This version of the course guide is provisional until the period for editing the new course guides ends.

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Cosmology

Code: 42858 ECTS Credits: 6
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
4313861 High Energy Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology OT 0

Contact

Name:
Lluis Galbany Gonzalez
Email:
Desconegut

Teachers

Alex Alarcon Gonzalez
Diego Blas Temiņo

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


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

  1. Apply the theory of cosmic perturbation to the problem of the formation of the structure of the universe.
  2. Distinguish and analyse the problems of the classic Big Bang theory.
  3. Recognise the basics of the theory of cosmic perturbation theory.

Content

1) Introduction to the course

2) Practical projects 

3) Flash Intro

4) Inflation

5) Baryogenesis

6) Dark matter & Dark Energy

7) Thermal history - Homogeneous Universe

8) Inhomogeneous Universe 

9) Gravitational instability - Growth of structure

10) Probes of structure

11) Observational probes

 


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Lectures on basic concepts 45 1.8 1, 2, 3
Type: Supervised      
Home problems 39 1.56 1, 2, 3
Type: Autonomous      
Class Projects 39 1.56 1, 2, 3

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

Continous 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

This subject/module does not foresee the single assessment system. 
 
Attendance to class is a mandatory requirement. 50% of the grade comes from assignments of problems and the completion of a research project in groups. The other 50% comes from a written exam. To be able to participate in the written exam, you must have obtained a grade higher than 3.5/10 in the assignments of problems and the project.

Bibliography

  • An introduction to Moderm Cosmology, A.Liddle, Horizon P&D (1999, 2003)
  • Modern Cosmology, S. Dodelson, Elsevier (2020)
  • Cosmological Physics, J.A.Peacock, Cambridge U. Press (1999)
  • Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology, Peter Schneider, (2010)
  • Introduction to Cosmology, Barbara Sue Ryden (2010)

Software

1) Introduction to the course

2) Practical projects 

3) Flash Intro (Homogeneous Universe, GR Equations: Friedmann Eq. and Acceleration scalar & tensor, Metric, Distances, Redshift)

PART I : Standard model problems

4) Inflation (Flatness and Horizon problem, Inflation models and perturbations, Power spectrum and GWs)

5) Baryogenesis (Puzzle of the entropy in the Universe, Some solutions)

6) Dark matter & Dark Energy (Motivation, and some cosmological studies - freeze-out)

PART II: Observational probes

7) Thermal history - Homogeneous Universe (Boltzmann equations, Recombination, Ionization history)

8) Inhomogeneous Universe (CMB temperature, polarization, SZ effect, Sachs–Wolfe effect). 

9) Gravitational instability - Growth of structure (Evolution of scales vs. time, Equations of Motion for Perturbations, Solution to Linear Order, Growing Mode / Decaying Mode, Evolution during Matter Domination, Evolution during Radiation Domination  -Suppression of Growth, Linear Power Spectrum, Random Fields  -skewness / kurtosis, Baryon Acoustic Oscillations)

10) Probes of structure (Gravitational Lensing: Weak lensing and Strong Lensing, Galaxy Formation - Halo model - Numerical simulations, Galaxy clusters - Galaxy clustering)

11) Observational probes (SN Ia/II, BAO, RSD, 3x2pt, 5x2pt, H0/s8 tension)

 


Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(TEm) Theory (master) 1 English second semester morning-mixed