Course Unit Page
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Teacher Roberto Casadio
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Learning modules Roberto Casadio (Modulo 1)
Gianmassimo Tasinato (Modulo 2)
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Credits 6
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SSD FIS/02
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Teaching Mode Traditional lectures (Modulo 1)
Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
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Language English
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Campus of Bologna
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Degree Programme Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Physics (cod. 9245)
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Course Timetable from Sep 20, 2021 to Dec 20, 2021
SDGs
This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.
Academic Year 2021/2022
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course the student will have a comprehensive knowledge of modern theoretical models of the primordial universe in the framework of the quantum theory of fields and general relativity. All topics will be taught with a critical perspective that takes into account cosmological data. The student will be able to analyse and compare specific models and observational evidence to discriminate among different scenarios.
Course contents
The course will cover the following topics:
1) Brief review of the simplest cosmological models stemming from the cosmological principle of homogeneity and isotropy and their shortcomings; Raychaudhuri equations and approach to the "Big Bang" singularity; inhomogenous Kasner metrics;
2) introduction to inflationary models for the very early Universe to solve the problems of the Big Bang model and shortcomings of the semiclassical approach in the very early Universe;
3) general covariance and diffeomorphism invariance of the gravitational and matter actions in Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalism; Hamiltonian and momentum constraints in the Einstein gravity;
4) general theory of constrained systems and canonical quantisation for the Einstein gravity; the Wheeler-deWitt equation;
5) canonical quantisation of cosmological models and conditions for the semiclassical limit via the Born-Oppenheimer approach;
6) general theory of linear cosmological perturbations; the Cosmic Microwave Backgroung radiation in inflationary models;
7) exit from the inflationary phase and reheating;
8) brief introduction to the LambdaCDM model for the late Universe; the problems of dark energy and dark matter.
Readings/Bibliography
Textbooks and review articles will be suggested during the lessons.
Teaching methods
Standard lectures with blackboard.
Assessment methods
The test consists of a final oral exam, fixed by appointment with the teacher, with the presentation of a written essay on a topic of your choice, and free questions from the teacher on other topics covered in the course.
Teaching tools
Blackboard.
Office hours
See the website of Roberto Casadio
See the website of Gianmassimo Tasinato
Alumni