ARCOS

The Astrophysics, Relativity and Cosmology Research Group (ARCOS) is part of the Physics Institute at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (IF/UFRJ). Our interests cover both theoretical and observational areas. On the theory front, we study the properties of Dark Energy and Modified Gravity models that could explain the acceleration of our Universe without resorting to a cosmological constant. We also investigate properties of General Relativity. On the observational side, we explore alternative ways to extract cosmological information from traditional observables, for example using type Ia Supernovae to measure gravitational lensing and peculiar velocities. We also use CMB and large-scale structure observables to constrain our galaxy's velocity and put competitive upper limits on neutrino masses, as well as applying machine learning methods to supernova classification and redshift estimation problems. We work with public and proprietary data from large cosmological collaborations such as the Javalambre Physics of the Accelerating Universe Survey (J-PAS), the Planck Satellite, the Dark Energy Survey (DES) and the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (SDSS-III BOSS), among others. Our group is also active in Stellar Astrophysics, with members working primarily on the characterization of young stellar clusters in the Galaxy and Magellanic Clouds, with a particular focus on investigating the effects of the local interstellar medium on the dynamical evolution, morphology and mass distribution of these stellar populations.