Structure Formation in the Universe

Front Cover
Cambridge University Press, 1993 - Science - 483 pages
Understanding the way in which large-scale structures such as galaxies form remains the most challenging problem in cosmology today. This text provides an up-to-date and pedagogical introduction to this exciting area of research. Part 1 deals with the Friedmann model, the thermal history of the universe, and includes a description of observed structures in the universe. Part 2 describes the theory of gravitational instability in both the linear and nonlinear regimes. This part also includes chapters on the microwave background radiation, Large-scale velocity fields, quasars, and high redshift objects. Part 3 of the book covers inflation, cosmic strings, and dark matter. Each chapter is accompanied by a comprehensive set of exercises to help the reader in self-study.
 

Contents

Introducing the universe
3
13 Stars
8
14 Galaxies
15
15 Models for galaxies
20
16 Distribution of matter
25
17 Expansion of the universe
28
18 Quasars
31
19 Radiation in the universe
34
66 Intrinsic anisotropies
233
67 Damping of the anisotropies
237
68 Spectral distortions due to ionized gas
239
Exercises
245
Velocity fields
248
73 Theoretical constraints on peculiar velocities
261
Exercises
267
Towards a more complete picture
271

110 Determination of extragalactic distances
37
111 Age of various structures
40
Exercises
42
The Friedmann model
49
23 Kinematic properties of the Friedmann universe
54
24 The dynamics of the Friedmann model
59
25 Radiative processes in expanding universe
70
26 The Hubble radius
73
Exercises
76
Thermal history of the universe
82
33 Relic background of relativistic particles
90
34 Relic background of wimps
96
35 Synthesis of light nuclei
101
36 Decoupling of matter and radiation
108
Exercises
118
The clumpy universe
123
Linear theory of perturbations
125
43 The linear perturbation theory
136
44 Gravitational instability in the relativistic case
149
45 Solutions to the Newtonian perturbation equation
160
46 Dissipation in dark matter and baryons
167
47 The processed final spectrum
173
Exercises
179
Statistical properties
186
53 Gaussian probability functional
189
54 Spatial averages and filter functions
194
55 Normalization of the fluctuation spectrum
200
56 The time evolution of the correlation function
203
57 Correlation of high density regions
206
58 Mass functions
210
Exercises
214
Microwave background radiation
217
63 Propagation of light in a perturbed universe
222
64 Anisotropy due to variations in the potential
228
65 Anisotropies due to peculiar velocities
231
The nonlinear evolution
273
83 Scaling laws
285
84 The masses of galaxies
287
85 Zeldovich approximation
294
86 The adhesion model
299
87 The angular momentum of galaxies
305
88 Formation of disc galaxies
307
89 The formation of elliptical galaxies
310
810 Nonlinear evolution using Nbody simulations
313
Exercises
320
High redshift objects
325
93 Quasars and galaxy formation
331
94 Absorption spectra of quasars
339
95 High redshift radio galaxies
349
Exercises
352
The origin of perturbations
353
103 The epicycles of inflation
360
104 Origin of density perturbations
364
105 Cosmic strings
373
Exercises
377
Dark matter
382
113 Nature of dark matter
395
114 Massive neutrinos
401
115 Axions
404
116 Cosmological constant as dark matter
407
Exercises
410
Epilogue
415
Aspects of general relativity
423
Aspects of field theory
439
COBE results and implications
445
Notes and references
451
Some useful numbers
474
Index
475
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