2011 Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded to Saul Permutter Brian Schmidt Adam Riess "for the discovery of the accelerating expansion of the Universe through observations of distant supernovae". As described by the Chem 187S class of 2011/2012

By the Noble Group (Timi, Jessica, Bobby, and Ngan)

Discovering the expanding universe was ground breaking just as how the universe was created in the big bang 14 billion years ago. Ever since then the universe has been expanding, with galaxies moving away from each other due to the cosmological expansion.

By the Radioactive Group Mat, Dan, Sam, and Lyle

 The Universe – open, closed, or flat.  The Nobel Laureates  Supernovae- Star explosions

 Open- The gravitational force of matter is not large enough to prevent the expansion of the universe, so matter is diluted in a larger empty space.  Closed- The big crunch would be created due to the great gravitational force that stops expansion and fall back.  Flat-expansion is believed to decline.

 Expected to measure the cosmic deceleration, or how the expansion of the Universe is slowing.  By locating distant stars and to measure how they come, but cepheids are too far to see with telescopes so a new method needed to found.

 New standard candles.  In the 1990’s, the light sensitive digital imaging sensors were used as better computer telescopes.  The sensors are charged-coupled devices(CCD) were invented by Willard Boyle and George Smith.  Awarded the Nobel prize in 2009.

 White dwarfs are very old stars.  All H and He have been fused- none left.  Not enough energy to fuse larger atoms.

 Not enough energy to fuse dense elements.  No longer able to fuse- end of life cycle  Terminal step= explosion of light and cosmic radiation.

 White Dwarf sucks up gaseous younger stars (exponentially greater gravity)  Explodes when it can no longer contain mass (in excess of 1.4 solar masses).  Interior heats until the star tears itself apart.  Initial explosion emits radiation for weeks, decreases over time.

 6 supernovae occur every minute and only last for a few weeks.  We’re in a constant rush to find them- they tell us how large the universe is and are constantly appearing and disappearing.

An Astounding Conclusion By The Rare Earth Group

Finding A Supernova Take two pictures of the sky The first, just after the new moon The second, three weeks later The two images would be compared in the hopes of finding a bright dot in the second photograph (a sign of a supernova)

Distinguishing light from supernova and host planet Dust and debris distorts the light of distant bodies The supernova had to be far away to prevent local distortion Supernova fade quickly so researchers needed telescopes asap Problems Researchers Encounter

Among approximately 50 observed supernova, had weaker light than expected If the universe was slowing down the brightness should appear brighter Concluded that the expansion of the universe is not slowing down - as was commonly believe – but speeding up Results

From Here to Eternity How Dark Energy is Accelerating the Universe

The Accelerating Expansion The Cosmological Constant – The Static Universe – The Cosm. Constant has a new meaning: Expansion Expansion began from the Big Bang – Deceleration occurred because of gravity – Dark Energy beat out gravity Some estimations are too large The amount of dark energy may not be constant

What is Dark Energy? Energy that must be present Caused by the destruction of virtual particles – Even empty space is full of “stuff” Over 75% of the universe is dark energy Only 5% is regular matter – The rest is dark matter (Almost 20%) – Yet another mystery Stars, Galaxies, planets, Nebulae, etc. – 5% Dark matter pulls, Dark energy pushes