Cosmology : The Structure and Evolution of the Universe

From the reviews:
"It survives the pitfalls of this fashion-conscious era by pursuing a rigorously independent-minded attitude to contemporary ideas. The level is introductory undergraduate, with rather little mathematics but a strong physical basis.
...The second part, on general relativity and cosmology, provides a good account of modern theoretical ideas, from rotating black holes to Grand Unified Theories and inflation. The third part is an excellent and profound discussion of the fundamental problems of cosmology. For anyone with a philosophical turn of mind this section alone makes the book essential reading." Nature

I Observations.- 1. Our Galaxy.- 1.1 Observing Our Galaxy.- 1.2 The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram.- 1.3 Globular Clusters.- 1.4 Open Clusters.- 1.5 OB Associations.- 1.6 Interstellar Medium.- 1.7 Interstellar Clouds.- 1.7.1 Bright Nebulae.- 1.7.2 Dark Nebulae.- 1.7.3 Neutral Hydrogen Nebulae.- 1.8 Radio Waves from Our Galaxy.- 1.8.1 Radio Sources.- 1.8.2 The 21 cm-Line and the Distribution of Hydrogen in the Galaxy.- 1.8.3 Recombination Lines.- 1.8.4 Microwave Radiation from Molecules.- 1.8.5 Continuous Radio Emission.- 1.9 x-Ray, ?-Ray, Ultraviolet and Infrared Astronomy.- 1.10 Pulsars (Neutron Stars).- 1.11 Magnetic Fields and Cosmic Rays.- 1.11.1 Magnetic Fields.- 1.11.2 Cosmic Rays.- 1.12 Stellar Populations.- 1.13 The Spiral Shape of Our Galaxy.- 1.14 Kinematics of the Galaxy.- 1.14.1 Motion of the Sun.- 1.14.2 Distribution of Stellar Velocities.- 1.14.3 Rotation of the Galaxy.- 1.15 Dynamics of the Galaxy.- 1.16 A General Picture of the Galaxy.- 2. Galaxies and Clusters of Galaxies.- 2.1 Classification of Galaxies.- 2.2 Observations of Galaxies.- 2.3 Magellanic Clouds.- 2.4 The Andromeda Galaxy.- 2.5 Spiral Galaxies.- 2.6 Elliptical Galaxies.- 2.7 The Local Group.- 2.8 Multiple Galaxies and Clusters of Galaxies.- 2.9 Collisions of Galaxies.- 2.10 Distances of Galaxies and Clusters of Galaxies.- 2.11 Masses of Galaxies and Clusters of Galaxies.- 2.12 The Virial Theorem.- 2.13 Peculiar Galaxies.- 2.14 Quasars.- 3. Distribution of Matter in the Universe.- 3.1 Intergalactic Matter.- 3.2 Superclusters.- 3.3 Voids.- 3.4 Isotropy and Homogeneity of the Universe.- 3.5 Counts of Galaxies.- 3.6 Microwave Background Radiation.- 3.7 Expansion of the Universe.- II Theory.- 4. Introduction to the Study of the Universe.- 4.1 Olbers’ Paradox.- 4.2 Calculation of the Energy Which Comes from all the Stars.- 5. General Theory of Relativity.- 5.1 The Concept of Curved Spacetime.- 5.2 Tensors and the General Theory of Relativity.- 5.3 Einstein’s Field Equations.- 5.4 Experimental Verification of the General Theory of Relativity.- 5.5 Gravitational Waves.- 5.6 Black Holes.- 5.7 Formulae Related to Black Holes.- 5.8 Schwarzschild Black Holes.- 5.9 Observations of Black Holes.- 5.10 Rotating Black Holes.- 5.11 Thermodynamics and Quantum Mechanics of Black Holes.- 6. Relativistic Cosmology.- 6.1 Cosmological Solutions of Einstein’s Equations.- 6.2 The Geometry of the Universe.- 6.3 Spherical Space of Three Dimensions.- 6.4 The Theory of the Expanding Universe.- 6.5 Theoretical Interpretation of Hubble’s Law.- 6.6 Is the Universe Finite or Not?.- 6.6.1 Intergalactic Gas and Dust.- 6.6.2 Intergalactic Stars.- 6.6.3 Photons and Gravitons.- 6.6.4 Neutrinos.- 6.6.5 Magnetic Monopoles and Other Exotic Particles.- 6.6.6 Limits Imposed by Cosmic Nucleosynthesis.- 6.7 The Big Bang Theory.- 6.8 The Distribution of Radiogalaxies.- 6.9 The Age of the Universe.- 6.9.1 The Expansion of the Universe.- 6.9.2 The Ages of the Radioactive Elements.- 6.9.3 The Ages of the Globular Clusters.- 6.10 The Ages of the Chemical Elements.- 6.11 Different Models Derived from the General Theory of Relativity.- 7. Other Cosmological Theories.- 7.1 Newtonian Cosmology.- 7.2 Kinematic Relativity.- 7.3 The Theory of Continuous Creation.- 7.4 The Brans-Dicke Theory.- 7.5 Dime’s Theory.- 7.6 Jordan’s Theory.- 7.7 Conclusions.- 8. The Beginning of the Universe.- 8.1 The First Stages of the Expansion.- 8.1.1 Temperature 1011 K (Age of the Univers t = 0.01 sec).- 8.1.2 Temperature 1010 K (Age of the Universe t = 1.1 sec).- 8.1.3 Temperature 109 K (Age of the Universe t = 3 min).- 8.2 Energy of Radiation and Matter.- 8.3 The Formation of Galaxies and Clusters of Galaxies.- 8.3.1 Theories of the Formation of Protogalaxies and Protoclusters.- 8.3.2 Theories of Galaxy Formation from the Collapse of Protogalaxies.- 8.4 Jeans’ Instability.- 8.5 Cosmology and Elementary Particles.- 8.6 Matter and Antimatter.- 8.7 Quantum Gravity.- 8.8 The Inflationary Universe.- 9. The Evolution of the Universe.- 9.1 The Arrow of Time.- 9.1.1 The Increase of Entropy.- 9.1.2 Psychological Time.- 9.1.3 The Expansion of the Universe.- 9.1.4 The Decay of Ko Particles.- 9.2 The Future of the Universe.- 9.2.1 Pulsating Universe.- 9.2.2 Continuously Expanding Universe.- III Fundamental Problems.- 10. The Physics of the Universe.- 10.1 The Unity of Nature.- 10.2 The Laws of the Universe.- 10.3 The Uncertainty of the Physical Laws.- 10.3.1 The Uncertainty in the Knowledge of the Physical Laws.- 10.3.2 Instabilities.- 10.3.3 The Finite Speed of Light.- 10.3.4 Heisenberg’s Principle of Uncertainty and the Uncertainty of Human Actions.- 10.4 How Certain Are Our Conclusions?.- 11. Cosmological Problems.- 11.1 Inflation and Causality.- 11.2 Space and Time at the Beginning of the Expansion.- 11.3 Is the Universe Cyclic?.- 11.4 Is There an “Ultimate” Theory of the Universe?.- 11.5 Causality and Teleology.- 11.6 Cosmology and Metaphysics.- References.- Further References for the Figures.- Name Index.