Cosmology

Code:

AST408

Acronym:

AST408

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Astronomy

Instance: 2012/2013 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Physics and Astronomy
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Physics

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:AST	11	Plano de Estudos do Mestrado em Astronomia	1	-	7,5	-
M:F	9	Plano de Estudos do Mestrado em Física	1	-	7,5	-

Teaching language

English

Objectives

The overall objective of this lecture course is to develop in the students an interest in cosmology, communicating to them in a consistent manner both the basic principles and the latest developments in this area.

Learning outcomes and competences

After the frequency of this lecture course, students should be able to: understand the fundamental assumptions behind the standard cosmological model; deduce the equations that describe the dynamics of the Universe; describe the observational evidence of the standard cosmological model; understand the successes and limitations of the standard cosmological model; understand the thermodynamic processes most relevant in cosmology, in particular recombination and primordial nucleosynthesis; describe the observational constraints on cosmological parameters and their consequences for the evolution of the Universe; understand the relevance of scalar fields in cosmology, particularly in solving some of the problems of the standard cosmological model; understand the linear and nonlinear evolution of fluctuations in the density of matter in different eras and scales; understand the mechanisms responsible for the anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background and its relation to the large-scale structure of Universe; describe the observational evidence for dark matter and dark energy. This course also aims to develop a wide range of complementary skills in various areas, such as personal and inter-personal organization, written and oral communication, culture in physics and astronomy, the search and selection of bibliography and the writing of scientific articles.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Introduction

1.1 Basic concepts in Astronomy

1.2 Relevant observations for Cosmology

1.3 Revison of concepts in Special and General Relativity 

2. The expanding Universe

2.1 The cosmological principle

2.2 The Robertson-Walker metric

2.3 The cosmological redshift

2.4 Peculiar velocities

2.5 Equation of state

3. Relativistic cosmology

3.1 Friedmann equation: deduction and solutions

3.2 Cosmological horizons and the age of the Universe

3.3 Angular and luminosity cosmological distances

4. The primordial Universe

4.1 Cronology

4.2 Particles in thermal equilibrium

4.3 Entropy

4.4 Decoupling of relativistic and non-relativistic particles

4.5 Primordial nucleosynthesis

4.6 The cosmic microwave background

5. Inflation

5.1 Problems in the standard cosmological model

5.2 Inflationary models

6. Large-scale structure formation in the Universe

6.1 Linear evolution of density perturbations

6.2 Transfer functions

6.3 Evolution of non-linear density perturbations

6.4 Statistical description of density and velocity fields

6.5 Observational characterization of large-scale structure: distribution of galaxies, properties of the intergalactic medium, gravitational lensing.

6.6 Temperature and polarization anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background

6.7 Estimation of observational cosmological parameters: general methods, baryon acoustic oscillations and properties of galaxy clusters.

Mandatory literature

Coles Peter; Cosmology. ISBN: 0-471-48909-3
Mo Houjun; Galaxy formation and evolution. ISBN: 9780521857932

Complementary Bibliography

Liddle Andrew; An introduction to modern cosmology. ISBN: 0-470-84835-9
Roos Matts; Introduction to cosmology. ISBN: 0-470-84910-X
Ryden Barbara; Introduction to cosmology. ISBN: 0-8053-8912-1
Weinberg Steven 1933-; Cosmology. ISBN: 978-0-19-852682-7
Dodelson Scott; Modern cosmology. ISBN: 0-12-219141-2
Peacock J. A.; Cosmological physics. ISBN: 0-521-42270-1

Teaching methods and learning activities

In the traditional lecture classes, the contents in the program are taught and their application clarified through examples. There will also be tutorial classes, where the students will be supervised while attempting to solve exercices associated with concepts discussed in the theoretical-pratical classes, as well as while working in the project provided.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Exam	Exame		70,00
Project	Trabalho escrito		30,00
	Total:	-	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Description	Type	Time (hours)	End date
Lecture classes	Frequência das aulas	64
	Total:	64,00

Eligibility for exams

In the final exam students are required to obtain a minimum classification of 8 in 20.

Calculation formula of final grade

The final classification is given by: Nf=0.7*Ex+Tr where Nf is the final classification (cannot be below 10 in a scale of 0 to 20), Ex is the classification in the final exam exame (cannot be below 8 in a scale of 0 to 20) and Tr is the classification in the project (between 0 and 6).

Examinations or Special Assignments

A project will be given to all students, and its classification will have a weight of 30 per cent in the final classification.

Classification improvement

The improvement of the final classification can be made only by improving the classification in the written exam, that will still have a weigh of 70 percent in the final classification. It will not be possible to improve the classification in the project provided.