hi cosmo-media,
A science journalist wants an interview, most probably about
http://arXiv.org/abs/0801.0006, so that s/he can choose one sentence
to publish from a telephone conversation of probably 10-20 minutes or
more....
The journalist refuses to use electronic communication, even jabber!
S/he will probably telephone tomorrow Friday 4 Jan 2008 at 15:00.
S/he also wants our comments on Niarchou & Jaffe (NJ07):
http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0702436v2http://space.newscientist.com/article/mg19225811.300-fold-testament-what-sh…
My initial thoughts are:
# practical: to get the references to 0702436, download the source
and paste the .bbl file into the .tex file, then latex && latex && dvips
* the NJ07 method is less physically direct than ours, since it
focuses on spherical harmonics on the 2-sphere rather working directly
in comoving 3-space;
* NJ07 is a perturbation simulation approach: the limitations
of this approach are described in Section 1.2.1 of
Roukema (2000) MNRAS, 312, 712, arXiv:astro-ph/9910272;
* specifically, they assume that even on the largest scales, the
function P(k) is a power law k^n function and that the phases of the
perturbations are Gaussian distributed, which at the largest scales
in a multiply connected universe is an assumption with neither
observational nor theoretical support - it might be right, it might
be wrong;
* the closest papers to their method are probably Caillerie et
al. 2007 arXiv:0705.0217 which works directly with the eigenmodes of
the PDS, up to k = 230, where k = l \frac{R_C}{c/H_0}, and and Aurich
2005b arXiv:astro-ph/0412569; NJ07 use up to "beta" = 41 which seems
to more or less correspond to k, i.e. they have 5 times less
resolution than Caillerie et al.; Caillerie et al's conclusion
is that the PDS fits WMAP better than the infinite flat model;
Aurich et al. say that it's not yet possible to make "firm"
conclusions.
* apart from the normalisation of their probabilities, their Fig. 5
looks like it agrees with Aurich et al. and Caillerie et al for
Omega_{tot} \sim 1.015-1.018
However, the journalist probably wants "sound bites" for the
"human interest factor" rather than "just science". My suggestions
for sound bites if it's about NJ07:
* "NJ07 have done some interesting work, but their method requires
making some assumptions about theoretical models which have no
physical motivation to be correct on the largest scales of a PDS
universe. We avoid making this type of assumption and use the
observations directly."
* "The apparent space associated with the PDS is the three-dimensional
space called the hypersphere or 3-sphere. So we work in the
hypersphere, embedded in Euclidean 4-space, which makes it relatively
easy to work with. NJ07 work primarily on the 2-sphere instead of on
the 3-sphere. This could cause some problems."
* "We agree with their final phrase 'the issue of the topology of the
Universe is far from settled'."
As for sound bites about our own work.... i don't have any good ideas
so far.
pozdr
boud
hi cosmo-media,
A local journalist (from Nowości) wants a comment from me (and my photo) for
a Nowości article about the Smoot/Mather Nobel prize - like a typical journalist,
he wants it in the next few hours - after all, the newspaper wants "hot"
news.
What do people think we should answer? Should i give a photo?
A photo of Smoot & Mather would be better, though it would have to be
OK for Nowości's copyright situation. Hmmm - anything from NASA is public
domain, so that should be OK.
So far i can't find a public domain photo...
Here are my suggested answers so far.
Any comments? i told the journalist i should be around until 17.00g today.
i've put it on the twiki in case anyone wants to edit directly:
http://cosmo.torun.pl/cgi-bin/twiki/view/Cosmo/MediaNobelSmootMather
pozdr
boud
> Chciałbym prosić o krótki (kilka zdań) komentarz w sprawie przyznanej
> właśnie nagrody Nobla z dziedziny fizyki dla Johna C. Mathera i Georga F.
> Smoot;'a za badania ciał doskonale czarnych we Wszechświecie oraz
> mikrofalowego promieniowania tła.
> Interesuje mnie zwłaszcza odpowiedź na
> pytanie, dlaczego ta dziedzina wiedzy jest tak istotna i na czym polega
> niezwykłość odkrycia Amerykanów?
