Cosmology and particle astrophysics. (Q1881367)

This textbook presents all relevant aspects of observational cosmology and related concepts. It assumes no prior knowledge other than basic mathematics and physics. In more detail: It starts with observational facts, spents two full chapters to present the foundations of Special and General Relativity respectively, and then the different topics of Astroparticle physics are detailed out: Gravitational lensing, thermal relics from the big bang, the cosmic microwave background, gravitational waves and cosmic gamma-rays. Finally, some mathematically more advanced topics like the relativistic Dirac equation and quantum fluctuations in the early Universe are presented. This second edition includes new developments on the cosmic microwave background anisotropy, the Hubble constant, gravitational lensing, and neutrino oscillations.