ASTR/PHYS 328/428 - Cosmology and the Structure of the Universe

1. Introduction
   1. Historical perspective: cosmologies of ancient and medieval peoples
   2. Overview of the genesis of modern cosmology in General Relativity

2. Cosmological Essentials
   1. Simple Newtonian Cosmology
   2. The Robertson-Walker metric and Friedmann models
   3. Empirical Pillars of modern cosmology
   4. Cosmological Parameters: H₀, t, Ω, q, Λ, T(CMBR), Y_p, Ω_b, Ω_CDM, σ₈, n

3. The Size scale of the Universe
   1. The Hubble relation
   2. The expansion rate (H₀) and age (t) of the Universe
   3. Calibration: the distance scale ladder
   4. Large Scale Structure: mapping the Universe

4. The Age of the Universe
   1. Globular Cluster ages
   2. White dwarf age limits
   3. Radioactive decay and interstellar grain limits

5. The Density Parameter (Ω)
   1. The role of density parameter (Ω) in specifying world model
   2. Importance of Ω to H₀ and t
   3. Relation of Ω to deceleration parameter (q) and cosmological constant (Λ)
   4. Measures of Ω, q, and Λ

6. Primordial Nucleosynthesis
   1. Photon to baryon ratio (entropy)
   2. Abundances of the light elements: Y_p, D/H, Li/H
   3. Entropy and the density of baryons (Ω_b)

7. Cosmic Microwave Background
   1. Backround Radiation; T(CMBR)
   2. Temperature Anisotropies
   3. Structure formation; growth of fluctuations
   4. The acoustic power spectrum

8. The Mass Discrepancy Problem
   1. Cosmological and dynamical motivations
   2. The need for cold dark matter (CDM)
   3. Alternative possibilities: WDM, SIDM, MACHOs, MOND, etc.

9. The Dark Ages
   1. Recombination and Reionization
   2. The Saha equation in cosmic context
   3. Cosmic Dawn: the first stars

10. The Very Early Universe
    1. Inflation
    2. The Particle Zoo

11. Exotica
    1. Multiverses
    2. The Far future: a Big Rip?
    • as time permits