Cosmology (Astro3)

Knowledge:

The goal is that the student achieves a basic understanding of the Big Bang model, including why this is the prevalent theory, an insight into modern cosmological problems such as what is dark matter, what is dark energy, what is the cosmic microwave radiation and how the light elements (particularly hydrogen, deuterium, helium and lithium) were formed. The student will also obtain knowledge from the scientific literature and convey this to other students. The student will learn the basic computing skills to gain increased insight into universe physics.

Skills:

The aim of the course is that the student can:

• Account for the observational basis of cosmology
• Write up and find simple solutions to the Friedmann equation, the fluid equation and the equation of state
• Account for what is meant by dark matter and dark energy, as well as account for the evidence for the existence of these components
• Account for the equation of state for matter, radiation and dark energy
• Account for how rotation curves of spiral galaxies and the properties of clusters of galaxies give evidence for the existence of dark matter
• Account for and conduct simple calculations based on the basic physics behind recombination
• Account for and conduct simple calculations based on the basic physics behind Big Bang nucleosynthesis
• Read scientific papers and present them to others
• Use computers to solve problems that cannot be solved analytically

Competences:

The course will give the student competences for further studies within cosmology and astrophysics, e.g. through projects or advanced courses. The student will also gain experience in critical thinking about basic physics and gain widely applicable (but basic) computing skills.