Contents
Preface
xi
1 The standard model of cosmology
1.1 Introduction
1
1
1.2 The Robertson-Walker metric
2
1.3 Einstein equations for a Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe
5
1.4 Scale factor dependence of the energy density
7
1.5 Time dependence of the scale factor
8
1.6 Age of the universe
8
1.7 The cosmological constant
IQ
1.8 Equilibrium thermodynamics in the expanding universe
17
1.9 Transition from radiation to matter domination
19
1.10 Cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR)
21
1.11 Big-bang nucleosynthesis
21
1.12 Exercises
27
1.13 General references
27
Bibliography
28
2 Phase transitions in the early universe
29
2.1 Introduction
29
2.2 Partition functions
30
2.3 The effective potential at finite temperature
33
2.4 Phase transitions in the Higgs model
2.4.1 e 4 « A
2.4.2 e 4 » A
36
37
40
2.5 Phase transitions in electroweak theory
45
2.6 Phase transitions in grand unified theories
48
2.7 Phase transitions in supersymmetric GUTs
51
2.8 Phase transitions in supergravity theories
55
2.9 Nucleation of true vacuum
59
2.10 Exercises
63
2.11 General references
63
Bibliography
63