Purpose

• provide a grounding in the essential elements of the modern cosmological model,
• survey observational evidence motivating and testing it, and
• familiarize you with the modern practice of cosmology as a research topic.

Course Work

• 4 Problem sets (worth a total of 25% of your grade)
• 2 exams, a midterm (25%) and a final (25%)
  • Midterm: Monday, March 18, in class tentatively
  • Final: Monday, May 20, 8-10 AM ack!
• A class project (25%)

The class project will be a debate of the values of the fundamental cosmic parameters.
You will each investigate an observational constraint of your choosing from a list I will provide. You will report on it to the class, both in writing and in an oral presentation. After all presentations are complete, we will as a group debate what it all means.

Course Outline

Introduction

Historical perspective: cosmologies of ancient and medieval peoples

Overview of the genesis of modern cosmology in General Relativity

Cosmological Essentials

Simple Newtonian Cosmology

The Robertson-Walker metric and Friedmann models

Empirical Pillars of modern cosmology

Cosmological Parameters: H0, t, O, q, L, T(CMBR), Yp, Ob, CDM

The Size scale of the Universe

The Hubble relation

The expansion rate (H0) and age (t) of the Universe

Calibration

The Age of the Universe

Globular Cluster ages

White dwarf age limits

Radioactive decay and interstellar grain limits

The density parameter

The role of density parameter (O) in specifying world model

Importance of O to H0 and t

Relation of O to deceleration parameter (q) and cosmological constant (L )

Measures of O, q, and L

Primordial Nucleosynthesis

Photon to baryon ratio (entropy)

Abundances of the light elements: Yp, D/H, Li/H

Entropy and the density of baryons (Ob)

Cosmic Microwave Background

Anisotropy and T(CMBR)

Structure formation and fluctuations in the CMBR

The Mass Discrepancy Problem

Cosmological and dynamical motivations

The need for cold dark matter (CDM)

Alternative possibilities: MACHOs, MOND, etc.

Alternative world models

as time permits