral Fellowship at Cambridge University starts Fall 2000

• Fellow, Institute of Physics (1999)
• Fellow, American Physical Society (member 1980-present)
• Member, Editorial Board of Classical and Quantum Gravity (1993-1998)