Exploring the Dawn of the universe using Ab-Initio Simulations

Inflation, the accelerated expansion of the early universe, is a leading mechanism for explaining the origins of perturbations in the primordial universe. During this epoch, tiny quantum fluctuations are imprinted in the primordial density field, serving as the initial conditions for the formation of all structures in the cosmos.To date, predictions from inflation have been limited to analytical techniques based on perturbation theory. The EDAIS proposal aims to revolutionise our understanding of primordial fluctuations and their role in structure formation by developing the first ab initio cosmological simulation. This simulation will begin deep within the inflationary era and extend to the present-day distribution of matter in the universe. This groundbreaking technology will surpass standard approximations, offering new insights into the properties of the large-scale structure predicted by inflation.Recent advances in lattice simulations of inflation have enabled predictions of non-Gaussian primordial fields, emerging from interactions during inflation. The initial phase of the EDAIS project will focus on significantly enhancing these simulations. Once the necessary resolution and accuracy are achieved, the resulting primordial density field will serve as the initial condition for state-of-the-art N-body simulations. This comprehensive approach will allow for the creation of physical maps of the present-day universe, which will be benchmarked against standard approximations to assess the strength of this novel methodology.The anticipated outcomes include an open-source ab initio code and ab initio maps of the universe for selected cosmological models, all publicly available for the research community. This technology is expected to establish a new standard in cosmology, benefiting both theoretical and observational researchers, as well as major experimental collaborations.