ASTR 622 - Cosmology

  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), Yp, Ωb, ΩCDM, 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

  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: Yp, D/H, Li/H
    3. Entropy and the density of baryons (Ωb)

  7. Cosmic Microwave Background
    1. Backround Radiation; T(CMBR)
    2. Temperature Anisotropies
    3. Structure formation; growth of fluctuations
    4. Inflation & the 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 Early Universe
    1. Inflation
    2. The Particle Zoo

  10. Alternative world models