SciPost Submission Page
Probing New Physics Beyond ΛCDM with Large-Scale Structure
by Azadeh Moradinezhad Dizgah
Submission summary
| Authors (as registered SciPost users): | Azadeh Moradinezhad |
| Submission information | |
|---|---|
| Preprint Link: | scipost_202508_00027v1 (pdf) |
| Date submitted: | Aug. 11, 2025, 5:58 p.m. |
| Submitted by: | Azadeh Moradinezhad |
| Submitted to: | SciPost Physics Lecture Notes |
| for consideration in Collection: |
| Ontological classification | |
|---|---|
| Academic field: | Physics |
| Specialties: |
|
| Approaches: | Theoretical, Computational, Observational |
Abstract
These lecture notes expand a 90-minute lecture delivered at the Les Houches Summer School "The Dark Universe" (July 2025). The goal is to give an overview of how we probe imprints of new physics beyond ΛCDM with observations of the large-scale structure (LSS). Two case studies are discussed: (i) primordial non-Gaussianity (PNG) as a window into the field content and interactions during inflation; (ii) properties of neutrinos and light relics, namely the mass of neutrinos and the effective number of relativistic species. We outline why LSS is powerful for these questions, what we can learn, current bounds, the main analysis challenges, and prospects with ongoing and upcoming galaxy surveys. We will also illustrate the role of higher-order statistics in extracting non-Gaussian information of LSS and challenges on observational and theoretical fronts in obtaining robust and high-precision constraints on each of these imprints
Current status:
Reports on this Submission
Strengths
-
The lecture note provides a detailed summary of how the next generation large scale surveys would pin down the concordance LCDM model as well as open an avenue to look for physics beyond LCDM. In particular, the focus is on inflation, neutrino properties, and the presence relativistic species .
-
The lecture note is organized well. Each section focuses on a particular science goal, describes the corresponding LSS observable, current status, and future prospects.
Weaknesses
-
I feel a small introduction to the EFT of LSS would be beneficial. The formalism has been mentioned several times in the text.
-
There are mentions of degeneracies between fNL and bphi, as wellas neutrino mass and sigma8, As, and dark energy parameters. It would be great if a physical explanation could be added to explain how higher order statistics break these degeneracies.
Report
Requested changes
On page 11, in section 4.1, I have one comment. The text says, "Beyond the mass, Neff probes additional light relics—sterile neutrinos, axion–like particles, or hidden–sector states once in thermal contact with the Standard Model."
Since Neff describes the relativistic species in the Universe, it doesn't have to be in thermal contact with the standard model. It will contribute to the expansion rate regardless.
I have highlighted the typos and symbols used in the equations that have not been defined.
Recommendation
Publish (surpasses expectations and criteria for this Journal; among top 10%)
Report
Recommendation
Ask for minor revision
I agree with all comments of the referee and I have made ncessary modifications to the lecture notes, which I am attaching as v2.
Author: Azadeh Moradinezhad on 2025-09-23 [id 5853]
(in reply to Report 1 on 2025-09-22)I accept all the comments of teh referee and made teh necessary modification of the lecture notes that I attache as v2.
Attachment:
Moradinezhad_leshouches2025_v2_bBhB6nE.pdf