Planck CMB sky image

Fall 2016: ASTR 5770 (Cosmology)
 

Instructor: Professor Michael Shull

Class Meeting Times: MWF (2:00 - 2:50 am) Duane E126
(APS Graduate Classroom next to TA Office)

Final: Thursday Dec. 15 (1:30-4:00 pm)

Course information

Instructor Contact Information

ASTR 5770 is a graduate-level astrophysics elective course, covering the origin, evolution, content, and structure of the Universe. Designed for APS and Physics graduate students, this class requires a solid undergraduate background in physics and mathematics. We will begin by discussing standard theories for how the Universe began and evolved dynamically. We will then discuss selected topics of modern cosmology, including quantitative measures of large-scale structure, parameter estimation for the cosmic expansion rate, mass-energy content, Big Bang nucleosynthesis, precision cosmological inferences from the cosmic microwave background (CMB), and a brief introduction to Inflation Theory. The latter part of the course will cover applications of cosmological principles to galaxy formation, clusters of galaxies, high-redshift galaxies, intergalactic medium, reionization, production and evolution of the heavy elements.