Course Name: Observational Cosmology
Credits: 1.5
Level: Undergraduate/Graduate
Pre-requisite: Advanced mathematics, undergrad physics
Lecture Time: 30 sessions (45 minutes per session)
Course Description: As a fundamental course in observational cosmology for undergraduate and graduate students, this course focuses on large galaxy surveys and cosmological implications. This course covers the fundamentals of theoretical cosmology and observational cosmology including data analysis, numerical simulations and parameter estimation, as well as latest developments of observational cosmology.
Topics
1. Basics of theoretical cosmology (8 sessions)
1.1. Brief history of the Universe (2 sessions)
1.2. Fundamental principles and concepts of cosmology (2 sessions)
1.3. Fundamentals of General Relativity (4 sessions)
2. Fundamentals of observational cosmology (6 sessions)
2.1. Fundamental principals and concepts of observational cosmology (2 sessions)
2.2. Basics of data analysis (2 sessions)
2.3. Parameter estimation (2 sessions)
3. Data analysis of large galaxy surveys (12 sessions)
3.1. Brief introduction of large galaxy surveys (1 session)
3.2. Measurement of two-point correlation function multipoles (3 sessions)
3.3. Measurement of power spectrum multipoles (3 sessions)
3.4. Mock galaxy catalogs (1 session)
3.5. Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (2 sessions)
3.6. Redshift Space Distortions (2 sessions)
4. Cosmological Implications (4 sessions)
4.1. Dark energy (2 sessions)
4.2. Modified Gravity (2 sessions)
Grading:
Exam (40%) + Homework (20%) + Paper and presentations (40%)
Recommended text books:
Cosmological Physics (John A. Peacock)
Modern Cosmology (Scott Dodelson and Fabian Schmidt)
Lecture notes:
Lecture 1
Lecture 2
Lecture 3
Lecture 4
Lecture 5 Datafiles code
Lecture 6
Lecture 7
Lecture 8 code Latex_template
Lecture 9
Lecture 10
Lecture 11
Lecture 12
Lecture 13
Lecture 14
Final exam