> I jeszcze jedna prośba - jeżeli można
> chciałbym poprosić o wyjaśnienie tego w miarę przystępny sposób, tak aby
> przeciętny czytelnik naszej gazety nie poczuł się zdezorientowany :)
John C. Mather, George Smoot i David Wilkinson (umarł 2002r.) wspólnie
wprowadzili jeden z najważniejszych eksperymentów w historii nowoczesnym
kosmologii obserwacyjnym przez satelit COBE:
http://lambda.gsfc.nasa.gov/product/cobe/
Przed obserwacji mapy nieba COBE (w falach elektromagnetycznych od 3mm
do 1cm), tylko wiedziliśmy, że Wszechświat na wielki skalach jest
bardzo jednorodny, ale kosmologów spodziewały aby nie ma perfekcyjna
jednorodność, aby niektórych miejsca są trochę gęstsze i innych mniej
gęstsze. Jest to trochę jak góry i doliny na ląd ziemski. Powierzchnia
Ziemii nie jest perfekcyjnie płaska - nie tylko na wielką skalę,
powierzchnia Ziemii jest okrągły, ale na małym skalę, mamy guzy i
nachylenia, tzw góry i doliny. Mapa COBE była pierwszy raz, że widzieliśmy
tych góry i doliny na skalach kosmologicznych, tzn miliardy lat-świetlnych.
Widmo promieniowanie obserwowane przez COBE też było najperfekcyjny ,,ciało
doskonale czarny" lepszy niż co możemy tworzyć w laboratoriach ziemskich.
Temperatura tego ,,ciało doskonale czarnego" i statystyki tych ,,góry
i doliny" byli spektakularny potwierdzenie teoretycznych przewidywania
kosmologów, potwierdzają elementarnych podstawy naszego model Wszechświata,
znany popularnie jako ,,model Wielkiego Wybuchu".
Smoot i Mather całkowicie zasłużą ich Nagrody Nobela. Niestety, Wilkinson
umarł w 2002r., ale następnego satelit podobny do COBE ma jego nazwa -
WMAP - Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe.
Przeczytaj więcej:
(po polsku o kosmologii) http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmologia_obserwacyjna
(po angielski o satelit COBE) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COBE
I just got my wife a Bvlgari watch and she really loves it. I can't afford to spend $30 000 on a watch for her, though I
would love to; but this did the trick. It looks exactly like the real thing and she's actually glad I didn't spend $30 000
on a watch but saved $29 750 instead. This turned out perfect guys, thanks for providing such a great product, with
such great prices. This was a great experience ordering from your company.
- May
Visit http://www.ugwobxc.com
Boud,
FYI, Tomasz Rożek works not only for Axel Springer. Today (23.02),
Gazeta Wyborcza (owned by Agora, a public company) published his
popular article on (the lack of) dark energy:
http://serwisy.gazeta.pl/nauka/1,34148,3178280.html
As we can see Dr. Rożek *can* write pop-science articles which are *not*
interviews with scientists. So if he can write on DE using publicly
available material (astro-ph/0510453) then why not doing the same w.r.t.
the shape of the Universe?
--
Andrzej
Dear Sir,
thank you for the response.
I know answers for questions I've send to you. My point is to get your answers. Short, competent and for the "grass root". Therefore I would like to ask you to consider one more time the request included in my previous letter.
With the best wishes
Tomek Rozek
----- Original Message -----
From: Boud Roukema <boud(a)astro.uni.torun.pl>
Date: Tuesday, February 21, 2006 12:47 pm
Subject: Re: the shape of the universe
> On Wed, 15 Feb 2006 t.rozek(a)fz-juelich.de wrote:
>
> > Dear Sir,
> >
> > I'm a physicist and scientific writer. Within the new project of
> Axel Springer publishing house (editor of Newsweek in Poland and
> Die Welt in Germany) in Poland I would like to invite you to the
> discussion about the shape of the universe.
> >
> > As I know scientific group you are the leader, in 2004 went
> public with the information that in the microwave background
> radiation picture there are some indications, that our universe
> has a shape of dodecahedron.
> >
> > Questions I'm asking you are the same like these I have sent to
> other expert in this field. I will not hide, that his opinion
> about the shape of the universe is different than your.
> >
> > I will be pleased to get from you compact answers to questions
> which are listed below. Please keep in mind that new Axel Springer
> daily will be addressed to nonspecialists in physics or astronomy.
> >
> > Let me thank you in advance for time you will spend to answer my
> questions. I'm looking forward to your respond.
> >
> > With the best regards
> > Tomasz Rozek
>
>
> Dear Tomasz
>
> Answers to your questions are publicly available in research
> papers and
> in pedagogical (encyclopedia level) material as below.
>
> boud
>
>
>
> > 1. Analysis of the microwave background radiation are the only way
> > - I guess - to collect information about the shape of the
> > universe. Isn't it risky to draw conclusions resulting from only one
> > experiment ?
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method#Evaluations_and_iterations
>
> > 2. Why this is commonly believed, that data from WMAP probe, brought
> > down the concept of flat and infinite universe ?
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambda-CDM_model
>
> > 3. There are many ideas concerning the shape of the universe. Maybe
> > it is like a sphere, cylinder, funnel, but it can also be like bell,
> > horn or dodecahedron. Why do you claim that space is
> > dodecahedron-like ?
