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Astronomy 182: The Origin and Evolution of the Universe
Astronomy 182
The Origin and Evolution of the Universe
Fall Quarter 2015
Wednesdays and Fridays: 4:30
- 5:50 in ERC 576
*** Lectures can
be found (after they are given) by clicking the dates below ***
Prof. Josh Frieman
Office: ERC-453 (office hours Wed., Fri. 1-2 pm or by
appointment)
Tel.: 702-7971 (UC);
(847)274-0429 (mobile)
e-mail:
frieman@fnal.gov
TA:
Jason Poh
Office: ERC-450 (office hours Mon. 4-5 or by appointment)
email:
jasonpoh@uchicago.edu
Lecture Schedule and Class Presentations:
-
Sept. 30
pdf
pptx - Course Overview, Basic Facts of Cosmology
-
Oct. 2
pdf
pptx - Hubble's Law & the Expanding Universe
Read Hawley & Holcomb, Chapters 1-2
-
Oct. 7 - Lab 1
-
Oct. 9 - No class
-
Oct. 14
pdf
pptx
- Expansion, Cosmological Principle, Olbers' Paradox, Big Bang, Alternative Cosmologies
Lab 1 Write-up due
-
Oct. 16
pdf pptx
- Newtonian Cosmology; Special Relativity
Read Hawley & Holcomb, Chapters 3, 10
-
Oct. 21
pdf pptx
- Special and General Relativity
Essay due on Hawley & Holcomb, Chapter 10
-
Oct. 23 - Lab 2
Read Hawley & Holcomb, Chapters 7-9
-
Oct. 28
pdf pptx
- General Relativity & Black Holes
Read Hawley & Holcomb, Chapter 13
-
Oct. 30
pdf pptx
- Relativistic Cosmology; The Dark Side of the Universe I: Dark Matter
Lab 2 Write-up due
-
Nov. 4
pdf pptx
- Dark Matter (continued)
Read Hawley & Holcomb, Chapter 12
-
Nov. 6
pdf pptx
- The Dark Side of the Universe II: Dark Energy
Essay due on Hawley & Holcomb, Chapter 8
-
Nov. 11
pdf pptx
- The Hot Big Bang I: Cosmic Microwave Background
-
Nov. 13
pdf pptx
- The Hot Big Bang II: CMB and Big Bang Nucleosynthesis
Essay due on Hawley & Holcomb, Chapter 13
-
Nov. 18
pdf pptx
- Relics from the Early Universe: Dark Matter Particles, Baryogenesis
-
Nov. 20
pdf pptx
- Primordial Inflation
Essay due on HH Chapter 12
-
Dec. 2
pdf pptx
- Inflation and the Large-scale Structure of the Universe
-
Dec. 4
pdf pptx
- Probing Inflation & Cosmic Acceleration with Cosmic Surveys
Final Projects due
Textbook:
J. Hawley and K. Holcomb,
Foundations of Modern Cosmology (2nd ed.) (primary)
S. Singh, Big Bang: the Origin of the Universe (secondary)
Both are available for purchase at UC Bookstore. Hawley and Holcomb is also freely available on-line at the UC Library here.
Useful References:
A. Guth and A. Lightman, The Inflationary Universe
P. Ferreira The State of the Universe
Required work:
Homework:
Two lab write-ups based on Google Sky exercises that will be explained in class.
4 essays: summarize assigned chapters of Hawley and Holcomb
in 3 pages, plus write 1 to 2 pages of questions on the
topic you understood the least or related questions you may have. We will use these to identify topics to clarify in class and/or we will provide answers to the frequently asked questions (see below). For extra credit, surf the web and find and note down interesting cosmology websites that we can add to the selection below.
Final Project:
Choose a theme related to cosmology from
popular books or an article in the press: New York Times (Tuesdays),
Scientific American, Astronomy
Magazine, Discover, etc. You should discuss the theme with me before
writing a 3-page essay in the style of a newspaper or magazine article
on that theme. Please use your
own words and make a copy of the reference article to be handed in.
Course Grading:
4 Essays: 50%
2 Labs: 25%
Final Essay: 50%
Frequently Asked Questions from the Essays:
Answers to be provided by Jason Poh
Go to Chalk site for this course.