Overview
From 1993 to 2007, the Institute for Gravitational Physics and Geometry at Penn State played a leading role at the interface of physics, philosophy of science, mathematics and astronomy. The Institute for Gravitation and the Cosmos, inaugurated in August 2007, builds on these strong foundations by making use of the unique strengths in particle astrophysics that Penn State now enjoys. From quantum cosmology to new observational windows, we seek greater understanding of the physical universe and its extreme events. Abhay Ashtekar founded the Institute and served as its Director till 2021.
Goals and Structure
The Institute for Gravitation and the Cosmos (IGC) is dedicated to fostering the highest quality education and research in cosmology, general relativity, gravitational wave astronomy, particle astrophysics, quantum gravity and string theory, focusing on the highest energy phenomena and fundamental issues in the Science of the Cosmos. At Penn State it has synergistic interactions with the Schreyer Honors College, the College of Information Science and Technology, the World University Network and four departments in the Eberly College of Science.
Sarah Shandera, Associate Professor of Physics serves as the Director. The Institute integrates the theoretical and observational research carried out in its three centers: the Center for Fundamental Theory, headed by Murat Gunaydin, Professor of Physics; the Center for Theoretical and Observational Cosmology, headed by Donghui Jeong, Associate Professor; and the Center for Particle and Gravitational Astrophysics, headed by Miguel Mostafa, Professor of Physics. Past Institute and Center Directors, Abhay Ashtekar, Evan Pugh Professor and holder of the Eberly Chair in Physics, Don Schneider, Distinguished Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Peter Mészáros, the Eberly Professor Emeritus of Astronomy and Astrophysics, and B. Sathyaprakash, Elsbach Professor of Physics and Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics, continue to serve on the Executive Committee.
Center for Fundamental Theory:
Thanks in large part to Einstein’s revolutionary
ideas, our view of the cosmos changed dramatically in the 20th century. The
primary goal of this Center is to develop even better theories to take us
beyond Einstein. The focus of research is on mathematical and computational
general relativity, quantum gravity and string theory. Loop quantum gravity, a
leading approach to the unification of general relativity and quantum physics
was developed in large part at Penn State. Now the Center enjoys strength also
in string theory and non-commutative geometry. Penn State is the only US
institution in which these three fundamental areas are being developed. Thanks
to the new synergy, Penn State researchers have already begun to change the
20th century paradigm on such basic issues as the nature of the big bang and of
black holes. Because of its exceptional combination of strengths and the
resulting cross fertilization of ideas, the Center is well-placed to make deep
and lasting contributions.
Center for Theoretical and Observational Cosmology:
The goal of the Cosmology Center is to enhance our understanding of the large
scale structure of the universe using multi-wavelength surveys, computer
simulations and fundamental theories, and by confronting theoretical paradigms
with observations. On the observational front, our faculty are prominent
members of a number of international collaborations, including the Chandra
X-ray observatory, the Swift Gamma Ray Explorer Mission, the Sloan Digital Sky
Survey-III, the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment, and the Large
Synoptic Survey Telescope. Their research also uses other facilities such as
the Hubble space telescope and the XMM-Newton mission and they are leaders in
some of the high profile proposed missions such as the Joint Astrophysics
Nascent Universe Satellite. These multi-wavelength observations enable us to
address some of the central questions in cosmology, such as the nature of dark
energy and validity of general relativity at very large scales, the expansion
history of early universe, and the formation and growth of super-massive black
holes.
Center for Multimessenger Astrophysics:
Almost everything we know about the
cosmos has come to us in the form of electromagnetic waves. Particle
Astrophysics provides brand new windows to the cosmos. Penn State faculty are
prominent participants in three novel initiatives: the Pierre Auger Cosmic Ray
Observatory located in Argentina, the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the south
pole and the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Explorer satellite and the Laser
Interferometer Gravitational Observatories in the U.S. LIGO and Auger have
already started making major discoveries and IceCube has completed its
construction. Penn State is the only U.S. institution participating in both of
these premier ground-based projects. Gamma ray bursts are especially violent
supernova explosions which spew out, in a few blinding seconds, as much energy
as a thousand suns do in their entire life times. Swift, with its mission
control center at Penn State, has been providing the best observations of these
explosions, making Penn State a dominant player in this exciting area. These
bursts and other energetic cosmic events can also be studied using cosmic rays,
neutrinos and gravitational waves. Thus, there is now exceptional synergy that
places Penn State in a unique position to conduct a bold, multi-pronged
approach to high energy astrophysics. The potential for major discoveries is
enormous. Details on our new initiative to exploit this potential, AMON, can be
found at http://amon.gravity.psu.edu.
This Week’s Seminars
-
Monday, Primordial Universe and Gravity (PUG) Discussions, 2:30 PM
Speaker(s): No Speaker until Fall Semester
Title: -
Tuesday, International Loop Quantum Gravity Seminar, 10:00 AM
(Meets every other week)
Speaker(s): Ivan Agullo, Guillermo Mena, Daniele Oriti
Title: Panel on LQC -
Tuesday, HEPAP/CPGA Seminar, 1:30 PM
Speaker(s): No Speaker until Fall Semester
Title: -
Friday, Cosmology/Fundamental Theory Seminar, 10:30 AM
Speaker(s): No Speaker until Fall Semester
Title:
Current News
David Radice selected as a 2022 Sloan Fellow
The Sloan Foundation has announced that Dr. David Radice, assistant professor of physics and astronomy/astrophysics and member of the IGC, has been selected s a 2022 Sloan Fellow.