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The Oxford Companion to Cosmology
Here is a lavishly illustrated, state-of-the-art look at modern cosmology, the only such resource presently available. In more than 350 in-depth entries, Andrew Liddle and Jon Loveday cover the entire scope of this cutting-edge field, from cosmic rays and dark energy to Higgs bosons and neutrinos. Beginning with an introductory essay on Hot Big Bang Cosmology, the Companion illuminates the ideas behind our current understanding of the universe, outlines some of the fundamental physics from which those ideas emerge, and discusses the many strands of observational evidence available to the modern cosmologist. The authors tackle such fascinating topics as anti-matter, the age of the universe, black holes, quasars, and radio galaxies. The book also features biographical profiles of major scientists and informative entries on the tools of exploration such as the Cosmic Background Explorer satellite, the Hubble Space Telescope, and the Keck Observatory. Extensive cross-referencing
allows readers to pursue ideas throughout the book, and web links direct the reader to recommended online resources which will be regulary updated via the books companion website.
allows readers to pursue ideas throughout the book, and web links direct the reader to recommended online resources which will be regulary updated via the books companion website.
360 pages, Paperback
First published March 15, 2008
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July 14, 2010
4 stars and could easily be 5. However, even for the scientific community, this is no reading book. The Companion is set out in A-Z format and is an excellent mind boggler for the expert hot big banger as well as the slack jawed amateur astronomer cum lay-reader like me.
Cosmology is Albert Einstein's 20th century baby, and it seems like every few weeks the human beans are gaining fresh insights and astounding knowledge of what is going on outside the Milky Way galaxy.
Although not a cover to cover read, it is very easy to just open the book and jump in.
R for instance has Radio Galaxies.
These are a class of 'active galactic nuclei that emit strongly in the radio part of the electromagnetic spectrum. They were first identified as strong sources in radio surveys carried out in the 1950's and were later identified with luminous elliptical galaxies in optical surveys. Many radio galaxies feature twin radio-bright lobes up to 3Mpc across centred on the galaxy. The radio emission is produced by energetic particles moving through magnetic fields. Radio lobes are thought to result from jets of energy emitted by the galaxy, sometimes visible in the optical as well as the radio spectrum. Galaxies with the largest lobes are giant ellipticals. Since nothing can travel faster than the speed of light, the size of these lobes implies that the nucleus has been active for at least 10-50Myr. The large radio luminosity of these objects makes them useful probes of the cosmic structure at high redshift and in directions of large optical extinction, such as behind the plane of the Milky Way.
Einstein, genius that he was, could not have been totally cool. Curiously, he also invented a type of refrigerator.
Cosmology is Albert Einstein's 20th century baby, and it seems like every few weeks the human beans are gaining fresh insights and astounding knowledge of what is going on outside the Milky Way galaxy.
Although not a cover to cover read, it is very easy to just open the book and jump in.
R for instance has Radio Galaxies.
These are a class of 'active galactic nuclei that emit strongly in the radio part of the electromagnetic spectrum. They were first identified as strong sources in radio surveys carried out in the 1950's and were later identified with luminous elliptical galaxies in optical surveys. Many radio galaxies feature twin radio-bright lobes up to 3Mpc across centred on the galaxy. The radio emission is produced by energetic particles moving through magnetic fields. Radio lobes are thought to result from jets of energy emitted by the galaxy, sometimes visible in the optical as well as the radio spectrum. Galaxies with the largest lobes are giant ellipticals. Since nothing can travel faster than the speed of light, the size of these lobes implies that the nucleus has been active for at least 10-50Myr. The large radio luminosity of these objects makes them useful probes of the cosmic structure at high redshift and in directions of large optical extinction, such as behind the plane of the Milky Way.
Einstein, genius that he was, could not have been totally cool. Curiously, he also invented a type of refrigerator.
Displaying 1 of 1 review