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Cursus: NS-374B
NS-374B
Observationele en theoretische kosmologie
Cursus informatie
CursuscodeNS-374B
Studiepunten (EC)7,5
Cursusdoelen
After the first part of the course that focuses on observational aspects of astronomy and cosmology,
the student should be able to:
1. explain the principles to detect and analyze light at all wavelengths
2. explain the methods to measure distances, at stellar, galactic and cosmological scales.
3. explain stellar evolution as a function of mass and composition, and how this results in core-
collapse, type Ia supernovae and gamma-ray bursts
4. explain how type Ia supernovae are employed to provide evidence for the existence of dark energy
5. describe gamma ray bursts and explain their potential for future cosmological studies
6. perform a basic spectroscopic and timing analysis of X-ray data

After the second part of the course that focuses on theoretical cosmology, the student should:
1. learn what are the principal constituents of our Universe and how they determine its dynamics
(Friedmann equations).
2. learn the thermal history of the Hot Big Bang and how the scale factor dependend on tempera-
ture; understand how to combine statistical physics, thermodynamics and kinetic theory to get
dynamical description of the Big Bang
3. qualitatively describe nucleosynthesis, and quantitatively analyze the (near) equilibrium evolution
of light elements during primordial nucleosynthesis
4. understand the growth of density perturbations of matter and the generation and evolution of
Universe's large scale structure
5. learn the most plausible dark matter candidates and in particular the dynamical origin of weakly
interacting particles; the current status of direct detection searches and its indirect manifestations
(important examples are galactic rotation curves and gravitational lensing)
6. learn the observational evidence for dark energy and simple theoretical models, such as the
cosmological constant and scalar quintessence elds
Inhoud
The course will be divided in two parts. The first part focuses on astrophysical observations relevant
for cosmology, including the expansion of the universe through galactic velocities, the detection of
Dark Energy via type Ia supernovae, the cosmic microwave background and the use of gamma-ray
bursts for studies of the early universe. The observational methodology and analysis techniques will be
thoroughly discussed.
The second part of the course begins with the Friedman-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker cosmological
model for an expanding universe, and a brief introduction to the main epochs in the history of our
Universe. Next, the hot Big Bang model and its particle content is reviewed. Particular emphasis is
devoted to electroweak and strong transitions, nucleosynthesis, photon decoupling, and the growth of
cosmic structures. The principal components that build the present universe - the visible (baryonic)
matter, dark matter, dark energy and neutrinos - are also discussed, together with a review of the best
motivated models of the dark components.
 
Learning tools
1. Thermodynamics of relativistic uids (adiabatic approximation)
2. Boltzmann kinetic equation
3. Fluid equations in expanding coordiantes: linear perturbation theory
4. Astronomical software packages
5. Nuclear reactions
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