Title: ”Primordial Inflation: Known Knowns, Known Unknowns, and Unknown Unknowns”

SASAKI, Misao

Project Professor
Kavli Institute for the Physics Mathematics of Universe, University of Tokyo

TIME: October 24 (Thu.) 10:30 - 11:18

Room: Expo Hall

ABSTRACT:

Thanks to the rapid progress in observational cosmology, we have begun to understand the very early stages of the Universe, specifically primordial inflation. However our knowledge is still far from complete. I will review what inflation is and what we currently know about it. Then I will discuss some recent topics that may improve our understanding of the early Universe, including primordial black hole formation and its implications for the blossoming field of gravitational wave cosmology.

Misao Sasaki (born December 16, 1952) is currently Project Professor at the Kavli Institute for the Physics Mathematics of Universe, University of Tokyo. His research primarily focuses on general relativity and cosmology, with a keen interest in the theory of the inflationary universe. Sasaki is actively involved in investigating new observational signatures that can differentiate between various models of inflation. He emphasizes the importance of gravitational waves in cosmology, especially for understanding early universe physics. Sasaki has been recognized with the Humboldt Research Award by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in November 2007. His career has seen significant roles at Kyoto University, Hiroshima University, and Osaka University, demonstrating his extensive involvement in theoretical physics research and education.

EDUCATION:

• 1976 BS, Department in Physics, Kyoto University
• 1978 MS, Department in Physics, Kyoto University
• 1981 PhD, Department in Physics, Kyoto University

Field: Theoretical Physics (Cosmology)

• General relativity and cosmology
• Cosmic inflation theory
• Gravitational wave cosmology

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS:

• 1981 – 1983, JSPS Junior fellow, Research Institute for Fundamental Physics, Kyoto University
• 1983 – 1983, Research associate, Department of Physics, Kyoto University
• 1983 – 1986, Assistant professor, Department of Physics, Kyoto University
• 1986 – 1990, Associate professor, Research Institute for Theoretical Physics, Hiroshima University
• 1990 – 1991, Associate professor, Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kyoto University
• 1991 – 1994, Associate professor, Department of Physics, Kyoto University
• 1995 – 2003, Professor, Department of Earth and Space Science, Osaka University
• 1999 – 2000, Adjunct Professor, Department of Physics, University of Tokyo
• 2002 – 2002, Visiting Professor, Department of Physics, University of Paris VII
• 2003 – present, Professor, Yukawa Instititute for Theoretical Physics, Kyoto University
• 2006 – 2006, Visiting Professor, Department of Physics, University of Paris XI
• 2008 – 2011, KIAS Scholar, Korea Institute for Advanced Study
• 2013 – 2017, Director, Yukawa Instititute for Theoretical Physics, Kyoto University
• 2018 – present, Project Professor, The University of Tokyo
• 2018 – 2024, Deputy Director, Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe

Major Publications

• “Cosmological Perturbation Theory”, Kodama, H., Sasaki, M., Progress of Theoretical Physics Supplements, 1984, 78, pp. 1-166
• “The Einstein equation on the 3-brane world“, Shiromizu, T., Maeda, K.-i., Sasaki, M., Physics Review D, 2000, 62, pp. 024012
• “A general analytic formula for the spectral index of the density perturbations produced during inflation”, Sasaki, M., Stewart, E.D., Progress of Theoretical Physics, 1996, 95(1), pp. 71–78

HONORS and AWARDS:

• Chushiro Hayashi Prize (1997)
• Ronbun-Sho (1997)
• Humboldt Research Award (2008)
• Daiwa Adrian Prize (2010)
• Honorary Professor (2011)

This talk is hosted jointly by the Korean Physical Society and Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics (APCTP).