Modern CosmologyCUP Archive, 31 août 1971 - 212 pages The exploration of the Universe, as conducted by physicists, astronomers, and cosmologists was one of the greatest intellectual adventures of the mid-twentieth century. This book, first published in 1971, tells the story of their achievements and the insight gained into the structure, history, working and scale of our Universe. Dr Sciama describes the major components of the Universe as understood at the beginning of the 1970s: the stars, galaxies, radio-galaxies and quasi-stellar objects. He discusses in detail the red shift of the lines in their optical spectra, which leads to the idea that the Universe is expanding. Theoretical discussion of the expanding Universe suggests the possibility that intergalactic space may contain a significant quantity of matter and be the seat of important physical activity. The issues involved are thoroughly debated. Also discussed is the discover and significance of the 3'K' cosmic microwave radiation, its relation to the hot big bang and the helium problem, to cosmic high energy processes and to questions of isotropy. |
Table des matières
The physics of the stars | 1 |
The Milky Way | 15 |
External galaxies and the expansion of the Universe | 37 |
Radio galaxies | 49 |
Quasistellar objects | 62 |
The radio source counts | 83 |
The distribution of quasistellar objects | 89 |
Models of the Universe | 98 |
The helium problem | 149 |
The hot big bang | 156 |
Helium formation in the hot big bang | 164 |
The detection of cosmic microwave radiation | 176 |
Astrophysical effects of the cosmic microwave | 185 |
The isotropy of the cosmic microwave radiation | 193 |
Further reading | 205 |
| 207 | |
The search for intergalactic atomic hydrogen | 128 |
The search for intergalactic ionised hydrogen ΙΟ | 139 |
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Expressions et termes fréquents
absorption abundance angular appears arises astronomers atomic background become black body cent chapter close clusters consider constant cosmic rays cosmological density depends detailed detected determined difficulty directions discovery discussed distance distribution effect electrons elements emission energy evidence exist expansion fact factor flux further galaxies give given gravitational greater helium Hubble hydrogen identification important intensity interesting intergalactic intergalactic space ionised known lead less light limit lines luminosity magnetic field mass material matter mean measurements method Milky nebulae objects observed obtained occur optical origin particle photons physics plate position possible present problem processes properties QSOs question radiation radio galaxies radio sources range reason recently red shift region relation relative result rotation scale seen significance space spectrum stars suggests surface temperature theory tion types Universe velocity wavelength X-ray