TRR 33:  The Dark Universe

Subject Area Physics
Term from 2006 to 2018
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 15499703
 

Project Description

Solving the enigmas surrounding Dark Matter and Dark Energy, which together account for over 95 percent of the energy density of our universe, is a crucial research objective in modern-day theoretical and experimental physics, and of the Transregional Collaborative Research Centre Bonn - Heidelberg - Munich. The existence of Dark Matter has been deduced indirectly on the basis of a whole range of measurements. Though it represents anything up to a quarter of the energy density of the universe, nothing is known about its physical nature or constitution. At present we only have knowledge of the approximately 5 percent of baryonic matter susceptible of direct observation and measurement.
The major part of the energy density of the universe consists of the Dark Energy distributed equally throughout its expanses. Measurement of the light from remote supernovae indicate that our universe is expanding more and more quickly. Theoretically, an explanation for this phenomenon has been sought either in the so-called "cosmological constants" mooted in Einstein's Field Equations or in a time-dependent description. Finding an answer to the question of whether Dark Energy is static or dynamic is of immense fundamental significance for physics. It has a crucial bearing not only on cosmology and astrophysics but also on particle physics.
The Transregional Collaborative Research Centre set up on 1 July 2006 at the Universities of Heidelberg, Bonn and Munich will draw on the research already being done on Dark Matter and Dark Energy at these locations, coordinate it, and extend its scope. One essential aim of the research initiative is to examine the possible interaction between Dark Matter (probably involving hitherto unknown elementary particles) and Dark Energy.
The collaboration between scientists at three German universities, who have already been working on various aspects of the proposed initiative, provides an opportunity to achieve a leading international position in a field of research that can be expected to expand appreciably in the coming years. To this end, 15 part-projects have been initiated within the overall framework of this transregional undertaking. These part-projects are grouped into three categories: the origin of Dark Matter and Dark Energy, the time history of Dark Energy and the connections between Dark Matter and Dark Energy. Heidelberg is the coordinating university.
DFG Programme CRC/Transregios

Completed projects

Applicant Institution Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
Co-Applicant Institution Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München; Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
Participating Institution European Southern Observatory (ESO); Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik (MPA); Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik (MPE)
Spokespersons Professor Dr. Luca Amendola, since 10/2016; Professor Dr. Christof Wetterich, until 10/2016