Cosmology and Particle Astrophysics (Second Edition)

Lars Bergström and Ariel Goobar

In recent years, there has been an increasing realisation that there are important areas of 'common ground' between modern particle physics and high-energy astrophysics. This book provides a much needed, readable yet comprehensive overview of particle physics, and emphasises the close links between particle physics and cosmology.

Beginning with some basic facts about the observable universe, the authors consider, in successive chapters, special and general relativity, gravitational lenses, cosmological models, particles and fields, thermodynamics and phase transitions in the early universe. The cosmic microwave background, structure formation and dark matter, the inflationary universe, gamma rays, cosmic rays, neutrinos and gravitational wave detectors are then discussed. Recent discoveries, such as neutrino mass and oscillations, and measurements of the universe using supernovae, are treated in a pedagogical and non-technical manner.

A feature of this book is that it is 'self-contained, in that no specialised knowledge is required on the part of the reader except basic undergraduate mathematics and physics. In addition to the more descriptive sections where the reader is able to get the 'flavour' of the subject without needing to follow every step involved, some chapters contain optional, more technical parts which may be skipped by less advanced readers.

By combining the expertise of both a leading experimentalist and foremost theorist, this book includes important aspects of both observational cosmology as well as more theoretical concepts. The inclusion of worked examples, end of chapter summaries, and problems (with answers) in each chapter make this book an excellent introduction to particle astrophysics for undergraduate students.

Table of Contents:

Preface
1. The Observable Universe
2. Special Relativity
3. General Relativitys
4. Cosmological Models
5. Gravitational Lensing
6. Particles and Fields
7. Thermodynamics in the Early Universe
8. Thermal Relics from the Big Bang
9. Inflation
10. Phase transitions
11. The Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation
12. Growth of Structure in the Universe
13. Cosmic Rays
14. Cosmic Gamma Rays
15. The Role of Neutrinos
16. Gravitational Waves
Appendix A: Some More General Relativity
Appendix B: Relativistic Dynamics
Appendix C: The Dirac Equation
Appendix D: Cross-Section Calculations
Bibliography
Index

Extent: 386 pages
Binding: Paperback
Publication Date: May 2006
ISBN: 978-3-540-32924-4

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