Current Issues in Cosmology

This book looks at both the strengths and weaknesses of the current big-bang model in explaining certain puzzling data.

Jean-Claude Pecker (Edited by), Jayant Narlikar (Edited by)

9780521858984, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 1 June 2006

278 pages
24.4 x 17 x 1.7 cm, 0.65 kg

What are the current ideas describing the large-scale structure of the Universe? How do they relate to the observed facts? This book looks at both the strengths and weaknesses of the current big-bang model in explaining certain puzzling data. It arises from an international conference that brought together many of the world's leading players in cosmology. In addition to presenting individual talks, the proceedings of the resulting discussions are also recorded. Giving a comprehensive coverage of the expanding field of cosmology, this text will be valuable for graduate students and researchers in cosmology and theoretical astrophysics.

Part I. Observational Facts Relating to Discrete Sources: 1. The state of cosmology G. Burbidge
2. The redshifts of galaxies and QSOs E. M. Burbidge and G. Burbidge
3. Accretion discs in quasars J. Sulentic
Part II. Observational Facts Relating to Background Radiation: 4. CMB observations and consequences F. Bouchet
5. Abundances of light nuclei K. Olive
6. Evidence for an accelerating universe or lack of A. Blanchard
Part III. Standard Cosmology: 7. Cosmology, an overview of the standard model F. Bernardeau
8. What are the building blocks of our universe? K. C. Wali
Part IV. Large-Scale Structure: 9. Observations of large-scale structure V. de Lapparent
10. Reconstruction of large-scale peculiar velocity fields R. Mohayaee, B. Tully and U. Frisch
Part V. Alternative Cosmologies: 11. The quasi-steady state cosmology J. V. Narlikar
12. Evidence for iron whiskers in the universe N. C. Wickramasinghe
13. Alternatives to dark matter: MOND + Mach D. Roscoe
14. Anthropic principle in cosmology B. Carter
Part VI. Evidence for Anomalous Redshifts: 15. Anomalous redshifts H. C. Arp
16. Redshifts of galaxies and QSOs: the problem of redshift periodicities G. Burbidge
17. Statistics of redshift periodicities W. Napier
18. Local abnormal redshifts J.-C. Pecker
19. Gravitational lensing and anomalous redshifts J. Surdej, J.-F. Claeskens and D. Sluse
Panel discussion
General discussion
Concluding remarks.

Subject Areas: Astrophysics [PHVB], Cosmology & the universe [PGK]