Includes Index

1 Our Universe
2 General Relativity and the Friedmann Equations
3 A Crash Course in Particle Physics
4 Thermodynamics for Cosmologists
5 The Interactions of High-Energy Particles in Astrophysics
6 Recombination and Photon Decoupling
7 The Cosmic Microwave Background
8 Big Bang Nucleosynthesis
9 Dark Matter
10 The Formation of Large-Scale Structure
11 Neutrino Masses and Oscillations
12 Baryogenesis and Leptogenesis
13 Inflation
14 Dark Energy
15 Cosmic Rays
16 Gamma-Ray and Neutrino Astrophysics
17 Particle Dark Matter Candidates
18 Direct Dark Matter Searches
19 Searches for Dark Matter Annihilation and Decay
20 Collider Physics for Astronomers

This book explores the exciting interface between the fields of cosmology, high-energy astrophysics, and particle physics, at a level suitable for advanced undergraduate- to graduate-level students as well as active researchers. Without assuming a strong background in particle physics or quantum field theory, the text is designed to be accessible to readers from a range of backgrounds and presents both fundamentals and modern topics in a modular style that allows for flexible use and easy reference. It offers coverage of general relativity and the Friedmann equations, early universe thermodynamics, recombination and the cosmic microwave background, Big Bang nucleosynthesis, the origin and detection of dark matter, the formation of large-scale structure, baryogenesis and leptogenesis, inflation, dark energy, cosmic rays, neutrino and gamma-ray astrophysics, supersymmetry, Grand Unified Theories, sterile neutrinos, and axions. The book also includes numerous worked examples and homework problems, many with solutions. Particle Cosmology and Astrophysics provides readers with an invaluable entrée to this cross-disciplinary area of research and discovery