Primordial Cosmology

Patrick Peter and Jean-Philippe Uzan

The book provides an extensive survey of all the physics necessary to understand the current developments in the field of fundamental cosmology, as well as an overview of the observational data and methods. It will help students to get into research by providing definitions and main techniques and ideas discussed today.

Primordial Cosmology

Patrick Peter and Jean-Philippe Uzan

Description

This book aims at giving the basis of primordial cosmology. The book is self-contained in the sense that all the elements for the derivations of the presented results are given. It can be used as a textbook to study cosmology. It is divided into 3 parts. Part 1 summarizes the fundamentals in theoretical physics needed in cosmology (general relativity, field theory, particle physics). Part 2 describes the standard model of cosmology and includes cosmological solutions of Einstein equations, hot big bang model, cosmological perturbation theory, cosmic microwave background anisotropies, lensing and evidences for dark matter, and inflation. Part 3 describes extensions of this model and opens up to today's research in the field: scalar-tensor theories, supersymetry, the cosmological constant problem and acceleration of the universe, topology of the universe, grand unification and baryogenesis, topological defects and phase transitions, string inspired cosmology including branes and latest developments. The book provides details of all derivations and leads the student up to the level of research articles.

Primordial Cosmology

Patrick Peter and Jean-Philippe Uzan

Introduction
Part I: Overview of the Theoretical Basis
1. General Relativity
2. Overview of Particle Physics
Part II: The Modern Standard Cosmological Model
3. The Homogeneous Universe
4. The Standard Big Bang Model
5. The Inhomogeneous Universe
6. The Cosmic Microwave Background
7. Gravitational Lensing and Dark Matter
8. Inflation
Part III: Beyond the Standard Models
9. Grand Unification and Baryogenesis
10. Phase Transitions and Topological Defects
11. Extensions of the Theoretical Framework
12. Cosmological Extensions
13. String Cosmology
A. Numerical Values
B. Special Functions
C. Useful Cosmological Quantities

Primordial Cosmology

Patrick Peter and Jean-Philippe Uzan

Author Information

Dr. Patrick Peter: Post-doctoral position at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP), Cambridge University. Research positions: Chargé de Recherches (1994-2002), Medaille de bronze (bronze medal) du CNRS (1995), Directeur de Recherches, Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris since 2002.

Dr. Jean-Philippe Uzan: Post-doctoral position at the Department of Theoretical Physics (DPT), Geneva University. Research positions: Chargé de Rechecherches au CNR, teaches the course of Theoretical Cosmology at the Ecole Normale Supérieure, teaches at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris.

Primordial Cosmology

Patrick Peter and Jean-Philippe Uzan

Reviews and Awards

"This book can be used as a textbook to study cosmology and is self-contained in that all the elements for the derivations of the presented results are given."--Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin