Introduction to the physics of the cosmic microwave background

Jean-Philippe UZAN
Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris (IAP)

Course Chapters The recombination and the cosmic microwave background (CMB) Temperature anisotropies of the CMB: the Sachs-Wolfe formula (simplified description under the fluid limit and the instantaneous recombination approximation) From the temperature anisotropies to their angular power spectrum Cl Understanding the shape of the Cls Toward a refined description: the Boltzmann equation and kinetic theory Polarisation Other effects to include Abstract    This series of three lectures will provide an introduction to the physics of the cosmic microwave background. We will first describe the recombination in a spatially homogeneous and isotropic spacetime and then discussed the propagation of light at the background and perturbed level. Assuming an instantaneous recombination we will derive the Sachs-Wolfe formula that relates the temperature anisotropies to the perturbation variables. Then, we will compute their angular power spectrum. To finish, we will sketch a cleaner approach based on the Boltzmann equation and we will summarize the other effects to be taken into account (polarisation, secondary effects). These lectures will thus set the stage for most of the other courses of the school. Bibliography Cosmologie F. Bernardeau, EDP Science (2008) The cosmic Microwave backgroung R. Durrer, CUP (2008) Cosmologie primordiale P. Peter & J.-P. Uzan, Belin (2005) Primordial cosmology P. Peter & J.-P. Uzan, OUP (2009) Cosmology S. Weinberg, OUP (2008) Lecture notes on the physics of cosmic microwave background anisotropies A. Challinor & H. Peiris, AIP Conf.Proc.1132:86-140,2009. arXiv:0903.5158 Lecture Notes on CMB Theory: From Nucleosynthesis to Recombination W. Hu, arXiv:0802.3688 Perturbations of a Cosmological Model and Angular Variations of the Microwave Background R. K. Sachs, and A. M. Wolfe, ApJ 147, 73 (1967) Massive neutrinos and cosmology J. Lesgourgues and S. Pastor, Phys. Rept. 429: 307-379, 2006 [astro-ph/0603494]

Program