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A primary science goal of CLASS is to test the theory of inflation. In [[physical cosmology]], [[cosmic inflation]] is the leading theory of the very early universe;<ref name=2014-Linde-Inflation-Overview/> however, observational evidence for inflation is still inconclusive. Inflationary models generically predict that a [[gravitational wave|gravitational-wave background]] (GWB) would have been produced along with the density perturbations that seed [[structure formation|large-scale structure]]. Such an inflationary GWB would leave an imprint on both the temperature and polarization of the CMB. In particular it would leave a distinctive and unique pattern of polarization, called a [[B-modes|B-mode]] pattern, in the CMB polarization. A measurement of B-mode polarization in the CMB would be important confirmation of inflation and would provide a rare glimpse into physics at ultra-high energies.<ref name=Boyle-Inflation/><ref name=Tegmark-Inflation/>
A second primary science goal of CLASS is to improve our understanding of "cosmic dawn," when the first stars lit up the universe. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from these stars stripped electrons from atoms in a process called "[[reionization]]." The freed electrons scatter CMB light, imparting a polarization that CLASS measures. In this way CLASS can improve our knowledge of when and how cosmic dawn occurred. A better understanding of cosmic dawn will also help other experiments measure the sum of the masses of the three known [[neutrino]] types using the [[gravitational lensing]] of the CMB.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Allison|first=R.|last2=Caucal|first2=P.|last3=Calabrese|first3=E.|last4=Dunkley|first4=J.|last5=Louis|first5=T.|date=2015-12-23|title=Towards a cosmological neutrino mass detection
Additional science goals for CLASS are to better understand our own [[Milky Way Galaxy]] and to search for evidence of exotic new physics through constraining [[circular polarization]] in the CMB and large-scale anomalies. (See the [[cosmic microwave background#Low multipoles and other anomalies|Low multipoles and other anomalies]] section of the [[cosmic microwave background]] article for more information on the latter.)
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