The proposal focuses on theoretical extensions of the standard cosmological scenario and uses cosmological tests to probe the homogeneity and isotropy of the universe (the cosmological principle), fundamental symmetries and general relativity at extreme length (comparable to the Hubble horizon scale today) and energy scales (comparable to this shortly after the Big Bang, far beyond the reach of laboratory tests or particle colliders). The major aim of this proposal is either to constrain or detect departure from the standard cosmological model. In both cases the proposed research will have important outcomes on an understanding of the universe and the nature as a whole: finding departures from the standard model in the available cosmological data will lead to the essential modification of the standard picture of the universe and will lead to revisions of fundamental physics (including the theory of gravity); proving fundamental symmetries (such as Lorentz and parity symmetries, homogeneity and isotropy of the universe) at extreme length and/or energy scales will result in ruling out many models beyond the standard cosmological and particle physics scenarios, and will transform the Cosmological Principle from near a dogma to scientifically proved and testable law.

Principal investigator: Michael Maziashvili