Dark Energy: Theory and Observations
Cambridge University Press, 6/10/2010
EAN 9780521516006, ISBN10: 0521516005
Hardcover, 506 pages, 25 x 18.4 x 2.8 cm
Language: English
Dark energy, the mysterious cause of the accelerating expansion of the universe, is one of the most important fields of research in astrophysics and cosmology today. Introducing the theoretical ideas, observational methods and results, this textbook is ideally suited to graduate courses on dark energy, and will also supplement advanced cosmology courses. Providing a thorough introduction to this exciting field, the textbook covers the cosmological constant, quintessence, k-essence, perfect fluid models, extra-dimensional models, and modified gravity. Observational research is reviewed, from the cosmic microwave background to baryon acoustic oscillations, weak lensing and cluster abundances. Every chapter ends with problems, with full solutions provided, and any calculations are worked through step-by-step.
1. Overview
2. Expansion history of the universe
3. Correlation function and power spectrum
4. Basics of cosmological perturbation theory
5. Observational evidence of dark energy
6. Cosmological constant
7. Dark energy as a modified form of matter I
quintessence
8. Dark energy as a modified form of matter II
9. Dark energy as a modification of gravity
10. Cosmic acceleration without dark energy
11. Dark energy and linear cosmological perturbations
12. Non-linear cosmological perturbations
13. Statistical methods in cosmology
14. Future observational constraints on the nature of dark energy
15. Conclusion and outlook
16. Answers to the problems
17. Mathematical appendix
Index.