Cosmic Update (eBook)

Preface 8
Contents 12
Chapter 1 Dark Energy and Dark Matter Hidden in the Geometry of Space?: The Dawn of a New Paradigm in Cosmology 
14 
1.1 The Dawn of the Standard Paradigm of Cosmology 14
1.1.1 First Serious Encounter of Theoretical Cosmology with Observations 16
1.1.2 Einstein's Cosmos: A Model That Has Been Abandoned 16
1.1.3 Eddington and Lemaître: A Spherical Finite Space or a Flat Infinite Space? 18
1.2 The Invisible Universe: An Old Model with a Modern Dark Face 19
1.2.1 The Large-Scale Structure of the Universe 20
1.2.2 The Construction of a Galaxy Map 20
1.2.3 The Dark Sectors of the Standard Model 22
1.3 A Serious Problem with the Standard Model 25
1.3.1 Is Einstein's Theory of Gravitation Wrong? 26
1.3.2 The Architecture of Current Structure Formation Models 26
1.3.3 Why Is the Standard Model Too Simple? 28
1.4 A New Cosmological Model 30
1.4.1 Back to the Roots: Einstein's Theory of General Relativity 30
1.4.2 Construction of a Model That Does the Average Over Structure 31
1.4.3 Curvature of Space: An Important Player Is Rediscovered 31
1.5 Dark Energy and Dark Matter: Are They Hidden in the Geometry of Space? 34
1.5.1 The Acceleration of the Volume Expansion of Space 35
1.5.2 An Expanding and Curved Space Emerging from an Empty Universe: A ``Gedanken Experiment'' 36
1.5.3 Difficulties of the New Paradigm 38
1.6 Construction Principles for a Cosmological Model 39
1.6.1 A Strong and a Weak Version of the Cosmological Principle 40
1.6.2 What Einstein Wanted 41
1.6.3 A Universe That Looks Like a ``Multiverse'' 42
1.6.4 How Einstein Argued That the World Cannot Be Flat? 42
1.6.5 A Matter of Principle 44
1.7 The Global Shape of the Universe 45
1.7.1 Topology as a Key-Discipline of Cosmology 46
1.7.2 Can We, in Principle, Determine the Topology of Our Universe? 47
1.7.3 Topology of the Cosmic Microwave Background 48
1.7.4 The Search for ``Matching Circles'' 49
1.8 Appendix: The Equations Behind the Words 51
1.8.1 The Standard Model of Cosmology 51
1.8.2 Averaged Cosmological Equations 52
1.8.3 Discussion of the New ``Backreaction Terms'' 54
1.8.4 A Compact Form of the New Cosmological Equations 55
1.8.5 The Morphon: An Effective Scalar Field 56
1.8.6 The Equations in the Vacuum 57
1.8.7 Mimicking Dark Energy and Dark Matter 58
1.8.8 Einstein's Favorite Model: A Static Cosmos 60
1.8.9 Einstein's Idea in Light of the New Cosmological Equations 60
References 61
Chapter 2 The Arrow of Time In a Universe with a Positive Cosmological Constant . 
64 
2.1 The Problem with the Thermodynamic Arrow of Time in DeSitter Spaces 68
2.1.1 Big Crunch Through Recoherence or a New Exclusion Principle? 70
2.1.2 What Have We Learned? 76
2.2 Comments 77
2.3 Appendix 78
References 81
Chapter 3 The Future History of the Universe 
83 
3.1 Introduction 83
3.1.1 Overview: Physics and Astronomy 83
3.1.2 Copernican Time Principle 83
3.2 The Future of the Cosmos as a Whole 84
3.2.1 Possible Future Expansion Histories 84
3.2.2 Large Scale Structures 85
3.2.3 Return to a Steady State Universe 87
3.2.4 Future Phase Transitions 89
3.2.5 Heat Death 90
3.2.6 The Big Rip? 92
3.3 The Future of Galaxies 93
3.3.1 Cosmic Isolation 93
3.3.2 Collisions Within Clusters 94
3.3.3 The End of Star Formation 95
3.3.4 Power Output of Galaxies 96
3.3.5 Evaporation of Galactic Disks 97
3.3.6 Demise of Galactic Halos 98
3.4 The Future of Stars 98
3.4.1 The Red Giant Sun 99
3.4.2 Planet Scattering 100
3.4.3 Future Evolution of Red Dwarfs 101
3.4.4 Inventory of Degenerate Objects 102
3.4.5 White Dwarfs Capture Dark Matter 105
3.4.6 When Degenerates Collide 106
3.4.7 Proton Decay in Degenerate Stars 107
3.5 The Future of Planets 109
3.5.1 Death by Red Giants 110
3.5.2 Destruction by Supernovae 111
3.5.3 Long Term Fate of Planets 111
3.6 Black Holes 112
3.6.1 Inventory of Black Holes 113
3.6.2 Hawking Radiation 114
3.7 Summary 115
3.7.1 Five Ages of the Universe 115
3.7.2 Forever Is a Long Time 117
3.7.3 Our Place in Time 118
References and Further Reading 129
Appendix A The Return of a Static Universe and the End of Cosmology 131
A.1 The Disappearance of the Hubble Expansion 132
A.2 Vanishing CMB 133
A.3 General Relativity Gives No Assistance 134
A.4 Polluted Elemental Abundances 134
A.5 Conclusion 135
References 136
Glossary 137
About the Authors 142
Index 145