Colloquium on Nov. 3, 2023

Initial Results from the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment

Speaker: Karl Gebhardt (University of Texas)

Venue: Video Conference

Time: 10:00 AM, Friday, Nov. 3, 2023

Abstract:

The Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX) is a large redshfit survey designed to study any potential evolution of dark energy. Using over one million Lyman-alpha Emitters from 1.9<z<3.5, we will measure the Hubble Expansion rate and the angular diameter distance to better than 1% each. The survey is currently 85% complete and we plan to finish in 2024. I will present initial results and survey predictions. HETDEX is an untargetted spectroscopic survey that will eventually generate one billion spectra with one trillion resolution elements. With over 0.7 billion already obtained, we enable a variety of science which I will highlight as well. The combination of HETDEX cosmological measures with lower redshift experiments on the expansion rate will significantly limit the allowed variation in the dark energy density. In addition to the science advances, HETDEX provide a unique format to engage the public at a high level through a large citizen science campaign.