Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE PHY3228

 
TITLE Foundations of Physical Cosmology

 
UM LEVEL 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL Not Applicable

 
ECTS CREDITS 6

 
DEPARTMENT Physics

 
DESCRIPTION Cosmology is the study of the origin and evolution of the Universe, from its early origins to the present. Early Universe physics explores the emergence of the fundamental forces of Nature, matter, and radiation, together with the primordial cosmological phases that led to the early structures on which the Universe later evolved. This includes the very early cosmological inflationary expansion of the primordial Universe, the relative ratios of primordial nucleosynthesis, and the first light of the Universe. Following an extended period of cosmological dark ages, and the reionization of the Universe, the large scale structure of the Universe has since evolved into its present state. The impact of dark energy in the present Universe has resulted in an accelerating cosmology wherein the clustering of matter has diminished and where the evolution of the underlying cosmology is dominated by gravitation fields. In this study-unit, the fundamental nature of the Universe will be explored from its primordial initial emergence to its current state, with a historical perspective of the development of important elements of this understanding, as well as open problems in modern cosmology.

The study-unit outline is as follows:

- The Expanding Universe

A brief history of cosmology, Copernican and cosmological principle, Redshift and the Hubble–Lemaître law, Dark energy and the accelerating Universe, Cosmological dark matter;

- Fundamental physics

Newtonian attempts at describing the Universe, Geometric descriptions of gravity, Thermodynamics of fundamental fields;

- Foundations of physical cosmological

The Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker Universe, Distances and Cluster densities in cosmology, Lookback time, Cosmographic parameters, Cosmic fluids;

- Cosmological models

The Friedmann equations and its general features, Friedmann models, Lemaître models, de Sitter models;

- Thermodynamics in the early Universe

Overview of the Review of Boltzmann statistics, The Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation, Recombination and last scattering, Boson and Fermion statistics revisited, The Thermal history of the Universe;

- Cosmological Inflation

The cosmological horizon and flatness problems, Cosmological inflation, The inflaton field, Observational status;

- Big Bang nucleosynthesis

Neutron-proton freeze-out, Helium production, Observational abundances and the Lithium problem;

- Cosmological structure formation

Spherical collapse, Linear growth of structures, Power spectrum of matter density perturbations, Baryonic Acoustic Oscillations, Observational surveys of large scale structure formation;

- The standard model of cosmology

The LCDM model: Successes and open questions.

Study-Unit Aims:

The study-unit will open with an overview of the history of cosmology together with the most critical developments in the field including the establishment of modern principles and empirical laws of physical cosmology and the discovery of the late time accelerated expansion of the Universe. The development of fundamental physical laws will be used to explain Newtonian and then geometric attempts at describing cosmological dynamics and the evolution of the Universe. This will also involve the introduction of cosmological thermodynamics and its relation to particle species in the early Universe. The large scale structure of the Universe will be explored in terms of the growth factor of linear structures and their eventual influence on observational parameters that measure this aspect of cosmic evolution.

The early Universe will be introduced through an overview of the big bang model together with the emergence of the ensuing species that will later make up the constituents of the Universe. This will be followed by a thermodynamical development of the early evolution of the Universe. The necessity of cosmological inflation together with its theoretical requirements and observational status will then be covered. This will be coupled with the early phase of big bang nucleosynthesis in which primordial nuclei were produced. an in-depth examination of the cosmic microwave background radiation will be probed as a final phase of the primordial Universe. Finally, the standard model of cosmology will be introduced.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

-- Understand the main principles behind modern cosmology;
- Identify the Hubble–Lemaître law and know the meaning of cosmological redshift;
- Describe dark energy and the accelerating expansion of the Universe;
- Understand the physics behind dark matter;
- Distinguish Newtonian and geometric descriptions of gravity and its application to cosmology;
- Learn thermodynamical descriptions of fundamental cosmological fields;
- Write down the Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker description of the Universe;
- Identify different measures of distances in the Universe;
- Describe lookback time, cosmographic parameters, and cosmic fluids;
- Identify Friedmann, Lemaitre, and de Sitter cosmological models;
- Know Boltzmann statistics and its application to the cosmic microwave background radiation;
- Know the cosmological horizon and flatness problems;
- Understand cosmological inflation theory and observational tests;
- Understand how large scale structures arise in the early Universe;
- Describe the successes and open questions of the standard model of cosmology.- Understand the main principles behind modern cosmology;
- Identify the Hubble–Lemaître law and know the meaning of cosmological redshift;
- Describe dark energy and the accelerating expansion of the Universe;
- Understand the physics behind dark matter;
- Distinguish Newtonian and geometric descriptions of gravity and its application to cosmology;
- Learn thermodynamical descriptions of fundamental cosmological fields;
- Write down the Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker description of the Universe;
- Identify different measures of distances in the Universe;
- Describe lookback time, cosmographic parameters, and cosmic fluids;
- Identify Friedmann, Lemaitre, and de Sitter cosmological models;
- Know Boltzmann statistics and its application to the cosmic microwave background radiation;
- Know the cosmological horizon and flatness problems;
- Understand cosmological inflation theory and observational tests;
- Understand how large scale structures arise in the early Universe;
- Describe the successes and open questions of the standard model of cosmology;
- Understand how large scale structures arise in the early Universe;
- Connect matter structures in the early Universe with their current observational status;
- Describe the successes and open questions of the standard model of cosmology.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Distinguish cosmological dark matter;
- Perform calculations in both Newtonian gravity and geometric cosmology;
- Calculate thermodynamical properties of fundamental fields;
- Determine properties of the Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker Universe;
- Obtain relationships for distances and densities in cosmology;
- Compute cosmological lookback time and obtain relationships of cosmographic parameters;
- Apply cosmological fluid features to determine features of their evolution;
- Calculate the Friedmann equations;
- Compute the dynamical features of Friedmann, Lemaitre, and de Sitter cosmological models;
- Apply Boltzmann statistics to the emergence of primordial species;
- Obtain properties and characteristics of the cosmic microwave background radiation;
- Use the horizon and flatness problems to motivate cosmological inflation;
- Calculate features of an inflaton field and distinguish between observational tests;
- Distinguish between observational tests of big bang nucleosynthesis and the Lithium problem;
- Perform linear growth of structures calculations;
- Use baryonic acoustic oscillations to distinguish surveys of the large scale structures of the Universe;
- Distinguish between the success and open questions of the standard model of cosmology.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- Ryden B., 'Introduction to Cosmology', First Edition, Cambridge University Press (2016) : Barbara.

Supplementary Readings:

- Peebles P. J. E., 'Principles of Physical Cosmology', First Edition, Princeton University Press (1993).
- Rindler W., 'Relativity - Special, General and Cosmological', Second Edition, Oxford University Press (2006).
- Cheng T.-P., 'Relativity, Gravitation and Cosmology, a basic introduction', Oxford University Press (2005).

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Pre-requisite Qualifications: A good understanding of calculus and special relativity
Pre-requisite Study-units: PHY2210 and PHY2195 or PHY2295 and MAT2513

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Tutorial

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Project SEM2 Yes 25%
Examination (3 Hours) SEM2 Yes 75%

 
LECTURER/S Jackson Said

 

 
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The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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