Introduction to Cosmology lectures

Astronomy A1Y

Introduction to Cosmology

Dr Martin Hendry

10 lectures, starting January 2005

WMAP data

(Short-cut to lecture notes and handouts)

What is (Introduction to) Cosmology?

Cosmology is the study of the whole Universe: its origins, evolution and eventual fate. This is quite an ambitious task for a research subject, never mind a short lecture course! Cosmology is concerned with understanding the overall nature of the Universe, not with describing the precise behaviour of every single star and galaxy in it. In order to keep sight of this 'big picture', Cosmology must therefore sacrifice a lot of the fine detail. We will see that the so-called 'Big-Bang' model of the Universe, although based on a number of greatly simplifying assumptions, is nevertheless remarkably successful in describing the overall nature of the Universe from its earliest moments after the Big Bang until the present day.

A similar remark could perhaps be made about 'Introduction to Cosmology'. These lectures present an overview of the Universe and our place in it, and begin to explore how we have come to build up this basic understanding of the cosmos and the development of the Big Bang model. Since it is an introductory course, we will be forced to simplify further our discussion of cosmological observations and theories, deferring a more complete study until the cosmology and general relativity modules in Honours astronomy. Nevertheless, despite this simplified picture, we hope that the great success of the Big Bang model will become clear by the end of these lectures.

Section 1: Galaxies and Their Properties

Structure of the Milky Way galaxy
Rotation curves and dark matter
Classification of normal galaxies
Active galaxies and quasars

Section 2: Large Scale Structure of the Universe

Measuring cosmological distances and redshifts
Mapping the Local Group and Local Supercluster
Distribution of clusters and superclusters

Section 3: The Expanding Universe

The Hubble expansion
Isotropy and homogeneity: the Cosmological Principle
Cosmological models: open, closed and flat
Weighing the Universe: further evidence for dark matter

Section 4: The Early Universe

Radiation and matter-dominated eras
The cosmic microwave background radiation
From the CMBR to galaxy formation

COURSE MATERIAL

The course material will be delivered via detailed handouts, which will be distributed at the start of each section. These handouts are designed to summarise the contents of the course in a convenient and concise manner: everything you need to know for 'Introduction to Cosmology' is contained within them. Do not, however, make the fatal mistake of regarding the handouts as a substitute for attending the lectures.

Each handout has a number of 'gaps', into which you will need to write various facts and figures which will be revealed and discussed as the lectures unfold. There is also a wide right-hand margin on each handout in which you are encouraged to make your own notes and comments during the lectures, or afterwards as you revise. (I have added the occasional note myself, which will appear on screen in the lectures, but not on your handout).

Each lecture will also be accompanied by images and (a few) animations illustrating some of the latest observations and discoveries in cosmology. These multimedia resources will also be made available via the website, below, together with links to interesting external cosmology websites.

Finally, there is no textbook for this course which is considered essential for purchase. You may, however, find useful An Introduction to Modern Cosmology by Andrew Liddle (Wiley; Chichester: ISBN 0-471-98758-1). One for library consultation, or something to put on your present list if you have a birthday coming up soon, but not a required purchase.

Martin Hendry,
January 2005

Lecture Notes and Handouts

Course Handouts (student version: pdf format)	Section 1	Section 2	Section 3	Section 4
Course Handouts (lecture version, minus figures)	Section 1	Section 2	Section 3	Section 4
Figures from Handouts (warning, large files!)	Section 1	Section 2	Section 3	Section 4
Additional Handouts	Parallax	Magnitudes	Doppler shifts

Some Interesting WWW Links relating to Cosmology

Click here to link to the homepage of the Hubble Space Telescope

Click here to link to the website of the World's Largest Optical Telescopes

Click here to link to the ESO Very Large Telescope homepage

Click here to link to the homepage of the HST Key Project to measure the expansion rate of the Universe (i.e. the Hubble constant)

Click here to link to the homepage of the 2DF Galaxy Redshift Survey

Click here to link to the homepage of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

Click here to link to the homepage of the Supernova Cosmology Project, to measure the curvature of the universe using very distant supernovae

Click here to link to the homepage of the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe, which has recently measured very accurately temperature fluctuations in the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR)

Click here to link to Max Tegmark's CMBR data analysis centre, where temperature variations in the CMBR are studied as a probe of the cosmological model and of galaxy formation (very technical, but great animations and movies)

Click here to link to the homepage of the VIRGO Consortium, who are running very large computer simulations of galaxy formation.

Click here to link to the Astronomy Picture of the Day website

Click here to link to the homepage of Heavens Above (for info on the ISS and Iridium flashes visible in your area)

Click here to link to the homepage of Starry Night Backyard, a very good astronomical display program. (Something to put on your Christmas list!)

Please send any comments or questions on ITC to Martin Hendry