Lyth, David H Liddle, Andrew R relativity Universe field theory supersymmetry Inflationary universe Perturbation (Astronomy) 2009 2009 Graduate-level textbook providing a thorough account of theoretical cosmology and perturbations in the early Universe. Gilmore, Robert 10.1007/978-1-4757-4165-0 fiction cosmology popular science 2003 2003 Liddle, Andrew universe dictionary guidebook 2008 2008 Hawking, Stephen Penrose, Roger space and time quantum theory cosmology astrophysics 2000 2000 Einstein said that the most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible. But was he right? Can the quantum theory of fields and Einstein's general theory of relativity, the two most accurate and successful theories in all of physics, be united in a single quantum theory of gravity? Can quantum and cosmos ever be combined? On this issue, two of the world's most famous physicists--Stephen Hawking (A Brief History of Time) and Roger Penrose (The Emperor's New Mind and Shadows of the Mind)--disagree. Here they explain their positions in a work based on six lectures Gasperini, Maurizio 10.1007/978-3-540-74421-4 primordial universe theoretical understanding branes cosmological background radiation popular science Astronomy Mathematics Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology Popular Science in Astronomy Popular Science in Mathematics/Computer Science/Natural Science/Technology 2008 2008 Terms such as "expanding Universe", "big bang", and "initial singularity", are nowadays part of our common language. The idea that the Universe we observe today originated from an enormous explosion (big bang) is now well known and widely accepted, at all levels, in modern popular culture. But what happens to the Universe before the big bang? And would it make any sense at all to ask such a question? In fact, recent progress in theoretical physics, and in particular in String Theory, suggests answers to the above questions, providing us with mathematical tools able in principle to reconstruct the history of the Universe even for times before the big bang. In the emerging cosmological scenario the Universe, at the epoch of the big bang, instead of being a "new born baby" was actually a rather "aged" creature in the middle of its possibly infinitely enduring evolution. The aim of this book is to convey this picture in non-technical language accessibile also to non-specialists. The author, himself a leading cosmologist, draws attention to ongoing and future observations that might reveal relics of an era before the big bang. Susskind, Leonard disagreement scientific theories popular science black holes scientific debate 2008 2008 Weinberg, Steven cosmic microwave radiation cosmological fluctuations gravitational lenses 2008 2008 This is a uniquely comprehensive and detailed treatment of the theoretical and observational foundations of modern cosmology, by a Nobel Laureate in Physics. It gives up-to-date and self contained accounts of the theories and observations that have made the past few decades a golden age of cosmology. - ;This book is unique in the detailed, self-contained, and comprehensive treatment that it gives to the ideas and formulas that are used and tested in modern cosmological research. It divides into two parts, each of which provides enough material for a one-semester graduate course. The first part Ginzburg, Vladimir B dark matter astrophysics superstring theories 2007 2007 Carr, Bernard cosmology astrophysics particle physics quantum theory 2007 2007 Hoyng, Peter 10.1007/978-1-4020-4523-3 relativistic astrophysics general relativity compact objects gravitational waves Astronomy Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology Classical and Quantum Gravitation, Relativity Theory 2006 2006 This book offers a succinct and self-contained treatment of general relativity and its application to neutron stars, black holes, gravitational waves and cosmology, at an intermediate level. The required mathematical concepts are introduced informally, following geometrical intuition as much as possible. The approach is theoretical, but there is ample discussion of observational aspects and instrumental issues where appropriate. Topical issues such as the Gravity Probe B mission, and the physics of interferometer detectors of gravitational waves and the angular power spectrum of the Cosmic Microwave Background are included. The book is written for advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students in (astro)physics. The reader is assumed to be familiar with linear algebra and analysis, ordinary differential equations, special relativity, and basic thermal physics, but prior knowledge of differential geometry and general relativity is not required. Containing 140 exercises with extensive hints for their solution this book is ideally suited for a lecture course. The author is a senior scientist at the SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research and teaches regularly at the University of Utrecht. Freeman, Kenneth C McNamara, Geoff 10.1007/0-387-27618-1 dark matter universe Astronomy Relativity (Physics) Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology Relativity and Cosmology 2006 2006 The dark matter problem is one of the most fundamental and profoundly difficult to solve problems in the history of science. Not knowing what makes up most of the known universe goes to the heart of our understanding of the Universe and our place in it. In Search of Dark Matter is the story of the emergence of the dark matter problem, from the initial erroneous ‘discovery’ of dark matter by Jan Oort to contemporary explanations for the nature of dark matter and its role in the origin and evolution of the Universe. Written for the educated non-scientist and scientist alike, it spans a variety of scientific disciplines, from observational astronomy to particle physics. Concepts that the reader will encounter along the way are at the cutting edge of scientific research. However the themes are explained in such a way that no prior understanding of science beyond a high school education is necessary.