Elementary cosmology :From Aristotle's universe to the Big Bang and beyond /

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"Version: 20201201"--Title page verso.Includes bibliographical references.1. The scientific method -- 1.1. Introduction to the scientific method -- 1.2. Some mathematics -- 1.3. Exponential growth2. Early astronomy -- 3. Nebulae -- 4. Cosmic distances -- 4.1. The cosmic distance ladder -- 4.2. Spiral nebulae : are they extragalactic? -- 4.3. The chemical composition of stars5. Spacetime -- 5.1. The speed of light -- 5.2. The special theory of relativity -- 5.3. The general theory of relativity -- 5.4. Universal expansion6. The big bang -- 6.1. The structure and history of the universe -- 6.2. The geometry of spacetime -- 6.3. The father of the big bang -- 6.4. The creation of the elements7. Cosmic microwave background radiation -- 7.1. The "smoking gun" of the big bang -- 7.2. Decoupling -- 7.3. How bright is the CMB? -- 7.4. "Matter dominated" versus "radiation dominated" universes -- 7.5. How uniform is the CMB?8. Dark matter -- 8.1. Dark matter defined -- 8.2. Non-baryonic dark matter9. The standard model of cosmology -- 9.1. Nucleosynthesis -- 9.2. The birth and death of stars -- 9.3. The size of the universe10. The very early big bang -- 10.1. The four forces of nature -- 10.2. The quantum nature of forces -- 10.3. The unification of forces -- 10.4. The quark model -- 10.5. The leptons -- 10.6. The gluons -- 10.7. The standard model of high energy physics -- 10.8. The history of the universe : the early frames -- 10.9. Why matter rather than antimatter?11. Inflation -- 11.1. The horizon problem -- 11.2. The flatness problem -- 11.3. The smoothness problem -- 11.4. The magnetic monopole problem -- 11.5. Inflation -- 11.6. How inflation solves the big bang problems12. Dark energy -- 12.1. The curvature of spacetime -- 12.2. The accelerating universal expansion -- 12.3. Dark energy and the CMB -- 12.4. Is there a signature of inflation in the CMB?13. Higher dimensions -- 13.1. Field theories -- 13.2. Kaluza-Klein theory -- 13.3. Compactification -- 13.4. Quantum electrodynamics (QED) -- 13.5. Quantization of the weak and strong forces -- 13.6. Early attempts at a quantum theory of gravity14. String theory -- 14.1. Particles and "string" -- 14.2. M-theory -- 14.3. The multiverse15. Neutron stars and black holes -- 15.1. The life and death of the sun -- 15.2. The life and death of massive stars -- 15.3. Neutron stars -- 15.4. Black holes -- 15.5. Some properties of black holes -- 15.6. The thermodynamics of black holes -- 15.7. Hawking radiation -- 15.8. The singularity at the center of a black hole16. Gravitational radiation -- 16.1. General relativity and gravitational waves -- 16.2. Indirect detection of gravitational radiation -- 16.3. The LIGO Project17. Reading list -- 18. Links to astronomy and cosmology websites -- 19. Frequently used abbreviations -- 19.1. Laboratories and organizations -- 19.2. Accelerators and spacecraft -- 19.3. Units, constants, and mathematical terminology -- 19.4. Astrophysics terminology -- 19.5. Particle-physics terminology -- 19.6. Quantum theories.The aim of this book is to introduce the most important discoveries in cosmology, and how they altered our perceptions of the origin, size, structure and evolution of the universe. The book covers a wide range of cosmological topics, including nebulae, cosmic distances, spacetime, the Big Bang, dark matter and dark energy, higher dimensions, string theory, neutron stars and black holes, and gravitational radiation. The text contains many links to websites that clarify and extend the discussion, and which provide a more in-depth understanding of many of the concepts introduced in this book, in particular the mathematics involved. It will provide a fascinating insight to undergraduate students and anyone interested in astronomy and cosmology.University science courses for non-science majors. Supplementary reading for science undergraduates studying astronomy/cosmology.Also available in print.Mode of access: World Wide Web.System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader, EPUB reader, or Kindle reader.James J. Kolata is Emeritus Professor of Nuclear Physics at the University of Notre Dame. He received his BS from Marquette University and his MS and PhD from Michigan State University. Before coming to Notre Dame, he worked at the Naval Research Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and at the University of Pittsburgh. This book is from his elective course at Notre Dame entitled "Elementary Cosmology".Title from PDF title page (viewed on January 14, 2021).

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: .,

Collation

1 online resource (various pagings) :illustrations (some color).

Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

9780750336154

Classification

523.109

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Edition

Second edition.

Subject(s)

Cosmology & the universe.
SCIENCE / Cosmology.
Cosmology

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Statement of Responsibility

James J. Kolata.

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