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Cursus: NS-374B
NS-374B
Observationele en theoretische kosmologie
Cursus informatie
CursuscodeNS-374B
Studiepunten (EC)7,5
Cursusdoelen
After the first part of the course, that focuses on theoretical cosmology, the student should know:
1. Discuss the evidence for an expanding universe, Hubble's law, cosmological redshift and the big bang theory. Discuss the large scale homogeneity and isotropy and the particle content of the universe.
2. Explain the equivalence principle and write down the metric for open, closed and at (FLRW) universes. Describe luminosity, angular diameter and comoving distances in the context of cos-mological observations
3. Write down Friedmann and acceleration equation. Use them to predict the evolution of the universe in the presence of some perfect fluid
4. Discuss the most important observations that establish the existence and the properties of Dark Matter
5. Describe the thermal history of the universe, with focus on the dynamics of photon and the Cosmic Microwave Background
6. Explain the evidence in favor of primordial in inflation and describe its kinematics and basic dynamics

After the second part of the course, an introduction to gravitational waves, the student should know:
1. Describe the physical properties of gravitational waves
2. Explain how interferometers like LIGO detect gravitational waves
3. Discuss how to determine the gravitational waves caused by two self-orbiting dense objects far away from this source
4. Describe the data analysis methods used to extract the very weak signal from a gravitational wave.
Inhoud
The course is divided in two parts. The rst part of the course begins with the Friedman-Lemaitre-
Robertson-Walker cosmological model for an expanding universe and a brief introduction to the main
epochs in the history of our Universe. Next the hot Big Bang model and its particle contents are
reviewed. A particular emphasis is devoted to the cosmic microwave background and the growth of
cosmic structures. The principal components that build the present universe { the visible (baryonic)
matter, dark matter, dark energy and neutrinos { are also discussed, together with well motivated
models of the Universe's dark components. The second part of the course is an introduction to the
physical properties of gravitational waves, their generation by black hole or neutron star binaries, their
detection and data analysis.

Learning tools
1. Statistical physics
2. Properties of waves and equations describing their generation and propagation;
3. Thermodynamics of relativistic fluids (adiabatic approximation);
4. Boltzmann kinetic equation;
5. Fluid equations in expanding coordinates.
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