Cosmic Problems

Tackles questions about ancient cosmology and the clash between the two opposing systems known as Aristotelianism and Atomism.

This unique volume contains the materials of the XXIXth International Workshop on High Energy Physics. The content of the volume is much wider than just high-energy physics and actually concerns all the most fundamental areas of modern physics research: high-energy physics proper, gravitation and cosmology. Presentations embrace both theory and experiment. Contents:12 Closed Doors and 8 Open Windows in Physics Beyond the SM (F Riva)On Possible Interpretation of the LHC Higgs-Like State in the Framework of the Non-Perturbative Effective Interaction of W-Bosons (B A Arbuzov)What Can the Higgs Tell Us About UV Physics? (A K Knochel)Recent Results from the Heavy Ion Program at RHIC (O Evdokimov)Top Quark Physics Results from LHC (C Ferro)Neutrino Oscillations: Recent Results and Perspectives (M M Khabibullin and Yu G Kudenko)High-Energy Collisions in Space-Time Perspective (V A Petrov)Inward Horizons of the Spinning Nucleons (A Prokudin)Supermassive Black Hole at the Galactic Center (A F Zakharov)Einsteinian Revolution's Misinterpretation: No True Black Holes, No Information Paradox: Just Quasi-Static Balls of Quark Gluon Plasma (A Mitra)Flaws in Black Hole Theory and General Relativity (S J Crothers)and other papers Readership: Advanced undergraduates and graduate students, and physicists working in the field of high energy physics. Keywords:Higgs Boson;Quark Gluon Plasma;Neutrino in Labs and Cosmos;Cosmology;Dark Matter

The general background of this monograph and the aim of it is described in detail in Chapter I. As stated in 1.7 it is written according to the principle that "when rigour appears to conflict with simplicity, simplicity is given preference", which means that it is intended for a rather broad public. Not only graduate students but also advanced undergraduates should be able to understand at least most of it. This monograph is the result of many years of inspiring discussions with a number of colleagues, for which I want to thank them very much. Especially I should mention the groups in Stockholm and La Jolla: in Stockholm, Dr Carl-Gunne Flilthammar and many of his collaborators, including Drs Lars Block, Per Carlqvist, Lennart lindberg, Michael Raadu, Staffan Torven, Miroslav Babic, and Itlgvar Axniis, and further, Drs Bo Lehnert and Bjorn Bonnevier, all at the Royal Institute of Technology. Of other col leagues in Sweden, I should mention Dr Bertel Laurent, Stockholm University, Dr Aina Elvius, The Stockholm Observatory, and Dr Bengt Hultqvist, Kiruna. In La Jolla my thanks go first of all to Dr Gustaf Arrhenius, who once invited me to La Jolla, which was the start of a most interesting collaboration; further, to Dr W.B.

The growth of cosmology into a precision science represents one of the most remarkable stories of the past century. Much has been written chronicling this development, but rarely has any of it focused on the most critical element of this work–the cosmic spacetime itself. Addressing this lacuna is the principal focus of this book, documenting the growing body of evidence compelling us–not only to use this famous solution to Einstein's equations in order to refine the current paradigm, but–to probe its foundation at a much deeper level. Its excursion from the smallest to largest possible scales insightfully reveals an emerging link between the Universe we behold and the established tenets of our most fundamental physical theories. Key Features: Uncovers the critical link between the Local Flatness Theorem in general relativity and the symmetries informing the spacetime's metric coefficients Develops a physical explanation for some of the most unpalatable coincidences in cosmology Provides a sober assessment of the horizon problems precluding our full understanding of the early Universe Reveals a possible explanation for the origin of rest-mass energy in Einstein's theory In spite of its technical layout, this book does not shy away from introducing the principal players who have made the most enduring contributions to this field. Anyone with a graduate level foundation in physics and astronomy will be able to easily follow its contents.

Reviews the historical development of all the key areas of modern astrophysics.

Spectacular observational breakthroughs, particularly by the WMAP satellite, have led to a new epoch of CMB science long after its original discovery. Taking a physical approach, the authors of this volume probe the problem of the 'darkness' of the Universe: the origin and evolution of dark energy and matter in the cosmos. Starting with the observational background of modern cosmology, they provide an accessible review of this fascinating yet complex subject. Topics discussed include the kinetics of the electromagnetic radiation in the Universe, the ionization history of cosmic plamas, the origin of primordial perturbations in light of the inflation paradigm, and the formation of anisotropy and polarization of the CMB. This fascinating review will be valuable to advanced students and researchers in cosmology.