COSMOLOGIA
Does not require knowledge in astronomy and astrophysics, nor of general relativity. Prior attendance of Astrophysics course I is still recommended. The student must have the basics, at the undergraduate degree level, in mechanics, Newtonian theory of gravitation, termodinamca, statistical mechanics, atomic physics, elementary particle physics, radiative phenomena.
Oral examination with short monothematic advanced research on a topic agreed with the student.
The course aims to provide the basic knowledge of modern cosmology at the introductory level. The student will have to master the different aspects of the matter at the grassroots level, and be able to deepen the topics covered in the course.
1 FUNDAMENTAL OBSERVATIONS
1.1 The darkness of the night sky
1.2 Isotropy and homogeneity
1.3 Hubble Law
1.4 Types of particles
1.5 The cosmic micro-wave background
2 THE EINSTEIN THEORY OF GRAVITATION
2.1 Equivalence Principle
2.2 Curvature of space-time
2.3 Robertson-Walker metric
2.4 Proper distance and comoving quantities
2.5 Introduction to theoretical formulation of general relativity
3 COSMIC DYNAMICS
3.1 The equation of Friedmann
3.2 The acceleration equation and the equation of the fluids
3.3 Equations of state in cosmology
3.4 The cosmological constant Λ
4 SOLUTIONS OF FRIEDMANN EQUATION
4.1 Evolution of the energy density
4.2 Universes of pure curvature
4.3 Spatially flat Universes with single component
4.4 Matter dominated Universes
4.5 Radiation dominated Universes
4.6 Λ-dominated Universes
4.7 Universes with matter + curvature
4.8 Universes with matter + Λ
4.9 Universes with matter + curvature + Λ
4.10 Universes with radiation + material
4.11 The "concordance model"
5 MEASURING THE COSMOLOGICAL PARAMETERS
5.1 The "search for two numbers"
5.2 The luminosity distance
5.3 The angular distance
5.4 Standard candles and the Hubble constant
5.5 Standard candles and the accelerated expansion of the Universe
6 DARK MATTER
6.1 Visible Matter
6.2 Dark matter in galaxies
6.3 Dark matter in galaxy clusters
6.4 Gravitational Lensing
6.5 Hypothesis about the nature of the dark matter
7 THE COSMIC MICRO-WAVE BACKGROUND
7.1 Observations of the CMB
7.2 Recombination and decoupling
7.3 The physics of recombination
7.4 Temperature fluctuations
7.5 Kinetic theory of fluctuations
7.6 Origin of fluctuations and determination of the cosmological parameters
8 THE PRIMORDIAL UNIVERSE
8.1 Spontaneous symmetry breaking
8.2 The era of phase transitions
8.3 The era of hadrons
8.4 The era of leptons: the neutrino cosmic background
8.5 Primordial nucleosynthesis
8.5.1 Deuterium
8.5.2 Helium
8.5.3 Primordial metals
8.6 The baryon-antibaryon asymmetry
9 INFLATION
9.1 The flatness problem
9.2 The horizon problem
9.3 The problem of magnetic monopoles
9.4 The inflationary solution
9.5 The inflationary Universe
10 THE FORMATION OF THE LARGE SCALE STRUCTURE
10.1 Gravitational instabilities
10.2 The Jeans theory
10.3 Instabilities in an expanding Universe
10.4 Instabilities of collisionless matter
10.4.1 Free-streaming
10.4.2 Violent relaxation
10.5 Growth of baryonic fluctuations
10.5.1 The time of thermalization
10.5.2 Molecular and atomic cooling
10.6 The power spectrum of dark matter fluctuations
10.7 Cold dark matter, hot dark matter, and hierarchical clustering
The course is based on the textbook “Introduction to Cosmology” di B. Ryden, and to notes provided by the lecturer.
Lectures with exercises and examples aimed at a thorough understanding of the subject. Classes are complemented by multi-media material which is accessible to students.