Dynamical Systems in Cosmology

The first book to show how modern dynamical systems theory can help us both in understanding the evolution of cosmological models, and in relating them to real cosmological observations.

J. Wainwright (Edited by), G. F. R. Ellis (Edited by)

9780521673525, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 30 June 2005

360 pages, 34 b/w illus. 4 tables
24.4 x 17 x 1.9 cm, 0.57 kg

'It differs from many other collections written by several contributors by a very good homogeneity of the material, including one common reference list.' Zentralblatt MATH

This authoritative volume shows how modern dynamical systems theory can help us in understanding the evolution of cosmological models. It also compares this approach with Hamiltonian methods and numerical studies. A major part of the book deals with the spatially homogeneous (Bianchi) models and their isotropic subclass, the Friedmann-Lemaitre models, but certain classes of inhomogeneous models (for example, 'silent universes') are also examined. The analysis leads to an understanding of how special (high symmetry) models determine the evolution of more general families of models; and how these families relate to real cosmological observations. This is the first book to relate modern dynamical systems theory to both cosmological models and cosmological observations. It provides an invaluable reference for graduate students and researchers in relativity, cosmology and dynamical systems theory.

List of contributors
Preface
1. The geometry of cosmological models G. F. R. Ellis, S. T. C. Siklos and J. Wainwright
2. Friedmann-Lemaitre universes G. F. R. Ellis and J. Wainwright
3. Cosmological observations G. F. R. Ellis and J. Wainwright
4. Introduction to dynamical systems R. Tavakol
5. Qualitative analysis of Bianchi cosmologies G. F. R. Ellis, C. Uggla and J. Wainwright
6. Bianchi cosmologies: non-tilted class A models J. Wainwright
7. Bianchi cosmologies: non-tilted class B models C. G. Hewitt and J. Wainwright
8. Bianchi cosmologies: extending the scope C. G. Hewitt, C. Uggla and J. Wainwright
9. Exact Bianchi cosmologies and state space C. G. Hewitt, S. T. C. Siklos, C. Uggla and J. Wainwright
10. Hamiltonian cosmology C. Uggla
11. Deterministic chaos and Bianchi cosmologies D. W. Hobill
12. G2 cosmologies C. G. Hewitt and J. Wainwright
13. Silent universes M. Bruni, S. Matarrese and O. Pantano
14. Cosmological density perturbations P. K. S. Dansby
15. Overview G. F. R. Ellis and J. Wainwright
References
Index.

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