Teacher(s)
Language
English
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Prerequisites
Having followed LPHYS1122 is an asset
Main themes
This teaching unit introduces the concepts and techniques required to ramp into modern cosmology and its foundations on applied general relativity. The theory of the cosmological perturbations, allowing for an accurate description of the weakly inhomogeneous universe, is explicitly derived from the Einstein's equations. Its application are presented, ranging from the anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background radiation, the formation of the large- scale structures to the propagation of gravitational waves in the universe. At the end of the teaching unit, modern research topics concerning the early universe and future observations are presented.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to : | |
| 1 | a. Contribution of the teaching unit to the learning outcomes of the programme (PHYS2M and PHYS2M1) 1.1, 1.2, 1.5, 2.1, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 7.1, 7.3, 8.1. b. Specific learning outcomes of the teaching unit By the end of this teaching unit, the student will be able to : 1. understand, reproduce and check the results of basic research publications in cosmology ; 2. tackle down any calculations in general relativity. |
Content
The content of the teaching unit provides the tools needed to understand research results in cosmology and applied general relativity. In view of the active development of new X, optical, radio and gravitational telescopes the world is engaged in, the teaching unit may also be of particular interest for all physicists and engineers desirous to join the observatories and spatial missions of tomorrow.
Lectures start from the following tree :
• A description of the inhomogeneous universe
- Measured CMB anisotropies and large-scale structures
- Horizon and flatness problem, the origin of the inhomogeneities
• Theory of the cosmological perturbations
- Gauge invariance in general relativity
- Scalar, vector and tensor decomposition
- Perturbed metric and linearised Einstein equations
- Perturbed stress tensor, gauge invariant fluid quantities
- Density fluctuations, gravitational waves and power spectra
• Cosmic microwave background anisotropies
- Photon propagation in inhomogeneous space-times
- Beyond the fluid approach : perturbed Boltzmann equations
- Angular power spectra for scalars and tensors
- Polarization and primordial gravitational waves
- Initial conditions and parameter estimation
• The early Universe
Lectures start from the following tree :
• A description of the inhomogeneous universe
- Measured CMB anisotropies and large-scale structures
- Horizon and flatness problem, the origin of the inhomogeneities
• Theory of the cosmological perturbations
- Gauge invariance in general relativity
- Scalar, vector and tensor decomposition
- Perturbed metric and linearised Einstein equations
- Perturbed stress tensor, gauge invariant fluid quantities
- Density fluctuations, gravitational waves and power spectra
• Cosmic microwave background anisotropies
- Photon propagation in inhomogeneous space-times
- Beyond the fluid approach : perturbed Boltzmann equations
- Angular power spectra for scalars and tensors
- Polarization and primordial gravitational waves
- Initial conditions and parameter estimation
• The early Universe
Teaching methods
Teaching activities are alternating between traditional lecturing and guided learning. Calculations are detailed on the black board, in interacting style, while multimedia support is provided for numerical and data analysis results.
Evaluation methods
Evaluation is based on a 2 hours long written exam that is focused on solving simple, but original, research-type problems in cosmology with a minimal amount of guidance. The problems require abstract modelling as well as being able to correctly perform calculations in general relativity.
Bibliography
- “Primordial cosmology”, Peter & Uzan.
- “Physical foundations of Cosmology”, Mukhanov.
- “Cosmological Physics”, Peacock.
- “The Cosmic Microwave Background”, Durrer.
- “Modern Cosmology”, Dodelson.
- “General Relativity”, Straumann.
- “Relativity”, Stefani.
- “General Relativity”, Wald.
- “Physical foundations of Cosmology”, Mukhanov.
- “Cosmological Physics”, Peacock.
- “The Cosmic Microwave Background”, Durrer.
- “Modern Cosmology”, Dodelson.
- “General Relativity”, Straumann.
- “Relativity”, Stefani.
- “General Relativity”, Wald.
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