In the field of cosmology we try to derive properties of the Universe at its largest scales: How is it changing, how was it born and where are we heading? Observations here have led to the discovery of both dark matter and dark energy. The course will discuss how astronomical objects can be used to constrain properties of the Universe as a whole, and why we believe these "dark" components need to be invoked.
Topics of the course in Observational Cosmology include:
- How supernovae can be used as cosmological lighthouses to measure the accelerated expansion of the Universe caused by dark energy.
- How elemental abundances observed today can be used to constrain physics right after the Big Bang, at energy scales inaccessible in labs at earth.
- What dynamics of moving astronomical objects tell us about the presence of dark matter.
- How the structure we observe around us developed from primordial quantum fields.
We will also review theory, based in General Relativity, that allows us to measure the Universe at large scale.
- Kursverantwortliche/r: Akshay Eranhalodi
- Kursverantwortliche/r: Jakob Nordin
Semester: WiSe 2024/25