Though astrophysicists have developed a theoretical framework for understanding how the first stars and galaxies formed, only now are we able to begin testing those theories with actual observations of the very distant, early universe. We are entering a new and exciting era of discovery that will advance the frontiers of knowledge, and this book couldn't be more timely. It covers all the basic concepts in cosmology, drawing on insights from an astronomer who has pioneered much of this research over the past two decades. Abraham Loeb starts from first principles, tracing the theoretical foundations of cosmology and carefully explaining the physics behind them. Topics include the gravitational growth of perturbations in an expanding universe, the abundance and properties of dark matter halos and galaxies, reionization, the observational methods used to detect the earliest galaxies and probe the diffuse gas between them--and much more. Cosmology seeks to solve the fundamental mystery of our cosmic origins. This book offers a succinct and accessible primer at a time when breathtaking technological advances promise a wealth of new observational data on the first stars and galaxies.Provides a concise introduction to cosmology Covers all the basic concepts Gives an overview of the gravitational growth of perturbations in an expanding universe Explains the process of reionization Describes the observational methods used to detect the earliest galaxies
Author(s): Abraham Loeb
Year: 2010
Language: English
Pages: 216
Title Page......Page 4
Copyright Page......Page 5
Table of Contents......Page 8
Preface......Page 12
1.1 In the Beginning......Page 18
1.2 Observing the Story of Genesis......Page 19
1.3 Practical Benefits from the Big Picture......Page 22
2.1 Cosmic Perspective......Page 25
2.2 Past and Future of Our Universe......Page 28
2.3 Gravitational Instability......Page 32
2.4 Geometry of Space......Page 33
2.5 Cosmic Archaeology......Page 35
2.6 Milestones in Cosmic Evolution......Page 40
2.7 Most Matter Is Dark......Page 47
3 The First Gas Clouds......Page 52
3.1 Growing the Seed Fluctuations......Page 53
3.2 The Smallest Gas Condensations......Page 60
3.3 Spherical Collapse and Halo Properties......Page 62
3.4 Abundance of Dark Matter Halos......Page 67
3.5 Cooling and Chemistry......Page 76
3.6 Sheets, Filaments, and Only Then, Galaxies......Page 78
4 The First Stars and Black Holes......Page 81
4.1 Metal-Free Stars......Page 82
4.2 Properties of the First Stars......Page 91
4.3 The First Black Holes and Quasars......Page 95
4.4 Gamma-Ray Bursts: The Brightest Explosions......Page 106
5.1 Ionization Scars by the First Stars......Page 112
5.2 Propagation of Ionization Fronts......Page 115
5.3 Swiss Cheese Topology......Page 128
6.1 Theories and Observations......Page 133
6.2 Completing Our Photo Album of the Universe......Page 134
6.3 Cosmic Time Machine......Page 136
6.4 The Hubble Deep Field and Its Follow-Ups......Page 142
6.5 Observing the First Gamma-Ray Bursts......Page 146
6.6 Future Telescopes......Page 150
7.1 Hydrogen......Page 153
7.2 The Lyman-α Line......Page 154
7.3 The 21-cm Line......Page 157
7.4 Observing Most of the Observable Volume......Page 173
8.1 End of Extragalactic Astronomy......Page 176
8.2 Milky Way + Andromeda = Milkomeda......Page 181
Appendix: Useful Numbers......Page 188
Notes......Page 190
Recommended Further Reading......Page 198
Glossary......Page 200
Index......Page 206
