Physics 880.20 - Cosmology


	`Physics 880.20 - Cosmology - Spring 2010 Professor Gary Steigman Office: M2006 PRB Phone: 292-1999 email: steigman@mps.ohio-state.edu`

Announcements

I graded the last problem set (#9) and returned them to your Physics Department mailboxes, along with your final grade.
I have posted my solutions to the last (9th) problem set. I have also posted my notes on non-standard BBN and some of the BBN
constraints which I discussed in the last lecture. The first version of these (BBN) notes lacked 2 of the 5 pages. This problem has
now been resolved. I have posted the revised notes on inflation which I used for my discussion in our last class.
In the week 9 notes I have posted an updated version of the powerpoint file(s) in the week 8 notes. I have also posted an updated
(2010) version of the bbnkeys file.
I've revised my notes on calculating the relic abundance of a massive particle and posted the revised notes (relic_abundance.pdf)
in the week 8 notes. In preparing these notes I (think I) have identified an error in the week 5 notes on Thermal Distributions
(statmech2.pdf). On p. 6 of those notes the expression for the ratio of a non-relativistic particle to a photon (by number) has an
incorrect coefficient (check me on this). I believe the result in eq. 3a on p. 3 of this week's new notes is correct.
The solutions to all 9 problem sets are posted below.
The notes I use for this class are handwritten and consist mainly of equations and key words (without much, if any, accompanying
text). I post these notes below in the hope that they save you the hassle of trying to copy everything from the board, while trying to
understand the subject matter at the same time. I would appreciate feedback on whether these notes are useful.
The weekly problem sets will be assigned on Mondays and collected at the end of the following Monday's recitation. It is important to
try the problems even if you fail to get them right (the first time). The problem sets and their solutions will be posted in the table below.
While there is no "official" textbook for the class, here are some recommendations:
Gravitation and Cosmology, S. Weinberg (Wiley)
Relativistic Astrophysics, Vol. 2, The Structure and Evolution of the Universe, Ya. B. Zeldovich and I. D. Novikov (U. of Chicago Press)
The Early Universe, E.W. Kolb and M.S. Turner (Addison Wesley)
Cosmological Physics, J. Peacock (Cambridge Univ. Press)
Modern Cosmology, S. Dodelson (London Academic)
Introduction to Cosmology, B. Ryden (Addison Wesley)
The first three texts are older and can be trusted for their discussions of the physics. The observational data they use is most likely
outdated and should be viewed with great caution (caveat emptor!).
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Problem Sets/Class Notes

Problem Sets Solutions Notes

Week 1 Set 1 (85 points) Cosmography

Week 2 Set 2 (75 points) Set 1 Distances, Small z, Dynamics

Week 3 Set 3 (100 points) Set 2 FLRW Cosmology

Week 4 Set 4 (90 points) Set 3 RWF Models
Dark Energy
Standard LCDM

Week 5 Set 5 (75 points) Set 4 Evol. of Rad'n & Particles
Thermal Distributions

Week 6 Set 6 (80 points) Set 5 Entropy Conservation
Degrees of Freedom

Week 7 Set 7 (55 points) Set 6 Relic Neutrinos
Relics in General

Week 8 Set 8 (60 points) Set 7 Relic Abundance
BBN

Week 9 Set 9 (80 points) Set 8 Degenerate Neutrinos and BBN

Week 10 Set 9 Non-Standard BBN
Inflation

	Problem Sets	Solutions	Notes
Week 1	Set 1 (85 points)		Cosmography
Week 2	Set 2 (75 points)	Set 1	Distances, Small z, Dynamics
Week 3	Set 3 (100 points)	Set 2	FLRW Cosmology
Week 4	Set 4 (90 points)	Set 3	RWF Models Dark Energy Standard LCDM
Week 5	Set 5 (75 points)	Set 4	Evol. of Rad'n & Particles Thermal Distributions
Week 6	Set 6 (80 points)	Set 5	Entropy Conservation Degrees of Freedom
Week 7	Set 7 (55 points)	Set 6	Relic Neutrinos Relics in General
Week 8	Set 8 (60 points)	Set 7	Relic Abundance BBN
Week 9	Set 9 (80 points)	Set 8	Degenerate Neutrinos and BBN
Week 10		Set 9	Non-Standard BBN Inflation

Physics 880.20 - Cosmology - Spring 2010

Announcements

Problem Sets/Class Notes