Observational Cosmology

1. Basic equations, general relativistic cosmology

2. Constituents of the universe

3. Cosmic expansion and measuring cosmological distances

4. The Hubble constant

5. Big Bang and the early universe

6. Big Bang nucleosynthesis

7. Problems of the Big Bang, inflation

8. The cosmic microwave background and what it measures

9. The universe after recombination

10. Dark matter and the growth of structure

11. Dark energy and the expansion history of the universe

12. Concordance cosmology and alternatives

 After successful completion of the module the students are able to:

1. name the basics of modern cosmology and to scrutinize them critically;

2. understand the methods that are used to determine cosmological parameters and to apply them;

3. name the observed large scale structures in the universe and to name their essential properties;

4. explain the reasons for the existence of such structures and their evolution;

5. understand the arguments in favour of the existence of 'dark matter' and 'dark energy';

6. name the role of cosmology in the framework of astronomy, astrophysics, and particle physics.

  At least four semesters of physics Bachelor study.

ln classroom lectures the teaching and learning content is presented and explained in a didactical, structured, and comprehensive form. This includes mainly elementary basic knowledge from the broad field of cosmology, spiced also by selected examples of current research topics. Universal methodical and physics concepts are highlighted by cross referencing between different topics. Crucial facts are conveyed by involving the students in scientific discussions to develop their intellectual power and to stimulate their analytic thinking on physics problems. Regular attendance of the lectures is therefore highly recommended.

The presentation of the learning content is enhanced occasionally by problem examples and calculations that the students should work on on a voluntary basis. These examples are intended to deepen the students' understanding and to help their learning of the course material. They can be discussed with the teacher upon request. The examples as well as regular self-study of personal notes from the lectures and of textbooks and recent review articles referenced in the course are an important part of the learning process by the students. Such post-processing and practising of the teaching content is indispensable to achieve the intended learning results that the students develop the ability of explaining and applying the learned knowledge independently.

Black board and laptop teaching, notes and online material.

• S. Dodelson: Modern Cosmology, Academic Press 2003
• J. Peacock: Cosmological Physics, Cambridge University Press, 2005
• P. Schneider: Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology: An Introduction, Springer, 2014
• S. Weinberg: Cosmology, Oxford University Press, 2008
   

There will be an oral exam of 30 minutes duration. Therein the achievement of the competencies given in section learning outcome is tested exemplarily at least to the given cognition level using comprehension questions, simple formulae to establish basic concepts and quantitative estimates..

For example an assignment in the exam might be:

• Conditions for the validity of the Robertson-Walker metric and the Friedman equations
• Description of methods to measure cosmological distances
• Physical/astrophysical arguments supporting the existence of 'dark matter'
• Physical/astrophysical arguments supporting the existence of 'dark energy'
• Particle physics candidates for 'dark matter'