Extreme states of matter

Lecturer:

Michal Šumbera (gar.)

Tutor:

Michal Šumbera (gar.)

Supervisor:

Department of Physics

Synopsis:

Lecture is an introductory course on states of matter under extreme conditions. It covers a broad range of phenomena ranging from electromagnetic plasma through high temperature and/or high density phases of nuclear matter to highly speculative forms of matter why may be responsible for the initial accelerated expansion of the Universe at its earliest moments (inflation) or for its recent acceleration (dark energy). The lecture may also serve as a brief introduction to nuclear and particle physics related chapters of modern cosmology.

Requirements:

Knowledge of basic course of physics and subatomic physics

Syllabus of lectures:

1.Overview

2.Plasma

3.Physics of quark-hadron phase transititon

4.Short introduction to modern cosmology

5.Expansion law of the Universe

6.Simple cosmological models

7.Hot Big Bang

8.Phase transitions in the early universe

9.Primordial nucleosynthesis and the origin of light elements

10.Compact stars

11.Dark matter, dark energy

12.The inflationary universe

Syllabus of tutorials:

Study Objective:

Knowledge:

Extreme states of matter at micro- and macroscopic scales

Abilities:

Orientation in above mentioned states of matter and their description

Study materials:

Key references:

[1] Andrew Liddle, An introduction to modern cosmology, Wiley, Chichester, UK, 1998

Recommended references:

[2] K. Yagi, T. Hatsuda, Y. Miake: Quark-gluon plasma: From big bang to little bang, Cambridge university Press, 2005.

[3] Jean Letessier, Johann Rafelski, Hadrons and quark - gluon plasma, Cambridge university Press, 2002.

Note:

Time-table for winter semester 2011/2012:

Time-table is not available yet

Time-table for summer semester 2011/2012:

Time-table is not available yet

The course is a part of the following study plans: