Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

This book offers a completely up-to-date introduction to the exciting science of cosmology. It describes the very latest discoveries that have led astronomers and physicists ever closer to understanding the deepest secrets of the universe: its origin, evolution, and eventual fate. The author shows how today's technology has enabled scientists to exploit every clue hidden in the electromagnetic spectrum of radiating objects located at unimaginable distances from our solar system. The formation and aging of different types of stars and galaxies are considered, as are the dramatic phenomena of quasars and black holes. The Big Bang model of the universe is presented in Newtonian terms, and their derivation from the general theory of relativity is briefly sketched. For general readers with some science background, as well as undergraduates in physics and astronomy, the book offers a fascinating look at current cosmological knowledge. It ends with a discussion of 20 leading controversies and unanswered questions that scientists are attempting to resolve.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• 1. The visible universe (p. 1)
• 1.1 Introduction (p. 1)
• 1.2 Particles (p. 3)
• 1.3 The electromagnetic spectrum (p. 6)
• 1.4 Astronomy without light (p. 8)
• 1.5 Radiation mechanisms (p. 13)
• 1.6 Observing techniques at different frequencies (p. 18)
• 1.7 The brightest sources (p. 19)
• 1.8 Source counts (p. 19)
• 1.9 Integrated background radiation (p. 20)
• 1.10 Problems (p. 21)
• 2. Our Galaxy and other galaxies (p. 22)
• 2.1 Introduction (p. 22)
• 2.2 Star formation and the interstellar medium (p. 22)
• 2.3 The evolution of a star (p. 24)
• 2.4 Final stages: white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes (p. 25)
• 2.5 The life history of our Galaxy (p. 26)
• 2.6 The structure and evolution of galaxies (p. 32)
• 2.7 Starburst galaxies (p. 34)
• 2.8 Radio properties of galaxies (p. 35)
• 2.9 Active galactic nuclei (AGN): Seyferts and quasars (p. 39)
• 2.10 X-rays from galaxies and quasars (p. 42)
• 2.11 Clusters of galaxies (p. 42)
• 2.12 Problems (p. 45)
• 3. The empirical basis for cosmological theories (p. 46)
• 3.1 Introduction (p. 46)
• 3.2 The distance scale (p. 46)
• 3.3 The redshift (p. 50)
• 3.4 Isotropy (p. 53)
• 3.5 Uniformity (p. 58)
• 3.6 Olbers' paradox (p. 59)
• 3.7 Evidence for a universe of finite age (p. 61)
• 3.8 Evidence for a 'fireball' phase (p. 61)
• 3.9 Problems (p. 62)
• 4. The big-bang models (p. 63)
• 4.1 The substratum and fundamental observers (p. 63)
• 4.2 The cosmological principle (p. 63)
• 4.3 Newtonian cosmology (p. 64)
• 4.4 The special and general theories of relativity (p. 68)
• 4.5 General relativistic cosmology (p. 72)
• 4.6 Classification of [Lambda] = 0 cosmological models (p. 75)
• 4.7 Classification of models with the [Lambda not equal] 0 (p. 77)
• 4.8 Cosmological parameters (p. 80)
• 4.9 The age of the universe (p. 83)
• 4.10 Horizon (p. 84)
• 4.11 Problems (p. 85)
• 5. Early stages of the big bang (p. 87)
• 5.1 Universe with matter and radiation (p. 87)
• 5.2 The fireball (p. 89)
• 5.3 Helium production (p. 95)
• 5.4 The very early universe (p. 100)
• 5.5 Isotropy of the microwave background (p. 103)
• 5.6 The evolution of density fluctuations during the fireball (p. 105)
• 5.7 Distortions of the microwave background spectrum (p. 107)
• 5.8 Problems (p. 108)
• 6. From the fireball to the present (p. 110)
• 6.1 Before galaxies formed (p. 110)
• 6.2 Formation of galaxies and clusters (p. 113)
• 6.3 Intergalactic gas in clusters (p. 114)
• 6.4 The masses of galaxies and clusters (p. 116)
• 6.5 The average density of matter in the universe due to galaxies (p. 119)
• 6.6 Some other possible forms of matter (p. 119)
• 6.7 Intergalactic (and intercluster) gas (p. 122)
• 6.8 Non-baryonic dark matter (p. 124)
• 6.9 Problems (p. 125)
• 7. Observational cosmology (p. 126)
• 7.1 Introduction (p. 126)
• 7.2 Newtonian theory (p. 126)
• 7.3 Special relativity cosmology: the Milne model (p. 127)
• 7.4 General relativistic cosmology: the redshift (p. 128)
• 7.5 The horizon (p. 130)
• 7.6 Luminosity distance (p. 131)
• 7.7 The K-correction (p. 132)
• 7.8 Diameter distance (p. 136)
• 7.9 Number counts of sources (p. 138)
• 7.10 The luminosity-volume test (p. 143)
• 7.11 Integrated background radiation (p. 144)
• 7.12 Problems (p. 148)
• 8. Other cosmological theories (p. 149)
• 8.1 Introduction (p. 149)
• 8.2 Problems with General Relativistic Hot Big Bang models: the inflationary solution (p. 149)
• 8.3 Initial singularity (p. 151)
• 8.4 The steady state cosmology (p. 151)
• 8.5 Theories in which G changes with time (p. 152)
• 8.6 Anisotropic and inhomogeneous universes, chaotic cosmology (p. 154)
• 8.7 Grand unified theories and inflation (p. 155)
• 8.8 Eddington's magic numbers (p. 156)
• 8.9 Problems (p. 157)
• Epilogue: twenty controversies in cosmology today (p. 158)
• 1 General relativity (p. 158)
• 2 Quantum gravity and the initial singularity (p. 159)
• 3 The origin of the motion of the Local Group with respect to the microwave background (p. 160)
• 4 Isotropy of the universe (p. 160)
• 5 The flatness problem and the value of [Omega subscript 0] (p. 161)
• 6 The horizon problem and inflation (p. 162)
• 7 The cosmological constant, [Lambda] (p. 162)
• 8 The Hubble constant and the age of the universe (p. 163)
• 9 Large-scale homogeneity and large-scale structure (p. 164)
• 10 The topology of the universe (p. 164)
• 11 Antimatter (p. 164)
• 12 Primordial helium and deuterium (p. 165)
• 13 Formation of galaxies (p. 166)
• 14 Is there an intergalactic medium? (p. 166)
• 15 Dark matter (p. 167)
• 16 Evolution of quasars, AGN and starburst galaxies (p. 167)
• 17 Nature of X-ray and [gamma]-ray background (p. 168)
• 18 [gamma]-ray bursts (p. 168)
• 19 Solar neutrino problem (p. 168)
• 20 Life in the universe (p. 169)
• Answers to problems (p. 170)
• Further reading (p. 171)
• Glossary (p. 173)
• Physical constants and conversion of factors (p. 177)
• Index (p. 179)

Author notes provided by Syndetics