03401 - Cosmology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will have the basic knowledge of the modern cosmology, based on the General Relativity and on the Hot Big Bang model. In particular the student knows in critical way: the assumptions underlying the Big Bang model and their consequences; the thermal history of universe and the corresponding epochs; the model of inflation; the theory of formation of cosmic structures. Finally the student will be able to present and discuss in critical way the constraints coming from observational data.

Course contents

First principles of cosmological models. The Friedmann models. Thermal history of the Hot Big Bang model.
The very early universe. Phase transitions and Inflation. The lepton era. The plasma era. Jeans theory in expanding universes. Gravitational instability for baryonic and non-baryonic matter. Theory of perturbations. Spherical collapse and mass function. N-body and hydrodynamical simulations. Theory of clustering. Cosmic background radiation. 

Readings/Bibliography

P. Coles, F. Lucchin: Cosmology - The origin and evolution of Cosmic Structue, Wiley;
E.W. Kolb, M.S. Turner: The early universe, Addison-Weslwy;
P.J.E. Peebles: Principles of physical cosmology, Princeton University;
J.A. Peacock: Cosmological Physics, Cambridge University;
T. Padmanabhan: Structure formation in the universe, Cambridge University Press;
Lecture slides and notes.

Teaching methods

Lectures including discussions of related problems.

Assessment methods

Oral exam.

Teaching tools

Blackboard. Slide and video projectors.

Office hours

See the website of Lauro Moscardini