Cosmic Paradoxes

Beginning with the famous Olber's paradox, paradoxes such as the missing mass, dark energy, baryon to photon ratio and cosmic zero-point energy are examined in detail. The Heisenberg–Lemaitre's units, based on the total enormous but finite mass of the Universe, are introduced and rigorous solutions of Einstein's cosmological equations for an open Universe with cosmological constant are obtained. Energy conservation after the Big Bang is consistently required.

This book discusses such paradoxes in depth with physical and logical content and historical perspective, and has not too technical content in order to serve a wide audience. In the second edition, the content is updated and new sections are added.

Contents:

• Facts and Principles:

  • Energy Conservation
  • Energy Non-Conservation Means Too Much Freedom
  • The Four Interactions
  • Matter, Radiation, Particles
  • The Dark Night Sky and Olbers' Paradox

• Relativistic Cosmology:

  • General Relativity and Cosmology
  • The Friedmann–Lemaitre Solutions
  • The Role of Radiation Pressure
  • The Einstein–Lemaitre Correspondence
  • The Universal Constants
  • Rigorous Solutions of Einstein's Cosmological Equation

• More Paradoxes:

  • The Missing Mass and Dark Energy Paradoxes
  • The Accelerating Universe Paradox
  • The Photon-to-Baryon Ratio Paradox
  • Cosmic Zero-Point Energy

• A Contingent Universe:

  • The Universe is Finite, Open and Contingent
  • The Very Early Universe: Indeterminacy or Uncertainty
  • Why an Open (k < 0) Cosmic Model is Better
  • Singular Moments in Cosmic History
  • A Brief Outline: World Events and Cosmological Discoveries from –4500 to 2010

Readership: Students in physics and general public interested in science.
Key Features:

• This book is up-to-date with recent developments
• It focuses attention on cosmic paradoxes from a conservative viewpoint, emphasizing the importance of the conservation of energy