Primordial CosmologyThis book provides an extensive survey of all the physics necessary to understand the current developments in the field of fundamental cosmology, as well as an overview of the observational data and methods. It will help students to get into research by providing definitions and main techniques and ideas discussed today. The book is divided into three parts. Part 1 summarises 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, the hot big bang model, cosmological perturbation theory, cosmic microwave background anisotropies, lensing and evidence for dark matter, and inflation. Part 3 describes extensions of this model and opens up current research in the field: scalar-tensor theories, supersymmetry, 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 the latest developments. The book provides details of all derivations and leads the student up to the level of research articles. |
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amplitude angular anisotropies assume Astrophys baryon bosons brane Chapter comoving components consider constraints coordinates cosmic microwave background cosmic shear cosmological constant coupling curvature dark matter decoupling defined depends derivative described dilaton dimensions dynamics effects Einstein equations energy evolution expansion fermions fluctuations fluid Friedmann equation Friedmann-Lemaître function galaxies gauge invariant geodesic given gravitational lensing gravitational potential gravitational waves Hubble implies inflation inflationary inflaton initial conditions integral interaction Klein-Gordon equation Lagrangian mass metric Minkowski modes neutrinos observations obtained oscillations parameters particle horizon particles perturbations phase photons Phys physics power spectrum primordial quantities quantum radiation radius redshift regime relation satisfy scalar field scale factor Section slow-roll solution space space-time spatial spherical standard model string theory structure super-Hubble supersymmetry symmetry takes the form temperature term transformation transition Universe vacuum vector velocity WMAP μν