Cosmic Topology from Einstein to WMAP data

Jean-Pierre Luminet

Observatoire de Paris, LUTH
Meudon, France

What is the shape of the Universe? Is it curved or flat, finite or infinite ? Is space "wraparound" to create ghost images of faraway cosmic sources? The lecture will review cosmic topology and the most promising techniques for detecting the topological signatures of space within the next decade. It will discuss more particularly the recent  proposal by Luminet et al. of a finite, positively curved, dodecahedral space as the best fit model for explaining the power spectrum of temperature anisotropies as observed by WMAP satellite, as well as some consequences for unification theories.