The birth of the Universe, and its subsequent evolution, is an exciting blend of Cosmology, Particle Physics and Thermodynamics. This book, with its synoptic approach, provides an accessible introduction to these fascinating topics. It begins in Part I with an overview of cosmology and is followed by a discussion on the present understanding about the birth of the universe, detailing the Planck Era, Inflation, and the Big Bang. It speculates the possibility of multiple universes. Before moving on to explore the essentials of the Standard Model of Particle Physics in Part II, with particular stress on the electroweak force, the first example of acquisition of mass by gauge bosons via the Higgs mechanism. The book finishes in Part III with the thermal history of the Universe. This will also lead to understanding baryonic matter and baryogenesis as well as nucleosynthesis
This book is suitable for those taking courses on particle physics, general relativity, and cosmology. Readers mathematically inclined who wish to enhance their basic knowledge about the early Universe, will also find this book suitable to move up to the next level.
Features:
- Authored by experienced lecturers in Particle Physics, Quantum Field Theory, Nuclear Physics, and General Relativity
- Provides an accessible introduction to Particle Physics and Cosmology
Author(s): Eitan Abraham, Andrés J. Kreiner
Publisher: CRC Press
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 134
City: London
Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgements
About the authors
PART I: Cosmology
INTRODUCTION
Historical Perspective Of Cosmology In A Nutshell
1 Cosmology Concepts
1.1 Cosmology Essentials
1.1.1 Hubble’s Law
1.1.2 Cosmological Redshift
1.1.3 Peculiar Velocity
2 Horizons
2.1 Hubble Horizon
2.2 Particle Horizon
2.3 Conformal Time
2.4 Event Horizon
3 The Standard Big Bang Theory
3.1 Friedmann’s equations: Einstein’s General Relativity and the Cosmological Principle
3.2 Successes and Problems of the Old Big Bang Theory
3.3 The Horizon Problem
3.4 What is Inflation?
3.5 The Flatness Problem
4 Inflationary Cosmology I – Foundations
4.1 The Scalar Field
4.2 Potential Energy Density Properties for Inflation
5 Inflationary Cosmology II – Beginning and End
5.1 Gravity
5.2 The Quantum Uncertainty Principle: the Universe is Born
6 Inflationary Cosmology III – Quantum Fluctuations and the Origin of Galaxies and Multiple Universes
6.1 Quantum Fluctuations
6.2 Freezing of Fluctuations
6.3 Reheating
6.4 Preheating
PART II: Particle Physics
7 The Standard Model of Particle Physics I – Particles and Fields
7.1 Elementary Particles
7.2 Fundamental Forces
7.3 Electroweak Force and the Higgs Boson
7.3.1 Electroweak Force
7.3.2 Higgs Boson
PART III: Elementary Particles and the First 375,000 Years
8 Thermal History of the Universe and Beyond
8.1 Definition of Grand Unified Theories
8.2 Thermal History of the Universe
8.3 Timeline
8.3.1 Baryogenesis
8.3.2 Electroweak Symmetry Breaking
8.3.3 Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) Quark-Gluon Phase Transition
8.3.4 Neutrino Decoupling
8.3.5 Electron-positron Annihilation and Nucleosynthesis
8.3.6 Recombination and the CMB
Appendix A: Elements of Group Theory
A.1 When Does A Set of Elements Form A Group?
A.2 Representation Of A Group
A.3 Lie Groups
A.4 The Rotation Group
A.5 How To Represent Rotations?
A.6 Special Orthogonal Group So(N)
A.7 Special Unitary Group Su(2)
A.8 Spinors And Rotation
Appendix B: The Standard Model of Particle Physics II - Spontaneous symmetry breaking
B.1 The Ferromagnet
B.2 Lagrange Field Theory
B.3 Generalising The Lagrangian Density
B.4 Examples Of Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking
B.4.1 Real scalar field ø (r, t)
B.4.2 Complex scalar field ø (r, t)
Appendix C: The Standard Model of Particle Physics III - How Gauge Bosons Acquire Mass and Electroweak Unification
C.1 Gauge Symmetry
C.2 Local Gauge Invariance
C.3 The Higgs Mechanism
C.4 The Higgs Field
C.5 Electroweak Theory: Masses of the W[sup(±)] ,Z[sup(0)], and Zero Mass of the Photon
Index
