Introduction to Cosmology

A substantial update of this award-winning and highly regarded cosmology textbook, for advanced undergraduates in physics and astronomy.

Barbara Ryden (Author)

9781107154834, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 17 November 2016

276 pages, 75 b/w illus. 5 tables
25.3 x 18 x 1.7 cm, 0.69 kg

'… Ryden avoids oversimplification while covering all topics at about the same level, appropriate for an undergraduate course in cosmology, although the last two chapters on structural formation go somewhat beyond that. … The mixture of narrative and equations is very close to a lecture course, and the book is well written. Complicated topics such as cosmological distances and horizons are presented briefly, but correctly. The editing is much better than average … There are a few black-and-white figures throughout the text. Each chapter ends with a handful of exercises, solutions to which are available to those using the book for a course. … The main text is followed by a table of useful constants and a five-page small-print index. … this book is highly recommended …' Phillip Helbig, The Observatory

This second edition of Introduction to Cosmology is an exciting update of an award-winning textbook. It is aimed primarily at advanced undergraduate students in physics and astronomy, but is also useful as a supplementary text at higher levels. It explains modern cosmological concepts, such as dark energy, in the context of the Big Bang theory. Its clear, lucid writing style, with a wealth of useful everyday analogies, makes it exceptionally engaging. Emphasis is placed on the links between theoretical concepts of cosmology and the observable properties of the universe, building deeper physical insights in the reader. The second edition includes recent observational results, fuller descriptions of special and general relativity, expanded discussions of dark energy, and a new chapter on baryonic matter that makes up stars and galaxies. It is an ideal textbook for the era of precision cosmology in the accelerating universe.

Preface to second edition
Preface to first edition
1. Introduction
2. Fundamental observations
3. Newton versus Einstein
4. Cosmic dynamics
5. Model universes
6. Measuring cosmological parameters
7. Dark matter
8. The cosmic microwave background
9. Nucleosynthesis and the early Universe
10. Inflation and the very early Universe
11. Structure formation: gravitational instability
12. Structure formation: baryons and photons
Epilogue
Bibliography
Table of useful constants
Index.

Subject Areas: Astrophysics [PHVB], Applied physics [PHV], Physics [PH], Cosmology & the universe [PGK], Astronomy, space & time [PG], Mathematics & science [P]