Cosmology

3.

The Standard Model of Cosmology

3.1.

Big Bang Theory Foundations

3.1.1.

Initial Conditions

3.1.1.1.

Hot Dense State

3.1.1.2.

Thermal Equilibrium

3.1.2.

Singularity Problem

3.1.2.1.

Classical Breakdown

3.1.2.2.

Quantum Gravity Regime

3.1.3.

Observational Support

3.1.3.1.

Expansion Evidence

3.1.3.2.

3.1.3.3.

Light Element Abundances

3.2.

Thermal History Timeline

3.2.1.

Planck Epoch (t < 10⁻⁴³ s)

3.2.1.1.

Quantum Gravity Dominance

3.2.1.2.

Unification of Forces

3.2.2.

Grand Unification Epoch (10⁻⁴³ - 10⁻³⁶ s)

3.2.2.1.

GUT Phase Transitions

3.2.2.2.

Monopole Problem

3.2.3.

Inflationary Epoch (10⁻³⁶ - 10⁻³² s)

3.2.3.1.

Exponential Expansion

3.2.3.2.

Horizon Problem Solution

3.2.3.3.

Flatness Problem Solution

3.2.3.4.

Reheating Process

3.2.4.

Electroweak Epoch (10⁻³² - 10⁻¹² s)

3.2.4.1.

Electroweak Symmetry Breaking

3.2.4.2.

W and Z Boson Mass Acquisition

3.2.5.

Quark Epoch (10⁻¹² - 10⁻⁶ s)

3.2.5.1.

Quark-Gluon Plasma

3.2.5.2.

QCD Phase Transition

3.2.6.

Hadron Epoch (10⁻⁶ - 1 s)

3.2.6.1.

Hadron Formation

3.2.6.2.

Baryon-Antibaryon Annihilation

3.2.7.

Lepton Epoch (1 - 10 s)

3.2.7.1.

Neutrino Decoupling

3.2.7.2.

Electron-Positron Annihilation

3.2.8.

Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (10 s - 20 min)

3.2.8.1.

Deuterium Formation

3.2.8.2.

Helium-4 Production

3.2.8.3.

Lithium-7 Synthesis

3.2.8.4.

Observational Predictions

3.2.9.

Photon Epoch (3 min - 380,000 yr)

3.2.9.1.

Radiation Domination

3.2.9.2.

Matter-Radiation Equality

3.2.10.

Recombination Era (380,000 yr)

3.2.10.1.

Hydrogen Recombination

3.2.10.2.

Helium Recombination

3.2.10.3.

Photon Decoupling

3.2.10.4.

Last Scattering Surface

3.2.11.

Dark Ages (380,000 yr - 150 Myr)

3.2.11.1.

Neutral Universe

3.2.11.2.

Absence of Light Sources

3.2.11.3.

Structure Formation Beginnings

3.2.12.

Reionization Era (150 Myr - 1 Gyr)

3.2.12.1.

First Stars Formation

3.2.12.2.

3.2.12.3.

Hydrogen Reionization

3.2.12.4.

Observational Signatures

3.3.

Lambda-CDM Model Components

3.3.1.

Cold Dark Matter

3.3.1.1.

Non-relativistic Matter

3.3.1.2.

Collisionless Properties

3.3.1.3.

Structure Formation Role

3.3.2.

Cosmological Constant

3.3.2.1.

Dark Energy Representation

3.3.2.2.

Vacuum Energy Interpretation

3.3.2.3.

Acceleration Driver

3.3.3.

Baryonic Matter

3.3.3.1.

Ordinary Matter Component

3.3.3.2.

Nucleosynthesis Constraints

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4. The Cosmic Microwave Background