Robert Caldwell, Dartmouth College

Title: Echoes of the Big Bang  (Video)

Abstract: A prediction of an inflationary epoch in the early universe -- responsible for the *bang* in the Big Bang -- is a spectrum of primordial gravitational waves. In this talk, we review the mechanism that creates these waves, deconstruct the tell-tale imprint that these relics leave on the cosmic microwave background, and summarize the observational status. We also report on recent work suggesting these gravitational waves may have a preferred handedness.