An Introduction to Modern Cosmology Second Edition is an accessible account of modern cosmological ideas. The Big Bang Cosmology is explored, looking at its observational successes in explaining the expansion and age of the universe, the existence and properties of the cosmic microwave background, and the origin of the light elements in the universe. Properties of the very early universe are also covered, including the motivation for the theory known as cosmological inflation. The Second Edition includes additiional material on observational cosmology and structure formation.
The Second Edition includes additiional material on observational cosmology and structure formation.
Preface
Constants conversion factors and symbols
1. A (Very) Brief History of Cosmological Ideas
2. Observational Overview
3. Newtonian Gravity
4. The Geometry of the Universe
5. Simple Cosmological Models
6. Observational Parameters
7. The Cosmological Constant
8. The Age of the Universe
9. The Density of the Universe and Dark Matter
10. The Cosmic Microwave Background
11. The Early Universe
12. Nucleosynthesis: The Origin of the Light Elements
13. The Inflationary Universe
14. The Initial Singularity
15. Overview: The Standard Cosmological Model
Advanced Topic 1: General Relativistic Cosmology
Advanced Topic 2: Classic Cosmology: Distances and Luminosities
Advanced Topic 3: Neutrino Cosmology
Advanced Topic 4: Baryogenesis
Advanced Topic 5: Structures in the Universe
Bibliography
Andrew Liddle is Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Sussex. Research interests include the origin and evolution of structure in the universe and the relation between astronomical observations and the physics of the early universe.
Published reviews of the First Edition:
"..a clear, concise and accessible book"
- New Scientist
" [...] one of the clearest introductions to cosmology on the market"
- Contemporary Physics