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Graduate Programme in Physics | |
Course in |
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Modern Cosmology 5p | |
This graduate-level course is intended to bring
the students up to speed on a number of exciting topics in
modern cosmology and to bridge the gap between theoretical physics,
particle physics and astronomy in this field. Some of the lectures
will be given by invited experts. |
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Literature: | Most
of the assigned reading will be based on recent publications. Recommended reference literature: 1. Barbara Ryden, 2002, "Introduction To Cosmology", Pearson Higher Education ISBN 0805389121 |
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Contents: | The
Standard Cosmological Model, Inflation, Early-Universe particle
physics, The Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation,
Origin of the elements, Dark matter, Dark energy, Large scale
structure and the high-redshift Universe, Brane cosmology.
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Prerequisites: | Preferably
a Masters degree in Physics or equivalent. |
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Examination: | The
examination will be based on seminar attendence, presentations
and home excercises. See details here. |
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Teachers: |
Erik Zackrisson (EZ), coordinator, ez(at)astro.uu.se,
phone: 018-471 5976 Nils Bergvall (NB), nils.bergvall(at)astro.uu.se, phone: 018-471 5975 Ulf Danielsson (UD), ulf.danielsson(at)teorfys.uu.se, phone: 018-471 3299 Joakim Edsjö (JE), edsjo(at)physto.se, phone: 08-55 37 87 26 Øystein Elgarøy (ØE), oystein.elgaroy(at)astro.uio.no, phone +47 228 55684 Bengt Gustafsson (BG), bengt.gustafsson(at)astro.uu.se, phone: 018-471 5959 |
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Time: | September-November 2005 | |
If you are interested in participating, please notify Erik Zackrisson as soon as possible! |
Date |
Time |
Room |
Lecture/ Exercise session/ Seminar |
Topics |
Teacher |
To read |
To turn in |
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Sept 1 |
15-17 |
80109 |
Lecture 1: Introduction
to cosmology I |
Course overview The Big Bang scenario Expansion of the Universe Cosmic epochs |
EZ |
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Sept 9 |
13-15 |
4004 |
Lecture 2: Introduction
to cosmology II |
Friedmann equations Cosmological Parameters The concordance model Distances in cosmology |
NB |
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Sept 19 Rescheduled! |
15-17 |
2003 |
Lecture 3: Inflation |
Problems with
a non-inflationary Big Bang Chaotic inflation The density perturbation spectrum Eternal inflation Transplanckian physics Non-gaussianity |
UD |
Danielsson (2005),
Lectures on string
theory and cosmology, p. 1-48 |
|
Sept 14 |
13-15 |
4006 |
Lecture 4: Early-Universe particle physics |
The standard
model GUT Supersymmetry Freeze-out and relics |
JE |
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Sept 15 |
13-15 |
4006 |
Exercise session
I |
Problem set
1, exercises 1-6 |
EZ |
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Sept 22 |
10-12 |
Pol 1311** |
Lecture 5: Cosmic
Microwave Background Radiation |
Origin of the
CMBR The dipole anisotropy The power spectrum Cosmological parameters CMBR polarization Topology of the Universe Gravitational waves Transplanckian effects |
ØE |
Tegmark (1995),
Doppler peaks
and all that: CMB anisotropies and what they can tell us Hu (2003), CMB Temperature and Polarization Anisotropy Fundamentals |
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Sept 22 |
13-15 |
Pol 1211** |
Lecture 6: Dark
energy |
Historical background The Supernova project Cosmic dust, axion-photon mixing, lensing Dark energy models The end of the Universe in dark energy cosmologies |
ØE |
Filippenko (2004),
Type Ia Supernovae
and Cosmology Sahni (2004), Dark Matter and Dark Energy, p. 11-40 |
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Sept 23 |
13-15 |
80127 |
Exercise session
II |
Problem set
2, exercises 1-6 |
EZ |
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Sept 27 |
13-15 |
4005 |
Lecture 7: Origin of the elements |
Big Bang Nucleosynthesis Cosmic chemical evolution Radioactive dating WMAP versus stellar and interstellar abundances |
BG |
Boesgaard and
Steigman (1985), Big Bang nucleosynthesis - theories and observations Olive et al. (2000), Primoridal Nucleosynthesis: Theory and Observations |
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Sept 28 |
13-17 |
Tammsalen 63133* |
Seminar I |
Common misconceptions
about modern cosmology |
EZ |
See seminar
instructions |
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Sept 30 |
EZ |
Problem set
1, exercises 7-9 |
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Oct 3 |
13-15 |
6K1113 |
Lecture 8: Dark
matter |
Historical overview Evidence of dark matter Baryonic and non-baryonic dark matter Spatial distribution Cold dark matter (CDM) Problems with CDM Dark matter candidates Possible detections Alternatives to dark matter |
EZ |
Zackrisson (2005),
Introduction to dark matter |
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Oct 14 |
13-15 |
2003 |
Lecture 9: Brane
cosmology |
The Randall-Sundrum
scenario Ekpyrotic/Cyclic scenarios Folded branes Inflation and dark energy from branes Pre-Big Bang cosmology |
UD |
Danielsson (2005),
Lectures on string
theory and cosmology, p. 1-48 |
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Oct 14 |
EZ |
Problem set
2, exercises 7-9 |
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Oct 19 |
13-15 |
2003 |
Lecture 10:
Large scale structure and the high-redshift Universe |
Structure formation
Reionization The cosmic star formation rate High-redshift objects as probes of cosmology (ages, chemical abundances, constants of nature) |
EZ |
Barkana &
Loeb (2001), In the Beginning:
The First Sources of Light and the Reionization of the Universe, p.
1-50 |
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Oct 25 |
13-15 |
2003 |
Exercise session
III |
Problem set
3, exercises 1-6 |
EZ |
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Nov 2 |
13-17 |
EZ |
Written report |
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Nov 3 |
13-17 |
Tammsalen 63133* |
Seminar II |
Dark energy
and the age of the Universe |
EZ |
See seminar
instructions |
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Nov 8 Rescheduled! |
13-17 |
Tammsalen 63133* |
Student presentation
session |
EZ |
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Nov 11 |
EZ |
Problem set 3, exercises
7-8 |
- 2 Seminars
- Seminar I: Common misconceptions about modern cosmology
- Seminar II: Dark energy and the age of the Universe
- 3 Sets of hand in-exercises
- Written essay (minimum 4 pages) + oral presentation (10 minutes)
A few suggested topics:
- Gravitational lensing
- Strong lensing
- Weak lensing
- Microlensing
- Mesolensing
- Cosmic strings
- Alternative theories of gravity
- The speed of gravity
- Parallel Universes
- Cosmic antimatter
- Holography
- The anthropic principle in cosmology
- Alternative cosmologies
- Rotating Universes
- Varying speed of light cosmology
- Quasi-steady state cosmology