Research Introduction
Research Introduction (Fall 2009)
What do I do?
I work on theoretical cosmology.
What is cosmology?
Cosmology is the study of the origin and evolution of the universe as a whole.
Think of the universe as a beach. A beach contains many many grains of sand, just as the universe contains many many stars. Instead of studying each grain of sand individually, a cosmologist would study the beach as a whole.
What sort of questions do you try to answer?
- Why is the universe homogeneous on large scales?
- What is the origin of its small inhomogeneities?
- What is the universe made of?
- What is dark matter?
- What is causing the universe to accelerate?
How do you study these question?
My work is essentially theoretical, although I try to keep in touch with observations. Often my projects involve a model to answer one of the questions above. In order to study these models you just need "paper and pencil" and, occasionally, a computer.
What do you have to know to work in this field?
The basic tools in this field are general relativity and classical field theory. You should also have notions of quantum field theory and quantum fields in curved space.
What papers have you written?
These.
Who are your collaborators?
I've been lucky to work with several excellent scientists during my career. This is a list with links to some of their homepages.
Where can we learn more about cosmology on-line?
Click on the following links if you want to access popular and accessible introductions to several aspects of cosmology.
What books could I read in order to learn about the subject?
- V. Mukhanov, Physical Foundations of Cosmology
- S. Weinberg, Cosmology
- S. Dodelson, Modern Cosmology
- E. W. Kolb and M. S. Turner, The Early Universe.
- S. M. Carroll, Spacetime and Geometry.
- N. D. Birrell and P.C. Davies, Quantum Fields in Curved Space.
Where can I find the slides you've shown us?
Here.
Web page last updated August 24, 2009 by CAP.