Welcome to the home page for the course “Cosmology” (PHY 524) in Spring 2020.

Overview of Course: This course covers the standard model of cosmology, including both the homogeneous Universe and perturbation theory, and the main observational tests of this model. 

Lecturer:            Neelima Sehgal

Contact:             neelima.sehgal{at}stonybrook.edu

Class Times:     Tuesdays and Thursdays   12:30pm - 1:50pm  via Zoom meeting

                          

 

Office Hours:    Mondays 3:00 - 4:00pm  via Zoom meeting

Course grade:   Homework Problem Sets (25%)

                            Take Home Midterm (35%)

                            Take Home Final Exam (40%)

                            Homeworks and Exams are to be submitted electronically via Blackboard

Course Text Book: Modern Cosmology by Scott Dodelson, Academic Press, 2003

Other Useful Text Books: Cosmology by Steven Weinberg, Oxford University Press, 2008

                                            Introduction to the Theory of the Early Universe

                                                        by D. Gorbunov and V. Rubakov, World Scientific, 2011

                                            Introduction to Cosmology by Barbara Ryden, Addison Wesley, 2003

                                            (the last book is an undergrad text and may provide useful review)  

Prerequisites: Knowledge of standard undergraduate physics (classical mechanics, electrodynamics, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics) is assumed.  Some knowledge of general relativity is also assumed (e.g. read Dodelson pages 23 - 33 prior to the start of class).  No prior knowledge of quantum field theory, astronomy, or cosmology is assumed.

Topics to be Covered:

Homogeneous Universe:

•    Friedmann-Robertson-Walker metric and Friedmann equations

•    Expansion history and distance measures

•    Standard candles and standard rulers

•    Relativistic degrees of freedom and the neutrino background

•    Big-Bang nucleosynthesis

•    Recombination

Perturbation theory:

•    Perturbed metric and Boltzmann equation for photons in real space

•    Boltzmann equation for photons in Fourier-multipole space 

•    Perturbation equations for neutrinos, dark matter, and baryons

•    Einstein equations and gauge transformations

•    Initial conditions and adiabatic vs. isocurvature modes 

•    Inflation

•    Generation of perturbations in inflation

•    Inhomogeneities and the matter power spectrum

•    CMB power spectrum

•    CMB polarization

Learning Outcomes:

•    Understand the physics and evolution of the smooth, homogeneous Universe starting from the Big Bang

•    Understand the physics of perturbations about a smooth Universe

•    Understand the observational consequences

Student Accessibility Support Center Statement:

If you have a physical, psychological, medical, or learning disability that may impact your course work, please contact the Student Accessibility Support Center, 128 ECC Building, (631) 632-6748, or at sasc@stonybrook.edu. They will determine with you what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation is confidential.

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