Cosmology has been transformed by dramatic progress in high-precision observations and theoretical modelling. This book surveys key developments and open issues for graduate students and researchers. Using a relativistic geometric approach, it focuses on the general concepts and relations that underpin the standard model of the Universe. Part I covers foundations of relativistic cosmology whilst Part II develops the dynamical and observational relations for all models of the Universe based on general relativity. Part III focuses on the standard model of cosmology, including inflation, dark matter, dark energy, perturbation theory, the cosmic microwave background, structure formation and gravitational lensing. It also examines modified gravity and inhomogeneity as possible alternatives to dark energy. Anisotropic and inhomogeneous models are described in Part IV, and Part V reviews deeper issues, such as quantum cosmology, the start of the universe and the multiverse proposal. Colour versions of some figures are available at www.cambridge.org/9780521381154.
- Develops relativistic kinetic theory in a general non-linear covariant way, providing an excellent basis for non-linear analysis of the cosmic background radiation anisotropies
- Discusses the possibility that what appears to be cosmic acceleration may in fact be a detection of spatial inhomogeneity
- Reviews some of the more controversial aspects of cosmology, such as the anthropic principle
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Product details
- Date Published: June 2021
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9781108812764
- length: 636 pages
- dimensions: 245 x 187 x 35 mm
- weight: 1.2kg
- contains: 68 b/w illus.
- availability: Available
Table of Contents
Part I. Foundations:
1. The nature of cosmology
2. Geometry
3. Classical physics and gravity
Part II. Relativistic Cosmological Models:
4. Kinematics of cosmological models
5. Matter in the Universe
6. Dynamics of cosmological models
7. Observations in cosmological models
8. Light-cone approach to relativistic cosmology
Part III. The Standard Model and Extensions:
9. Homogeneous FLRW universes
10. Perturbations of FLRW universes
11. The cosmic background radiation
12. Structure formation and gravitational lensing
13. Confronting the Standard Model with observations
14. Acceleration from dark energy or modified gravity
15. 'Acceleration' from large scale inhomogeneity?
16. 'Acceleration' from small scale inhomogeneity?
Part IV. Anisotropic and Inhomogeneous Models:
17. The space of cosmological models
18. Spatially homogeneous anisotropic models
19. Inhomogeneous models
Part V. Broader Perspective:
20. Quantum gravity and the start of the Universe
21. Cosmology in a larger setting
22. Conclusion: our picture of the Universe
Appendix
References
Index.
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Authors
George F. R. Ellis, University of Cape Town
George Ellis, FRS, is Professor Emeritus at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He is co-author with Stephen Hawking of The Large Scale Structure of Space-Time.
Roy Maartens, University of Portsmouth and The University of the Western Cape
Roy Maartens holds an SKA Research Chair at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa, and is Professor of Cosmology at the University of Portsmouth, UK.
Malcolm A. H. MacCallum, University of Bristol
Malcolm MacCallum is Director of the Heilbronn Institute at the University of Bristol and is President of the International Society on General Relativity and Gravitation.