AS 4022 -- Cosmology

Keith Horne, University of St.Andrews

Astronomy Picture of the Day .
Tutorial Sheet 1 issued Thu 19 Feb, to be discussed Thu 26 Feb 2009.
Tutorial Sheet 2 issued Thu 26 Feb, to be discussed Tue 10 Mar 2009.
Tutorial Sheet 3 issued Thu 3 Mar, to be discussed Thu 19 Mar 2009.
Tutorial Sheet 4 issued Thu 16 Apr, to be discussed Thu 23 Apr 2009.
2009 Lectures:
01 . 01c . Review / Overview
02 . 02c . Distance Ladder.
03 . 03c . Metrics for curved spaces.
04 . 04c . Olber's paradox, space-time metrics, photon paths, conformal time, horizons, redshift, time dilation, effects on D_A, D_L.
05 . 05c . time-redshift-distance relation, general relativity, geodesics.
06 . 06c . Einstein's field equations, Friedmann equation. local energy conservation, Newtonian analog, critical density, radiation->matter->vacuum, eqn of state w, Omegas, H(x), density->curvature.
07 . 07c . Dynamics of the Universe: H(x)->R(t) for static universe, empty universe, matter-dominated (open, flat, closed), radiation-dominated (flat), vacuum-dominated (inflation), loitering universes.
08 . 08c . Concordance model, Density parameter evolution, Beyond H0, age constraints
09 . 09c . Discovery of Dark Energy: q_0, radio jet lengths, hi-z supernovae.
10 . 10c . Distance Ladder Checks: Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect, Gravitational Lensing
11 . 11c . Dark Matter, redshift surveys, galaxy counts, luminosity function, mass/light ratios, rotation curves, MACHOs, WIMPs, MOND
12 . 12c . CMB: COBE, Boomerang, WMAP, Planck. recombination, CMB temp maps, power spectra, acoustic peaks, sound horizon, angular scale -> flat geometry, Tegmark movies, CMB polarisation, re-ionisation, precision cosmology.
13 . 13c . Large Scale Structure: CfA, 2Df redshift surveys, galaxy power spectrum, 2-point correlation function, Kaiser effect, Fingers of God, SDSS, Baryon Accoustic Oscillations.
14 . 14c . Early Inflation.
15 . 15c . Early Universe Cooling History.
16 . 16c . Relic neutrinos.
17 . 17c . Big-Bang Nucleosynthesis. Primordial He.
  • Dan Maoz . Astrophysics in a Nutshell.
  • John Peacock . Cosmological Physics .
    Key formulae ( pdf , ps ) Notes ( pdf , ps )
  • Ned Wright cosmology tutorial.
  • Andrew Hamilton's cosmology links reading list
  • some notes + excellent pictures.
  • Max Tegmark CMB movies.
  • 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey.
  • SDSS Baryon Acoustic Oscillations.
  • yale/priya. page of good links.
    Return to Astronomy Group Homepage
    Keith Horne (kdh1-nospam-@st-and.ac.uk)