Dynamical Dark Energy in Light of Late-time Cosmological Data

Project Description:

Understanding the late-time acceleration of the Universe remains a central problem in cosmology. While the standard ΛCDM model provides a successful overall description of observations, recent interest in possible departures from a cosmological constant has motivated the study of simple dynamical dark-energy models. This project will investigate how such models modify the late-time expansion history of the Universe relative to ΛCDM. Focusing on a small set of background-level models, such as wCDM and possibly the CPL parametrisation, the study will compare their predictions with selected late-time observational data, primarily cosmic chronometer measurements of the Hubble parameter. The project will combine introductory theoretical cosmology with basic numerical analysis in Python, providing a manageable but timely investigation of dynamical dark energy at honours level.

Research Area:

Astronomy

Project Level:

Honours

This Project Is Offered At The Following Node(s):

(NWU)

Special Requirements:

Basic Python programming skills.