TFNSP0008 Cosmology

Institute of physics in Opava
summer 2025
Extent and Intensity
3/2/0. 7 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. RNDr. Petr Slaný, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. RNDr. Zdeněk Stuchlík, CSc. (lecturer)
Mgr. Denis Musil (seminar tutor)
doc. RNDr. Petr Slaný, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Zdeněk Stuchlík, CSc.
Institute of physics in Opava
Prerequisites (in Czech)
(FAKULTA(FU) && TYP_STUDIA(N))
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The subject acquaints students with fundamentals of cosmology, whereas the knowledge of general relativity fundamentals is expected.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will:
- master construction of universe standard model;
- solve Friedman equations for particular choice of cosmic fluid equations of state;
- analyze thermal history of universe with respect to evolution of cosmic fluid;
- understand the inflation model
Syllabus
  • Main topics of the subject:
    • The Geometry of Universe: homogeneity and isotrophy, Robertson-Walker geometry, comoving coordinates, cosmological redshif, discovery of universe expansion, Hubble constant
    • The Dynamics of Universe: stress-energy tensor of cosmic fluid, Friedman equations
    • Matter dominated expansion, radiation dominated expansion, vacuum energy dominated expansion, Cosmological constant, Einstein static Universe
    • Cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR): black body radiation, discovery of CMBR – Penzias-Wilson , Rayleigh-Jeans formula, origin of CMBR – recombination and last scattering
    • CMBR temperature anizotropy: dipole anizotropy, Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect, Sachs-Wolfe effect, integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect (Rees-Sciama effect), missions COBE, WMAP, Planck
    • Early universe: temperature history, Fermi-Dirac distribution, Bose-Einstein distribution, time and temperature
    • Neutrino separation, heating due to electron*positron anihilation, cosmological nukleosynthesis, He, D, He3, Li abundance
    • Baryo and Lepto-synthesis, Cold Dark Matter, WIMPS(Weakly Interacting Massive Particles), searching for WIMPS
    • Inflation theory: standard model problems (flatnes, horizont, monopole), Guthova („old“) inflation and Linde („new“) inflation,
    • „False“ vacuum, quintessence, „Slow-roll“, chaotic and „eternal“ inflation, inflation as the origiin of cosmological fluctuations.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • S. Weinberg. Cosmology. Oxford University Press, 2008. info
  • Horský, J., Novotný, J. Štefaník, M. Úvod do fyzikální kosmologie, Academia, Praha, 2004
  • Weinberg, S. Gravitation and Cosmology: Principles and Applications of the General Theory of Relativity, WILEY, New York, 1976
  • Misner, C. W., Thorne, K. S., Wheeler, J. A. Gravitation, Freeman, San Francisco, 1973 (2017)
Teaching methods
letures and discussions, exercises
Assessment methods
oral exam, written test
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms summer 2021, summer 2022, summer 2023, summer 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (summer 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.slu.cz/course/fu/summer2025/TFNSP0008