1st Edition

An Introduction to the Science of Cosmology

By Derek Raine, E.G. Thomas Copyright 2001
    232 Pages
    by CRC Press

    232 Pages
    by CRC Press

    A thorough introduction to modern ideas on cosmology and on the physical basis of the general theory of relativity, An Introduction to the Science of Cosmology explores various theories and ideas in big bang cosmology, providing insight into current problems. Assuming no previous knowledge of astronomy or cosmology, this book takes you beyond introductory texts to the point where you are able to read and appreciate the scientific literature, which is broadly referenced in the book. The authors present the standard big bang theory of the universe and provide an introduction to current inflationary cosmology, emphasizing the underlying physics without excessive technical detail.

    The book treats cosmological models without reliance on prior knowledge of general relativity, the necessary physics being introduced in the text as required. It also covers recent observational evidence pointing to an accelerating expansion of the universe. The first several chapters provide an introduction to the topics discussed later in the book. The next few chapters introduce relativistic cosmology and the classic observational tests. One chapter gives the main results of the hot big bang theory. Next, the book presents the inflationary model and discusses the problem of the origin of structure and the correspondingly more detailed tests of relativistic models. Finally, the book considers some general issues raised by expansion and isotropy. A reference section completes the work by listing essential formulae, symbols, and physical constants.

    Beyond the level of many elementary books on cosmology, An Introduction to the Science of Cosmology encompasses numerous recent developments and ideas in the area. It provides more detailed coverage than many other titles available, and the inclusion of problems at the end of each chapter aids in self study and makes the book suitable for taught courses.

    Preface

    RECONSTRUCTING TIME
    The patterns of the stars
    Structural relics
    Material relics
    Ethereal relics
    Cosmological principles
    Theories
    Problems

    EXPANSION
    The redshift
    The expanding universe
    The distance scale
    The Hubble constant
    The deceleration parameter
    The age of the universe
    The steady state theory
    The evolving universe
    Problems

    MATTER
    The mean mass density of the universe
    Determining the matter density
    The mean luminosity density
    The mass to luminosity ratios of galaxies
    The virial theorem
    The mass to luminosity ratios of rich clusters
    Baryonic matter
    Intracluster gas
    The gravitational lensing method
    The intercluster medium
    The non-baryonic dark matter
    Dark matter candidates
    The search for WIMPS
    Antimatter
    Appendix A: Derivation of the virial theorem
    Problems

    RADIATION
    Sources of background radiation
    The microwave background
    The hot big bang
    Radiation and expansion
    Nevertheless it moves
    The x-ray background
    Problems

    RELATIVITY
    Introduction
    Space geometry
    Relativistic geometry
    Isotropic and homogeneous geometry
    Other forms of the metric
    Open and closed spaces
    Fundamental (or comoving) observers
    Redshift
    The velocity-distance law
    Time dilation
    The field equations
    The dust universe
    The relationship between redshift and time
    Explicit solutions
    Models with a cosmological constant
    The radiation universe
    Light propagation in an expanding universe
    The Hubble sphere
    The particle horizon
    Alternative equations of state
    Problems

    MODELS
    The classical tests
    The Mattig relation
    The angular diameter - redshift test
    The apparent magnitude - redshift test
    The geometry of number counts: theory
    The timescale test
    The lensed quasar test
    Problems with big bang cosmology
    The flatness problem
    Alternative cosmologies
    Problems

    HOT BIG BANG
    Introduction
    Equilibrium thermodynamics
    The plasma universe
    The matter era
    The radiation era
    The era of equilibrium
    The GUT era: baryogenesis
    Photon to baryon ratio
    Nucleosynthesis
    The plasma era
    Decoupling
    Recombination
    Last scattering
    Perturbations
    Appendix A: Thermal distributions
    Appendix B: The Saha Equation
    Appendix C: Constancy of ?
    Problems

    INFLATION
    The horizon problem
    The flatness problem
    Origin of structure
    Mechanisms
    Fluctuations
    Starting Inflation
    Stopping inflation
    Topological defects
    Problems

    STRUCTURE
    The problem of structure
    Observations
    Surveys and catalogues
    Large scale structures
    Correlations
    Bias
    Growth of perturbations
    The Jeans' mass
    Adiabatic perturbations
    Isocurvature (isothermal) perturbations
    Superhorizon size perturbations
    Dissipation
    The spectrum of fluctuations
    Structure formation in baryonic models
    Dark matter models
    Observations of the microwave background
    Appendix A
    Appendix B
    Problems

    EPILOGUE
    Homogeneous anisotropy
    Growing modes
    The rotating universe
    The arrow of time

    REFERENCE MATERIAL
    REFERENCES

    Biography

    E.G. Thomas, Derek Raine

    "Provides a comprehensive account of the ideas underlying modern cosmology… . Problems are included to help the reader who wishes to gain a working knowledge of the subject."
    - IEE INSPEC

    "One will appreciate that the work is completely up-to-date and takes account of recent and significant developments in the subject."
    - L'Astronomie

    "Let it be said at the outset that Raine and Thomas have written a very good book … [They] already compete well with other books in this market, and their book has the potential to become the text that lecturers still have to dream about."
    - John Peacock, The Observatory, vol. 122

    "…they [the authors] deserve high praise … Most students will surely prefer this book's half page chapters to five-page ones … The book is well organized and the format is well thought out."
    - Physics Today, January 2003