>
> http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ksztalt_Wszechswiata
>
> > 4. What are the errors or defects of the idea of horn-like space ?
>
> http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0403597
>
> > 5. Could you in the very easy way explain the expression, that space
> > has a shape ?
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shape_of_the_Universe
>
> > 6. Do efforts to establish a shape of the universe have any
> > practical meaning or you are doing that just to know ?
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_science
>
> > 7. Did universe have a beginning, and ones will have the end ?
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bang
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_fate_of_the_universe
>
>
On Wed, 15 Feb 2006 t.rozek(a)fz-juelich.de wrote:
> Dear Sir,
>
> I'm a physicist and scientific writer. Within the new project of Axel Springer publishing house (editor of Newsweek in Poland and Die Welt in Germany) in Poland I would like to invite you to the discussion about the shape of the universe.
>
> As I know scientific group you are the leader, in 2004 went public with the information that in the microwave background radiation picture there are some indications, that our universe has a shape of dodecahedron.
>
> Questions I'm asking you are the same like these I have sent to other expert in this field. I will not hide, that his opinion about the shape of the universe is different than your.
>
> I will be pleased to get from you compact answers to questions which are listed below. Please keep in mind that new Axel Springer daily will be addressed to nonspecialists in physics or astronomy.
>
> Let me thank you in advance for time you will spend to answer my questions. I'm looking forward to your respond.
>
> With the best regards
> Tomasz Rozek
Dear Tomasz
Answers to your questions are publicly available in research papers and
in pedagogical (encyclopedia level) material as below.
boud
> 1. Analysis of the microwave background radiation are the only way
> - I guess - to collect information about the shape of the
> universe. Isn't it risky to draw conclusions resulting from only one
> experiment ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method#Evaluations_and_iterations
> 2. Why this is commonly believed, that data from WMAP probe, brought
> down the concept of flat and infinite universe ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambda-CDM_model
> 3. There are many ideas concerning the shape of the universe. Maybe
> it is like a sphere, cylinder, funnel, but it can also be like bell,
> horn or dodecahedron. Why do you claim that space is
> dodecahedron-like ?
http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ksztalt_Wszechswiata
> 4. What are the errors or defects of the idea of horn-like space ?
http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0403597
> 5. Could you in the very easy way explain the expression, that space
> has a shape ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shape_of_the_Universe
> 6. Do efforts to establish a shape of the universe have any
> practical meaning or you are doing that just to know ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_science
> 7. Did universe have a beginning, and ones will have the end ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Banghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_fate_of_the_universe
hi everyone,
i've tried to come up with a proposal compatible with the summary here:
http://cosmo.torun.pl/pipermail/cosmo-torun/2006-February/000353.html
and Andrzej's suggestion here:
http://cosmo.torun.pl/pipermail/cosmo-torun/2006-February/000354.html
The proposed text is between ######### - i'm not sure if Bartek or Andrzej
want to sign, or even if this is compatible with Andrzej's arguments,
though i think it should be, because all the material is protected (well,
open) under GFDL copyright, but it's not especially linked to any of our
names - there are typically anywhere between 5 and 100 authors on the wikipedia
page articles.
The LambdaCDM article presently says nothing about "bringing down the
concept of flat and infinite universe" - which IMHO is rather
premature anyway - IMHO that wikipedia page would be a good place to
discuss that - in the wikipedia context - *if* anyone really wants to
have a "public, pedagogical" debate.
The response to 4. also gives a response to Bartek's worry about the
earlier Levin paper (lacking high resolution).
What do people think of this proposed response (v0.2)?
pozdr
boud
PROPOSAL version 0.2
######################################################################
Dear Tomasz,
Answers to your questions are publicly available in research papers and
in pedagogical (encyclopedia level) material as below.
Boud Roukema, Bartosz Lew
> 1. Analysis of the microwave background radiation are the only way
> - I guess - to collect information about the shape of the
> universe. Isn't it risky to draw conclusions resulting from only one
> experiment ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method#Evaluations_and_iterations
> 2. Why this is commonly believed, that data from WMAP probe, brought
> down the concept of flat and infinite universe ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambda-CDM_model
> 3. There are many ideas concerning the shape of the universe. Maybe
> it is like a sphere, cylinder, funnel, but it can also be like bell,
> horn or dodecahedron. Why do you claim that space is
> dodecahedron-like ?
http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ksztalt_Wszechswiata
> 4. What are the errors or defects of the idea of horn-like space ?
http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0403597
> 5. Could you in the very easy way explain the expression, that space
> has a shape ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shape_of_the_Universe
> 6. Do efforts to establish a shape of the universe have any
> practical meaning or you are doing that just to know ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_science
> 7. Did universe have a beginning, and ones will have the end ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Banghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_fate_of_the_universe
######################################################################