Cosmological Physics

ISBN-13: 9780521422703 / Angielski / Miękka / 1998 / 696 str.

John A. Peacock

Opis

This textbook provides advanced undergraduate and graduate students with a complete introduction to modern cosmology. It successfully bridges the gap between undergraduate and advanced graduate texts by discussing topics of current research, starting from first principles. Throughout this authoritative volume, emphasis is given to the simplest, most intuitive explanation for key equations used by researchers. The first third of the book carefully develops the necessary background in general relativity and quantum fields. The rest of the book then provides self-contained accounts of all the key topics in contemporary cosmology, including inflation, topological defects, gravitational lensing, galaxy formation, large-scale structure and the distance scale. To aid understanding, the book is well illustrated with helpful figures and includes outline solutions to more than ninety problems. All necessary astronomical jargon is clearly explained, ensuring the book is self-contained for any student with undergraduate physics.

Recenzje

'… the material is so well organized, illustrated, and written that the whole is much more than the sum of the parts. The end product is a truly remarkable achievement. It is accessible to undergraduate physics students yet contains a very great deal of interest to the experienced researcher. It covers a vast territory yet does not shirk on detail. It is immensely authoritative, yet readable throughout. No serious student, researcher, or senior academic working in this area can afford to be without this book. And it's very good value for money, particularly in paperback.' Peter Coles, The Observatory

Spis treści

Part I. Gravitation and Relativity: 1. Essentials of general relativity; 2. Astrophysical relativity; Part II. Classical Cosmology: 3. The isotropic universe; 4. Gravitational lensing; 5. The age and distance scales; Part III. Basics of Quantum Fields: 6. Quantum mechanics and relativity; 7. Quantum field theory; 8. The standard model and beyond; Part IV. The Early Universe: 9. The hot big bang; 10. Topological defects; 11. Inflationary cosmology; Part V. Observational Cosmology: 12. Matter in the universe; 13. Galaxies and their evolution; 14. Active galaxies; 15. Dynamics of structure formation; 16. Cosmological density fields; 17. Galaxy formation; 18. Cosmic background fluctuations; Hints for solutions to the problems; Bibliography and references; Useful numbers and formulae; Index.