Implications of Planck for Fundamental Physics - 28th May 2013
The first cosmological results of the Planck satellite will be released in the next few months. These long anticipated results are likely to have a significant impact on our understanding of fundamental cosmology, in particular reducing the parameter space for inflationary models and constraining w, the number of relativistic degrees of freedom, neutrino masses and variations in the fine structure constant. This meeting will present the results to the UK community and allow others in the scientific community to present their first reactions.
The Scientific Organising Committee for this meeting are Richard Battye (Manchester, Chair), Carsten van de Bruck (Sheffield), Jeff Forshaw (Manchester), Anupam Mazumdar (Lancaster) and Celine Boehm (IPPP).
We are grateful to the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology and the Consortium for Fundamental Physics for sponsoring this meeting.
Programme
| Time | Speaker | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 10:30 | Andrew Jaffe (Imperial) | An overview of the Planck mission |
| 11:15 | Steve Gratton (IoA, Cambridge) | Cosmological parameters and constraints on inflation from Planck |
| 12:00 | Paul Shellard (DAMTP, Cambridge) | Constraints on non-Gaussianity and Topological Defects from Planck |
| 12:30 | Anna Bonaldi (Manchester) | Cosmological constraints from Planck SZ cluster counts |
| 13:00 | Lunch | |
| 14:00 | Daniel Baumann (DAMTP, Cambridge) | Effective Theories of Inflation after Planck |
| 14:40 | David Lyth (Lancaster) | The CMB asymmetry from inflation |
| 15:10 | Tea break | |
| 15:40 | David Wands (Portsmouth) | The curvaton model after Planck |
| 16:20 | John Ellis (King's College London & CERN) | Crossing the scalar Rubicon - again? |
| 17:00 | Close | |
Registration
The registration fee is £10. Registration closed on 17 May 2013.
Directions
The meeting is taking place at the Barnes Wallis Building at the University of Manchester. It is building 9 on the Campus maps. Local directions are below; more details are available as a PDF.
By train
The nearest train station is Manchester Piccadilly (the main railway station in Manchester). From here, exit the station from the South entrance using the escalators between Platform 10 and Sainsbury's (go down two layers). This will bring you to the taxi rank. Cross the cross-roads in front of you diagonally and head under the railway bridge. Immediately after the railway bridge, turn right onto Altringham Street. You will pass a tall building on the left-hand side; shortly after that, turn left onto the elevated walkway into the Barnes Wallis Building.
By car
The easiest way to get directions is to enter "M1 3BB" as your destination postcode into Google Maps or your GPS unit. This should bring you to Charles Street, which is in the centre of Manchester. Park at the Charles Street car park (the cost is £10 per day). When you exit the car park, turn left and walk to Sackville Street. Cross over Sackville Street, turn left and walk a short distance before turning right onto Altringham Street (just after the security lodge). Walk along Altringham Street until you reach a tall building on your left; turn right onto the elevated walkway into the Barnes Wallis Building.
By airplane
The closest airport is Manchester International Airport. There are direct trains from Manchester Airport's railways station to Manchester Piccadilly (see above).
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (about 35 miles from Manchester) offers cheaper Easyjet flights; there is a direct Terravision bus link available from Liverpool Airport to Manchester City Centre.
Accommodation
If you want to stay overnight before or after the meeting, then these are some nearby reasonably-priced hotels:
