. - Cosmology
Prof. Yves Gaspar
COURSE CONTENTS
Cosmology corresponds to the part of physics that studies the origin and the
evolution of the universe. In this field, various disciplines of physics, which are
usually taught separately, are used in a unified framework. The course also
contains a part dedicated to theoretical astrophysics, which studies the stars and
their evolution, galaxies and their structure etc. The content of the course can be
divided in the following way:
a) Theoretical cosmology.
- the Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) models, the dynamics and
geometry of the FLRW models, the cosmological expansion, fundamental
parameters, open, flat and closed models. A. Einstein’s cosmological constant and
the impossibility of the static universe.
- The basis of the Standard Hot Big Bang Model, elements of particle physics. The
origin of matter: asymmetry between particles/antiparticles. Primordial
nucleosinthesis: the “fossil” elements of the Big Bang. The “fossil” cosmic
background radiation: theory and observation. The entropy of the universe.
Primordial neutrinos.
- The problems of the Big Bang model, the initial conditions problem in
cosmology. Inflationary cosmological models, spontaneous symmetry breaking.
- Cosmic structures and dark matter. The accelerated cosmological expansion and
dark energy. Thermodynamical aspects of gravitation, entropic gravity, the
holographic universe, implications of quantum gravity and string Theory, braneworld scenarios, ekpyrotic and cyclic models: alternatives to the Big Bang.
b) Theoretical astrophysics
- Structure formation: Jeans instability, the formation of stars, fundamental models.
- Characteristics of the stars: stellar populations, the Hertszprung-Russel diagram.
- Stellar evolution and dynamics: brown dwarfs, the main sequence, giant stars,
novae and supernovae, the formation of “heavy” chemical elements, white dwarfs,
the Chandrasekhar limit, neutron stars, pulsars, binary and multiple systems.
- Elements of black hole physics, black hole thermodynamics.
- Galactic physics and chemistry, the rotation curves and dark matter. Distant
celestial bodies: quasars.
- The distribution of galaxies in the universe, cosmic structures. Newtonian
models.
READING LIST
J.N.ISLAM, An Introduction to Mathematical Cosmology, Cambridge University Press, 1992.
J.D.BARROW-P. DAVIES-C.HARPER, Science and Ultimate Reality, Cambridge University Press, 2004.
G.W.GIBBON-E.P SHELLARD-S.J.RANKIN, The Future of Theoretical Cosmology, Cambridge
University Press, 2003.
BLACK HOLES, White Dwarfs and Neutron Stars, Stuart L. Shapiro, Saul A. Teukolsky, Ed.
WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 2004
ROGER PENROSE, La strada che porta alla realtà, 2005, ed. BUR
NOTES
Further information can be found on the lecturer's webpage
http://www2.unicatt.it/unicattolica/docenti/index.html or on the Faculty notice board.
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