Cosmological PhysicsThis textbook provides advanced undergraduate and graduate students with a complete introduction to modern cosmology. It successfully bridges the gap between undergraduate and advanced graduate texts by discussing topics of current research, starting from first principles. Throughout this authoritative volume, emphasis is given to the simplest, most intuitive explanation for key equations used by researchers. The first third of the book carefully develops the necessary background in general relativity and quantum fields. The rest of the book then provides self-contained accounts of all the key topics in contemporary cosmology, including inflation, topological defects, gravitational lensing, galaxy formation, large-scale structure and the distance scale. To aid understanding, the book is well illustrated with helpful figures and includes outline solutions to nearly 100 problems. All necessary astronomical jargon is clearly explained, ensuring the book is self-contained for any student with undergraduate physics. |
Contents
3 | |
9 | |
11 | |
17 | |
19 | |
26 | |
17 Relativity and differential geometry | 28 |
Astrophysical relativity | 35 |
Topological defects | 305 |
102 Classes of topological defect | 306 |
103 Magnetic monopoles | 310 |
104 Cosmic strings and structure formation | 313 |
Inflationary cosmology | 323 |
112 An overview of inflation | 325 |
113 Inflation field dynamics | 328 |
114 Inflation models | 335 |
22 Weak fields | 38 |
23 Gravitational radiation | 42 |
24 The binary pulsar | 49 |
25 Black holes | 51 |
26 Accretion onto black holes | 60 |
Classical cosmology | 63 |
The isotropic universe | 65 |
32 Dynamics of the expansion | 72 |
33 Common big bang misconceptions | 86 |
34 Observations in cosmology | 89 |
35 The anthropic principle | 94 |
Gravitational lensing | 101 |
42 Simple lens models | 105 |
43 General properties of thin lenses | 109 |
44 Observations of gravitational lensing | 113 |
45 Microlensing | 116 |
46 Darkmatter mapping | 121 |
The age and distance scales | 127 |
52 Methods for age determination | 128 |
53 Largescale distance measurements | 134 |
54 The local distance scale | 138 |
55 Direct distance determinations | 141 |
56 Summary | 145 |
Basics of quantum fields | 149 |
Quantum mechanics and relativity | 151 |
62 The Dirac equation | 158 |
63 Symmetries | 164 |
64 Spinors and complex numbers | 167 |
Quantum field theory | 177 |
72 Simple quantum electrodynamics | 181 |
73 Lagrangians and fields | 184 |
74 Interacting fields | 189 |
75 Feynman diagrams | 197 |
76 Renormalization | 205 |
77 Path integrals | 210 |
The standard model and beyond | 215 |
82 Gauge symmetries and conservation laws | 216 |
83 The weak interaction | 220 |
84 NonAbelian gauge symmetries | 223 |
85 Spontaneous symmetry breaking | 228 |
86 The electroweak model | 232 |
87 Quantum chromodynamics | 236 |
88 Beyond the standard model | 245 |
89 Neutrino masses and mixing | 251 |
810 Quantum gravity | 256 |
811 KaluzaKlein models | 265 |
812 Supersymmetry and beyond | 267 |
The early universe | 271 |
The hot big bang | 273 |
92 Relics of the big bang | 282 |
93 The physics of recombination | 284 |
94 The microwave background | 288 |
95 Primordial nucleosynthesis | 292 |
96 Baryogenesis | 300 |
115 Relic fluctuations from inflation | 338 |
116 Conclusions | 347 |
Observational cosmology | 351 |
Matter in the universe | 353 |
122 Intervening absorbers | 360 |
123 Evidence for dark matter | 367 |
124 Baryonic dark matter | 378 |
125 Nonbaryonic dark matter | 381 |
Galaxies and their evolution | 387 |
132 Optical and infrared observations | 394 |
133 Luminosity functions | 399 |
134 Evolution of galaxy stellar populations | 404 |
135 Galaxy counts and evolution | 406 |
136 Galaxies at high redshift | 412 |
Active galaxies | 419 |
142 Emission mechanisms | 423 |
143 Extended radio sources | 431 |
144 Beaming and unified schemes | 437 |
145 Evolution of active galaxies | 441 |
146 Black holes as central engines | 447 |
147 Black hole masses and demographics | 451 |
Galaxy formation and clustering | 455 |
Dynamics of structure formation | 457 |
152 Dynamics of linear perturbations | 460 |
153 The peculiar velocity field | 469 |
154 Coupled perturbations | 471 |
155 The full treatment | 474 |
156 Transfer functions | 477 |
157 Nbody models | 482 |
158 Nonlinear models | 485 |
Cosmological density fields | 495 |
162 Fourier analysis of density fluctuations | 496 |
163 Gaussian density fields | 503 |
164 Nonlinear clustering evolution | 509 |
165 Redshiftspace effects | 514 |
166 Lowdimensional density fields | 517 |
167 Measuring the clustering spectrum | 521 |
168 The observed clustering spectrum | 526 |
169 NonGaussian density fields | 536 |
1610 Peculiar velocity fields | 543 |
Galaxy formation | 553 |
172 Hierarchies and the PressSchechter approach | 556 |
173 Cooling and the intergalactic medium | 569 |
174 Chemical evolution of galaxies | 575 |
175 Biased galaxy formation | 578 |
Cosmic background fluctuations | 587 |
182 Characteristics of CMB anisotropies | 597 |
183 Observations of CMB anisotropies | 601 |
184 Conclusions and outlook | 603 |
Hints for solution of the problems | 613 |
647 | |
Useful numbers and formulae | 663 |
671 | |
Common terms and phrases
allows angle appears apply approximation argument assuming background becomes calculation chapter clearly close clusters collapse comoving components consider constant corresponding cosmological defined density dependence derivatives detail discussed distance distribution effect electron elements energy equation evolution example exist expansion expected expression fact factor field figure fluctuations follows formation function galaxies gauge given gives gravitational halo horizon important independent inflation initial integral interaction light limit linear lines look luminosity mass matter means measure mechanics metric motion neutrinos objects observed obtain parameter particles perturbations photons physics possible potential prediction present principle probability problem produce quantum quantum mechanics radiation reasonable redshift relation relativistic relativity result rotation scale seen simple solution space special relativity spectrum stars string temperature tensor theory transformation units universe usual vector velocity wave zero