Title: The Galaxy Power Spectrum on the Largest Scales and the Hunt for Baryon Oscillations

Abstract:

Recent results from CMB experiments (at z=1100) and galaxy large-scale structure surveys (at z~0) have moved us into the regime of precision cosmology. Many cosmological paramters are now well-measured if we accept the Lambda-CDM paradigm. However, degeneracies in the model parameters remain, especially with regards to the nature of the dark energy and its effect on evolution from z=1100 to z=0. Further constraints should be possible from galaxy surveys. Baryons affect the shape of the power spectrum roll-off on the largest (>100 Mpc) scales, and imprint "wiggles" on smaller scales corresponding to acoustic oscillations. I will discuss an effort to measure such features from the luminous red galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.