Modern Cosmology

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.

Preface; Note; 1. the physics of the stars; 2. The Milky Way; 3. External galaxies and the expansion of the Universe; 4. Radio galaxies; 5. Quasi-stellar objects; 6. The radio source counts; 7. The distribution of quasi-stellar objects; 8. Models of the Universe; 9. The search for intergalactic atomic hydrogen; 10. The search for intergalactic ionised hydrogen; 11. The helium problem; 12. The hot big bang; 13. Helium formation in the hot big bang; 14. The detection of cosmic microwave radiation; 15. Astrophysical effects of the cosmic microwave radiation; 16. The isotropy of the cosmic microwave radiation; Indices.

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.