Admission Requirements
Prerequisites: General Relativity
Description
A course on Theoretical Cosmology. You will have the successes of the field and know where its challenges lie to which you may be able to contribute in the future.
Program: Firstly, the students will become familiar with the standard model of Cosmology, and its main aspects including:
Big Bang Cosmology
Inflation
Initial Conditions
Linear Perurbation theory
Gauges
Cosmic Microwave Background
Large Scale Structure
Secondly, the students will learn about the open questions in Cosmology and beyond the standard model theories that address them, including:
- Dark Energy
- Modified Gravity
- Cosmological tests of gravity
The main mode of Instruction will be blackboard lectures, with the occasional use of slides. There will be some practice sessions with problem solving and eventually some coding (in C).
Course objectives
After successful completion of the course you will be able to:
Describe the main phases in the history of the Universe and the relevant physical processes.
Solve for the dynamics of the FLRW Universe at different epochs
Solve simple single-field models of inflation
Calculate full set of linearly perturbed Einstein equations for vector, tensor and scalar modes.
Transform between gauges
Calculate main transfer functions and the growth rate of structure
Link the former to main cosmological observables
Solve the cosmology of simple representative beyond LCDM models
Calculate impact of non-standard physics and modified gravity on cosmological observables
Generic skills (soft skills)
Analytical skills
Computational skills
Communication
Vision
Perseverance
Timetable
Mode of instruction
Blackboard lectures with occasional use of slides
Course load
A brief calculation of the course load, broken down by:
- 168 hours - 22 hours spent on attending lectures (eg 2 hours per week x 14 weeks = 28 hours) - 142 hours of time for studying the compulsory literature and reference books, for completing homework assignments and preparing for the final exam.
Assessment method
The final grade will be based on two parts:
Part a (10%): 2 set of homeworks to be handed in by the respective deadlines, with no retake opportunity. A ‘sufficient’ on Part a is required to access the final exam.
Part b (90%): final written exam (accessible only if scored 'sufficient' in Part a) . One retake opportunity. (90%)
Blackboard
Reading list
Main reference books: Modern Cosmology, S. Dodelson; Cosmological Inflation and Large-Scale Structure, A.Liddle and D.Lyth
Additional reading material will be provided through blackboard.
While consulting these books is highly recommended, and is likely to help you understand and apply the material offered in the course, they also contain much additional material that goes beyond the course and will not be examined.
Contact
Instructors:Dr. A.Silvestri (Alessandra)
Teaching Assistant: S. Peirone, MSc (Simone)