Cosmology, 10 hp, Fall 2019

 

Literature:

Barbara Ryden, "Introduction To Cosmology",  2nd edition (2017)

 

Contents:

The world models of general relativity, cosmic expansion, thermodynamics and nucleosynthesis in the early Universe, dark matter and dark energy, methods for measuring cosmological parameters, structure formation, the cosmic microwave background radiation, inflation, black holes, parallel universes and alternative cosmologies.

 

Prerequisites:

Knowledge corresponding to a Bachelor's degree in physics, or similar.

 

Examination:

Seminars, literature report and hand-in exercises.

 

Teacher:

Erik Zackrisson, erik.zackrisson(at)physics.uu.se, phone: 018-471 5975
Anton Vikaeus, anton.vikaeus(at)physics.uu.se

 

Time:

September 2019 - October 2019

 


If you are interested in participating but did not register the formal way, please notify Erik Zackrisson as soon as possible!

 

Schedule
Å = Ångström Laboratory; ITC = Information Technology Centre
EZ = Erik Zackrisson; AV = Anton Vikaeus



Date

Time

Room

Lecture/
Exercise session/
Seminar

Teacher

Topics

To read
(refers to 2nd edition of textbook)

Turn in/prepare

Sept 4

15-17

Å80109

Lecture 1

EZ

Course information

Course overview

Cosmic epochs

Chapter 1

 

Sept 6

8-10

Å4006

Lecture 2

EZ

Cosmological principle

Cosmic expansion

General relativity

Metrics

Chapter 2 + first half of chapter 3

 

Sept 9

15-17

Å80115

Lecture 3

AV

Robertson-Walker metric

Proper distance

Cosmic dynamics

Second half of chapter 3 + chapter 4

 

Sept 11

15-17

Å80109

Lecture 4

AV

Dynamics with single and multiple components
Concordance cosmology
Fate of the Universe

Chapter 5

 

Sept 13

8-10

Å4003

Lecture 5

AV

Measuring cosmological parameters

Dark energy

Chapter 6

                                                             

Sept 16

 

15-17

Å80115

Lecture 6

EZ

Dark matter

Chapter 7

 

Sept 20

10-12

Å10132
(Häggsalen)

Lecture 7

EZ

Cosmic microwave background radiation

Chapter 8

 

Sept 23

13-15

ITC1112

Exercise session I

EZ

 

 

Study problem/solution batch I

Sept 30

10-12

ITC1245

Seminar I
(group A)

EZ

Common misconceptions about modern cosmology

 

See instructions for seminar I

Sept 30

13-15

ITC1245

Seminar I
(group B)

EZ

Common misconceptions about modern cosmology

 

See instructions for seminar I

Sept 30

15-17

ITC1245

Seminar I
(group C)

EZ

Common misconceptions about modern cosmology

 

See instructions for seminar I

Oct  4

 

15-17

Å80115

Lecture 8

EZ

Big bang nucleosynthesis

The early Universe
Inflation

Chapter 9-10

 

Oct 7

10-12

Å80115

Exercise session II

EZ

 

 

Study problem/solution batch II

Oct 11

13-15

ITC2345

Lecture 9

EZ

Structure formation

Chapter 11-12

 

Oct 14

15-17

Å80109

Seminar II

EZ

Strange Universe Game

 

See instructions for seminar II

Oct 15

9-12

Å6K1113

Seminar III

EZ

Parallel Universes

 

See instructions for seminar III

Oct 17

15-17

Å4006

Exercise session III

EZ

No preparations necessary

Oct 18

08-10

ITC2345

Seminar IV (group A)

EZ

Through the wormhole

 

See instructions for seminar III

Oct 18

10-12

ITC2345

Seminar IV (group B)

EZ

Through the wormhole

 

See instructions for seminar III

Oct 18

13-15

ITC2345

Seminar IV (group C)

EZ

Through the wormhole

 

See instructions for seminar III 

Oct 21

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written literature report

Oct 25

10-12

Å80115

Oral reports (group A)

EZ

 

 

Oral literature report

Oct 25

13-15

Å2003

Oral reports
(group B)

EZ

 

 

Oral literature report

Oct 25

15-17

Å2002

Oral reports
(group C)

EZ

 

 

Oral literature report

Oct 31

 

 

Hand-in exercises

           

 

Examination

·     Four seminars

·     Six hand in-exercises

·     Written essay (minimum 3 pages) + oral presentation (10 minutes)