Structures in the Universe by Exact Methods: Formation, Evolution, Interactions

by Krzysztof Bolejko, Andrzej Krasinski, Charles Hellaby, Marie-Noëlle Célérier

Overview

As the structures in our Universe are mapped out on ever larger scales, and with increasing detail, the use of inhomogeneous models is becoming an essential tool for analyzing and understanding them. This book reviews a number of important developments in the application of inhomogeneous solutions of Einstein’s field equations to cosmology. It shows how inhomogeneous models can be employed to study the evolution of structures such as galaxy clusters and galaxies with central black holes, and to account for cosmological observations like supernovae dimming, the cosmic microwave background, baryon acoustic oscillations or the dependence of the Hubble parameter on redshift within classical general relativity. Whatever ‘dark matter’ and ‘dark energy’ turn out to be, inhomogeneities exist on many scales and need to be investigated with all appropriate methods. This book is of great value to all astrophysicists and researchers working in cosmology, from graduate students to academic researchers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521769143
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	10/22/2009
Series:	Cambridge Monographs on Mathematical Physics
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	7.10(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Krzysztof Bolejko is an Assistant Professor at the Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland. His area of research is cosmology, in particular applications of inhomogeneous cosmological models, study of light propagation, backreaction effects, and faster than light mechanisms.

Andrzej Krasiński is an Associate Professor at Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland. He is currently doing research in gravitation theory, in particular exact solutions of Einstein's equations and inhomogeneous cosmological models. He is also a member of the Editorial Board of the GRG Journal, where he is the editor of the 'Golden Oldies' series of reprints of classical papers on relativity.

Charles Hellaby is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Cape Town, South Africa. His research interest is cosmology and relativity, particularly properties and applications of inhomogeneous metrics, and relating observations to cosmological models.

Marie-Noëlle Célérier is a Researcher at the Laboratoire Univers et Théories (LUTH), Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, France. Her two main fields of interest are scale relativity and inhomogeneous cosmology.

Table of Contents

1. The purpose of this book; Part I. Theoretical Background: 2. Exact solutions of Einstein's equations that are used in cosmology; 3. Light propagation; Part II. Applications of the Models in Cosmology: 4. Structure formation; 5. The cosmological constant and coincidence problems; 6. The horizon problem; 7. CMB temperature fluctuations; 8. Conclusions; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"...a necessary book, written from a general relativity point of view to study cosmological models. In order for this research field to further flourish and become main stream, we now need a book written by cosmologists. It should address those same questions from the cosmological standard model angle aimed to study inhomogeneous models. In the ideal world where those two meet, we can expect to attain a deeper understanding of our Universe."
General Relativity and Gravitation

"Many more than 200 references are listed at the end of this clearly written monograph, which presents the current state of research on an indispensable and promising branch of cosmology and gives many concrete suggestions for further studies."
Wolfgang Hasse for Mathematical Reviews

From the Publisher