2021/2022
Cosmology
Code: 42858
ECTS Credits: 6
Degree |
Type |
Year |
Semester |
4313861 High Energy Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology |
OT |
0 |
2 |
The proposed teaching and assessment methodology that appear in the guide may be subject to changes as a result of the restrictions to face-to-face class attendance imposed by the health authorities.
Use of Languages
- Principal working language:
- english (eng)
Teachers
- Hector Croce
- Diego Blas Temiņo
- Pablo Fosalba Vela
Prerequisites
Introduction to the Physics of the Cosmos
Objectives and Contextualisation
The course is intended to provide students with a introductory lectures to Cosmology. The standard Cosmological model, the open questions and the current research lines in the field.
Competences
- Formulate and tackle problems, both open and more defined, identifying the most relevant principles and using approaches where necessary to reach a solution, which should be presented with an explanation of the suppositions and approaches.
- Understand the bases of advanced topics selected at the frontier of high energy physics, astrophysics and cosmology and apply them consistently.
Learning Outcomes
- Apply the theory of cosmic perturbation to the problem of the formation of the structure of the universe.
- Distinguish and analyse the problems of the classic Big Bang theory.
- Recognise the basics of the theory of cosmic perturbation theory.
Content
- Introduction to Cosmology: the Big Bang theory, Hubble's law, nucleosynthesis. Cosmic background radiation.
- Cosmic Expansion: models, scale factors, redshift, measurements of H.
- Cosmological equations: continuity equation and state equation,
- Friedmann equation, acceleration, cosmological parameters, dark matter and energy.
- Spacetime measurements: cosmic distances, horizons, age and volume.
- Problems with the Big Bang theory: baryogenesis, inflation, dark matter, origen of structures.
- Structure formation: gravitational collapse, instability hierarchical, power spectrum, acoustic oscillations, galaxy formation, numerical simulations, halo models.
Methodology
Theory lectures and exercises.
Classwork and Homework.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Assistance to classes is a requirement.
Some parts of the class will require class projects and some other parts to present problems.
This can be both writen or oral presentation to a total value of 50%.
The other 50% is a written exam.
There will be a resit exam for 50% of the grade.
In order to take part in the resit exam you must have obtained a mark of 3.5 or higher.
Assessment Activities
Title |
Weighting |
Hours |
ECTS |
Learning Outcomes |
Class Project & Problems |
50% |
21
|
0.84 |
1, 2, 3
|
Exam |
50% |
3
|
0.12 |
1, 2, 3
|
Resit Exam |
50% |
3
|
0.12 |
1, 2, 3
|
Bibliography
- An introduction to Moderm Cosmology, A.Liddle, Horizon P&D (1999, 2003)
- Cosmological Physics, J.A.Peacock, Cambridge U. Press (1999)
- Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology, Peter Schneider, (2010)
- Introduction to Cosmology, Barbara Sue Ryden (2010)
Software
== Part I Introduction days: 18/3, 13/4 and 21-28/4 =====
Introduction to the metric, the Friedman equations and measurements
Practical projects.
== Part II. PROBLEMS WITH THE BIGBANG: days: 19-25/3 =====
teacher: Prof. Evangelos Sfakianakis <evans@nikhef.nl>
- BARYOGENESIS
- INFLATION
- DARK MATTER
== Part III Large Scale Structure: 6-12/4 ===========
Teacher: Prof. Martin Crocce martincrocce@gmail.com
1) Evolution of density perturbations / Vlasov Eqs.
2) Linear Theory - evolution during radiation domination, evolution during matter domination
3) Power spectrum - main observational characteristics / connection to cosmology (large scales, early universe)
4) Two-point Correlation Function
5) Baryon Acoustic Oscillations.
6) Next-to-leading order : onset of nongaussianity
== Part IV. Structure Formation: Advanced Topics, (10h): 14-20/4 ==========
Teacher: Prof. Pablo Fosalba fosalba@gmail.com
1)- Galaxy formation: mass function, galaxy bias, halo model (4h)
2)- Gravitational Lensing (2h)
3)- Numerical simulations (2h)
4)- CMB (2h)