The Primordial Density Perturbation
The Primordial Density Perturbation
AUD$131.95
inc GSTThe origin and evolution of the primordial perturbation is the key to understanding structure formation in the earliest stages of the Universe. It carries clues to the types of physical phenomena active in that extreme high-density environment. Through its evolution, generating first the observed cosmic microwave background anisotropies and later the distribution of galaxies and dark matter in the Universe, it probes the properties and dynamics of the present Universe. This graduate-level textbook gives a thorough account of theoretical cosmology and perturbations in the early Universe, describing their observational consequences and showing how to relate such observations to primordial physical processes, particularly cosmological inflation. With ambitious observational programmes complementing ever-increasing sophistication in theoretical modelling, cosmological studies will remain at the cutting edge of astrophysical studies for the foreseeable future.
- Provides a thorough account of theoretical cosmology and perturbations in the early Universe
- Assumes only undergraduate-level knowledge of physics
- Describes observational consequences and shows how such observations relate to primordial physical processes
Reviews & endorsements
'I like this book a lot. It is written very clearly and organised so well that it is easy to navigate. Both authors are undoubted experts and they handle the material with confidence as well as displaying deep insights and physical understanding.' Peter Coles, The Observatory
'The Primordial Density Perturbation is a welcome addition … [the] presentation is lucid and modern. [Lyth and Liddle's] volume warrants a place on the shelves of all researchers in advanced cosmology …' Physics Today
Product details
July 2009Adobe eBook Reader
9780511536922
0 pages
0kg
9 b/w illus. 135 exercises
This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.
Table of Contents
- 1. Overview
- Part I. Relativity:
- 2. Special relativity
- 3. General relativity
- Part II. The Universe after the First Second:
- 4. The unperturbed Universe
- 5. The primordial density perturbation
- 6. Stochastic properties
- 7. Newtonian perturbations
- 8. General relativistic perturbations
- 9. The matter distribution
- 10. Cosmic microwave background anistropy
- 11. Boltzmann hierarchy and polarization
- 12. Isocurvature and tensor modes
- Part III. Field Theory:
- 13. Scalar fields and gravity
- 14. Internal symmetry
- 15. Quantum field theory
- 16. The Standard Model
- 17. Supersymmetry
- Part IV. Inflation and the Early Universe:
- 18. Slow-roll inflation
- 19. More inflation paradigms
- 20. Reheating and phase transitions
- 21. Baryon number, CDM and dark energy
- 22. Generating field perturbations at horizon exit
- 23. Generating ζ at horizon exit
- 24. Generating ζ and Si after horizon exit
- 25. Slow-roll inflation and observation
- Appendixes
- Index.
