2004 ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS - Indian Academy of Sciences

GRAVITATION AND PARTICLE ASTROPHYSICS
context of structure formation and as a
source of high energy cosmic rays;
• Modelling of the so called Dark Energy and
related issues;
• Braneworld scenarios in the context of the
early Universe, black hole formation, relic
gravity waves and the issue of dark energy.
Research related to the above problems has been
carried out both at universities and in various
institutes across the country. Other theoretical
topics in Astroparticle Physics which are being
actively pursued are:
• Study of the phase-space distribution of dark
matter in the Galaxy and in the Universe.
• Origin of ultra high energy cosmic rays
(UHECR) and issues related to probing
fundamental physics beyond the Standard
Model of elementary particles with UHECR.
• The construction of phenomenological
models of dark energy and methods aimed
at reconstructing the cosmic equation of
state from supernova observations.
• Development of higher dimensional
cosmological models.
• Predictions for cosmology from inflationary
models, such as the spectrum and amplitude
of density perturbations, and gravity waves.
• Cosmological baryogenesis through
leptogenesis in the Grand Unified Theories.
• Study of the implications of the solar and
atmospheric neutrino data for neutrino
flavour oscillation phenomenology and
neutrino mass hierarchy.
• The study of the implications of the topdown
scenario of the origin of UHECR
above 10 20 eV and their testability with the
up-coming large-area UHECR detectors.
• The implications of UHECR for the
enhanced neutrino interaction cross section
predicted in some extra-dimensional models,
• Cosmological implications of the possible
relics of the quark-hadron phase transition in
the early Universe, etc.
Recommendations
The committee would like to endorse the
following recommendations of the Panel:
1.Experimental Gravitation
High priority support could be given to the
existing programmes involving torsion balance
experiments, in recognition of the fact that
these are internationally competitive, that the
programmes address significant questions of
fundamental import, and that these have a very
high impact-to-cost ratio.
2. Gravitational Waves
The area of gravitational wave detection and
gravitational wave physics is developing into a
large team activity. Given the complexity of
the effort and the limited availability of trained
manpower, on the one hand, and the
improved communications and the long reach
of the internet on the other, it offers the
interested Indian scientists an alternative way
to participate in an exciting endeavour. Most
of the experiments offer the possibility to
participate in the science collaboration against
specific deliverables.
Data analysis has been recognized as a key
aspect in searching for gravitational waves.
Experience in handling large volumes of data
and the development of sophisticated analysis
algorithms will therefore play a vital role in the
eventual success of gravitational wave
detection. Prior to these instruments becoming
fully operational, data analysis is also an
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