Primordial Cosmology

by Peter, Patrick; Uzan, Jean-Philippe

• ISBN13: 9780199209910
• ISBN10: 019920991X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-09-28
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This book aims at giving the basis of primordial cosmology. The book is self-contained in the sense that all the elements for the derivations of the presented results are given. It can be used as a textbook to study cosmology. It is divided into 3 parts. Part 1 summarizes the fundamentals in theoretical physics needed in cosmology (general relativity, field theory, particle physics). Part 2 describes the standard model of cosmology and includes cosmological solutions of Einstein equations, hot big bang model, cosmological perturbation theory, cosmic microwave background anisotropies, lensing and evidences for dark matter, and inflation. Part 3 describes extensions of this model and opens up to today's research in the field: scalar-tensor theories, supersymetry, the cosmological constant problem and acceleration of the universe, topology of the universe, grand unification and baryogenesis, topological defects and phase transitions, string inspired cosmology including branes and latest developments. The book provides details of all derivations and leads the student up to the level of research articles.

Author Biography

P. Peter: Post-doctoral position at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP), Cambridge University. Research positions: Charge de Recherches (1994-2002), Medaille de bronze (bronze medal) du CNRS (1995), Directeur de Recherches, Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris since 2002.
J.P. Uzan: Post-doctoral position at the Department of Theoretical Physics (DPT), Geneva University. Research positions: Charge de Rechecherches au CNR, teaches the course of Theoretical Cosmology at the Ecole Normale Superieure, teaches at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Mines de Paris.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Overview of the Theoretical Basis

General Relativity

Overview of Particle Physics

The Modern Standard Cosmological Model

The Homogeneous Universe

The Standard Big Bang Model

The Inhomogeneous Universe

The Cosmic Microwave Background

Gravitational Lensing and Dark Matter

Inflation

Beyond the Standard Models

Grand Unification and Baryogenesis

Phase Transitions and Topological Defects

Extensions of the Theoretical Framework

Cosmological Extensions

String Cosmology

Numerical Values

Special Functions

Useful Cosmological Quantities

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