An Introduction to Modern Cosmology / Edition 2

by Andrew Liddle

Overview

An Introduction to Modern Cosmology Third Edition is an accessible account of modern cosmological ideas. The Big Bang Cosmology is explored, looking at its observational successes in explaining the expansion of the Universe, the existence and properties of the cosmic microwave background, and the origin of light elements in the universe. Properties of the very early Universe are also covered, including the motivation for a rapid period of expansion known as cosmological inflation. The third edition brings this established undergraduate textbook up-to-date with the rapidly evolving observational situation.

This fully revised edition of a bestseller takes an approach which is grounded in physics with a logical flow of chapters leading the reader from basic ideas of the expansion described by the Friedman equations to some of the more advanced ideas about the early universe. It also incorporates up-to-date results from the Planck mission, which imaged the anisotropies of the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation over the whole sky. The Advanced Topic sections present subjects with more detailed mathematical approaches to give greater depth to discussions. Student problems with hints for solving them and numerical answers are embedded in the chapters to facilitate the reader’s understanding and learning.

Cosmology is now part of the core in many degree programs. This current, clear and concise introductory text is relevant to a wide range of astronomy programs worldwide and is essential reading for undergraduates and Masters students, as well as anyone starting research in cosmology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780470848357
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	05/09/2003
Edition description:	Older Edition
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	6.69(w) x 9.57(h) x 0.46(d)

About the Author

Andrew Liddle is Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Sussex. Research interests include the origin and evolution of structure in the universe and the relation between astronomical observations and the physics of the early universe.

Read an Excerpt

Click to read or download

Table of Contents

Preface.

Constants conversion factors and symbols.

1. A (Very) Brief History of Cosmological Ideas.

2. Observational Overview.

3. Newtonian Gravity.

4. The Geometry  of the Universe.

5. Simple Cosmological Models.

6.Observational Parameters.

7. The Cosmological Constant.

8. The Age of the Universe.

9. The Density of the Universe and Dark Matter.

10. The Cosmic Microwave Background.

11. The Early Universe.

12. Nucleosynthesis: The Origin of the Light Elements.

13. The Inflationary Universe.

14. The Initial Singularity.

15. Overview: The Standard Cosmological Model.

Advanced Topic 1: General Relativistic Cosmology

Advanced Topic 2: Classic Cosmology: Distances and Luminosities.

Advanced Topic 3: Neutrino Cosmology.

Advanced Topic 4: Baryogenesis.

Advanced Topic 5: Structures in the Universe.

Bibliography.

Numerical answers and hints to problems.

Index.

Editorial Reviews

"...complete and up-to-date...an excellent introduction of cosmology, and at this level it is hard to beat...highly recommended." (Choice, Vol. 41, No. 6, February 2004)

From the Publisher