Talk given at Second Aegean Summer School on the Early
Universe
For a PDF version of this paper, click
here.
astro-ph/0402065
Abstract. I discuss the classical cosmological tests - angular size-redshift, flux-redshift, and galaxy number counts - in the light of the cosmology prescribed by the interpretation of the CMB anisotropies. The discussion is somewhat of a primer for physicists, with emphasis upon the possible systematic uncertainties in the observations and their interpretation. Given the curious composition of the Universe inherent in the emerging cosmological model, I stress the value of searching for inconsistencies rather than concordance, and suggest that the prevailing mood of triumphalism in cosmology is premature.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
ASTRONOMY MADE SIMPLE (FOR PHYSICISTS)
BASICS OF FRW COSMOLOGY
OBSERVATIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE STANDARD MODEL OF THE
EARLY UNIVERSE
THE POST-RECOMBINATION UNIVERSE: DETERMINATION OF
Ho AND to
LOOKING FOR DISCORDANCE: THE CLASSICAL TESTS
The angular size test
The modern angular size test: CMB-ology
The flux-redshift test: Supernovae Ia
Number counts of faint galaxies
CONCLUSIONS
REFERENCES
