Deconstructing Cosmology

A critical assessment of the standard cosmological model and its main challenger, modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND).

Robert H. Sanders (Author)

9781107155268, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 29 September 2016

152 pages, 30 b/w illus.
25.2 x 17.8 x 1.2 cm, 0.46 kg

'… a light but advanced reading addressing the discrepancies in the standard Lambda cold dark matter (?CDM) cosmological paradigm that supports dark matter (duh, obviously) and compares it to an alternative outlook … Thus, although it is of general interest, it gears towards those with some background in cosmology and astrophysics.' B. Ishak, Contemporary Physics

The advent of sensitive high-resolution observations of the cosmic microwave background radiation and their successful interpretation in terms of the standard cosmological model has led to great confidence in this model's reality. The prevailing attitude is that we now understand the Universe and need only work out the details. In this book, Sanders traces the development and successes of Lambda-CDM, and argues that this triumphalism may be premature. The model's two major components, dark energy and dark matter, have the character of the pre-twentieth-century luminiferous aether. While there is astronomical evidence for these hypothetical fluids, their enigmatic properties call into question our assumptions of the universality of locally determined physical law. Sanders explains how modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) is a significant challenge for cold dark matter. Overall, the message is hopeful: the field of cosmology has not become frozen, and there is much fundamental work ahead for tomorrow's cosmologists.

1. Creation mythology
2. Three predictions of physical cosmology
3. The very early Universe: inflation
4. Precision cosmology
5. The concordance model
6. Dark energy
7. Dark matter
8. MOND
9. Dark matter, MOND and cosmology
10. Plato's cave revisited
Notes
Index.

Subject Areas: Cosmology & the universe [PGK], Astronomy, space & time [PG], History of science [PDX], Philosophy of science [PDA], Science: general issues [PD], Mathematics & science [P]