ObservationalCosmology

Growth of structure

This important topic is covered only sketchily by Liddle and Rowan-Robinson, and you will find some useful additional material in Bothun's book, which can be accessed online here, though the Level 5 site. You will need to assemble a set of notes covering the topics listed below. You may find my Unit 3 Lecture useful to get an overview of the subject. You can then fill in this framework by consulting the references below. The main areas to address are:

• CMB fluctuations RR(5.5), B(3.1), L(A5.4).
• Jeans mass and the effects of pressure B(5.1-5.1.3) is useful but more detailed than you need. No need to work through it in detail. See also B(5.1.7), RR(6.1).
• Growth of density perturbations B(3.1, 5.1.4-5.1.6) again this is rather detailed, aim to follow the idea and get the main results, rather than working through blow-by-blow. L(A5.2) and R(6.1) give it a brief mention.
• Collapse and virialisation Unit 3 lecture, B(4.1.1). Strangely absent from Liddle and R-R.
• Hierarchical merging B(5.2.1, 5.3.1-5.3.2), unit 3 lecture, RR(6.1-6.2)

Where RR=Rowan-Robinson, L=Liddle (2nd Ed. and 3rd Ed.), and B=Bothun.