FYS9130 – Cosmological physics
Course description
Course content
Einstein-Hilbert action and quantum fields in curved spacetimes. Inflation and reheating. Quantum fields at finite temperature. Standard model in the early universe. The Boltzmann equation. Cosmological phase transitions. Baryogenesis. Nucleosynthesis and recombination. Microwave background radiation. Quantum fluctuations and the primordial spectrum. Cosmological pertubation theory.
Learning outcome
The course is aimed at master and PhD students working in cosmology and elementary particle physics. It gives a survey of current approaches to and understanding of the physics of the early universe based on the standard model of particle physics and extension thereof. The level of the lectures will be the same as in the modern research literature.
Admission
PhD candidates from the University of Oslo should apply for classes and register for examinations through Studentweb.
If a course has limited intake capacity, priority will be given to PhD candidates who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included. Some national researchers’ schools may have specific rules for ranking applicants for courses with limited intake capacity.
PhD candidates who have been admitted to another higher education institution must apply for a position as a visiting student within a given deadline.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
No formal prerequsites.
Recommended previous knowledge
FYS3510 – Subatomic physics with applications in astrophysics (discontinued), FYS4160 – The General Theory of Relativity, FYS4170 – Relativistic Quantum Field Theory, AST4220 – Cosmology I (discontinued)
Overlapping courses
3 credits overlap against FYS8110
10 credits with FYS5130 – Cosmological physics (discontinued)
Teaching
There will be four lectures a week and problems assigned for homework. At the end of the course, one larger written project will be assigned to each student planning to take the final exam.
Examination
There will be a oral final exam in the course material plus the project work.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.