This volume presents the current status of the Standard Model of the electroweak interactions and Higgs physics, aspects of QCD and supersymmetry, and provides particle physics background for astrophysical applications. In addition, there is in-depth coverage of inflation, high temperature field theory and phase transitions in the early universe, baryogenesis, dark matter and structure formation.

This volume presents results and developments in the fast-moving field of astroparticle physics. The following topics are covered: dark matter, baryogenesis, neutrino physics and astrophysics, inflation, topological defects, cosmic ray physics and cosmological implications of grand unification, supersymmetry, superstrings and extra dimensions.