Cosmology and fundamental physics with the ELT-ANDES spectrograph

TL;DR

This paper discusses how the upcoming ELT-ANDES spectrograph can advance fundamental physics and cosmology through simulations of key tests like big bang nucleosynthesis and redshift drift, even if results are null.

Contribution

It presents detailed simulations and forecast techniques for using ELT-ANDES to test fundamental physics and cosmology, highlighting its potential to provide competitive constraints.

Findings

ELT-ANDES can test big bang nucleosynthesis models.

It can measure the evolution of the CMB temperature.

Even null results will constrain cosmological models.

Abstract

State-of-the-art 19th century spectroscopy led to the discovery of quantum mechanics, and 20th century spectroscopy led to the confirmation of quantum electrodynamics. State-of-the-art 21st century astrophysical spectrographs, especially ANDES at ESO's ELT, have another opportunity to play a key role in the search for, and characterization of, the new physics which is known to be out there, waiting to be discovered. We rely on detailed simulations and forecast techniques to discuss four important examples of this point: big bang nucleosynthesis, the evolution of the cosmic microwave background temperature, tests of the universality of physical laws, and a real-time model-independent mapping of the expansion history of the universe (also known as the redshift drift). The last two are among the flagship science drivers for the ELT. We also highlight what is required for the ESO community to be able to play a meaningful role in 2030s fundamental cosmology and show that, even if ANDES only provides null results, such `minimum guaranteed science' will be in the form of constraints on key cosmological paradigms: these are independent from, and can be competitive with, those obtained from traditional cosmological probes.