Observational Cosmology

Astronomie 6935 / astro845 (Elective)

Sommersemester 2019
(Vorlesungzeit 01.4 - 12.7.2019)
Prof. Dr. Cristiano Porciani
    porciani@astro.uni-bonn.de
    AIfA office 1.017; Tel. 0228 733664
 Dr. Kaustuv moni Basu 
    kbasu@astro.uni-bonn.de
    AIfA office 1.006; Tel. 0228 735658

Tutors: Evgenii Chaikin (s6evchai@uni-bonn.de)

Devika Sharma (dsharma@astro.uni-bonn.de)
 
Time: Mondays 11:15 - 12:45
Location: AIfA lecture hall 0.012
Credit points: Four (as elective)
Hours per week: 2+1
Prerequisites: Some basic concepts of cosmology and astrophysics
Contents: This class provides an overview of current and future experimental efforts aimed at improving our understanding of the universe, including the nature of dark matter and dark energy. After briefly reviewing the current standard cosmological model, we will focus on the motivations, techniques and aims of the leading experiments in the field.


Schedule
Date   
Lecturer  
Topic                                                      
Slides          
Exercises
       
 Due
01.4 CP
 Introduction + cosmology basics



08.4 CP
 Estimation theory + Bayesian statistics



15.4 CP
 Markov Chain Monte Carlo method + applications



22.4
Holiday (Ostermontag)



29.4 CP
 MCMC (contd.); Galaxy spectra + optical surveys




10.5 CP Photometric surveys + Baryonic Acoustic Oscillations



13.5 CP Dark energy probes











20.5 KB Introduction to the Cosmic Microwave Backround



27.5 KB CMB temperature anisotropies

03.6 KB CMB polarization + map making techniques

10.6
Holiday (Pfingstmontag)



17.6 KB
 CMB detectors + secondary anisotropies
+ SZ effects

24.6 KB Galaxy clusters + basic observables & applications




01.7 KB Halo mass function + X-ray/SZ observations



08.7 KB Q&A session (optional class)










~15.7
ORAL EXAM






Exercise classes will be held on Tuesdays 16:30 -- 17:30 and Thursdays 10:00 -- 11:00,
at AIfA room 0.008 (please confirm with our tutors the exact time and the room).



References: Codes/Online tools:
MCMC simulator: https://chi-feng.github.io/mcmc-demo/app.html
CMB C_l calculator: https://lambda.gsfc.nasa.gov/toolbox/tb_camb_form.cfm

Science White Papers
Astro2020 review on CMB spectral distortions, Chluba et al. arXiv:1903.04218
Science goals for the LiteBIRD mission (the next CMB satellite!) (PDF)

Books
Modern Cosmology (Dodelson)
Cosmological Physics (Peacock)
Galaxy Formation (Longair)
X-ray Emission from Clusters of Galaxies (Sarazin)  (available online)

Review articles:
CMB: a Review for Particle and Nuclear Physicists (Samtleben et al. 2007)  (PDF)
Tracing Cosmic Evolution with Clusters of Galaxies (G. Mark Voit 2005)  (PDF)
Observational Probes of Cosmic Acceleration (Weinberg et al. 2013) (PDF)


Others
Report from the US Dark Energy Task Force  (PDF)