Progress in Physics of the Cosmos
Author(s)
M. Zafar Iqbal*
Affiliation(s)
Department of Physics, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Department of Physics, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
ABSTRACT
Study of the Cosmos, at best, is considered a semi-scientific discipline, primarily because the la-boratory for carrying out measurements and tests of theories (the Cosmos) has been largely inac-cessible for centuries. The cosmic vista into the yonder, however, continued to fascinate humankind due to its inherent beauty and sheer curiosity. The invention of the optical telescope more than five centuries back, however, led to the opening of observational cosmology as a scientific discipline with firm experimental basis. However, the investigations based on visible light posed obvious limitations for the range of such observational cosmology. The advent of the radio telescope in the first half of the 20th century marked a fundamental new step in the progress of this branch of science. There has been no looking back in the march of knowledge in the discipline since then. A whole new vista was laid bare as a result of this development, leading to the discovery of altogether new celestial objects, such as quasars and pulsars and still newer galaxies. The parallel progress of the physics of fundamental constituents of the material world and their interactions led to an interesting merger of these two branches of physical sciences, yielding absolutely astounding knowledge of the nature and evolution of the Universe. New concepts of dark energy and dark matter thought to constitute the dominant share of the Universe were brought to light as a result of these new observations and theoretical ideas. This brief article aims to provide an overview of these exciting developments in the field of cosmology and the associated physics.
Study of the Cosmos, at best, is considered a semi-scientific discipline, primarily because the la-boratory for carrying out measurements and tests of theories (the Cosmos) has been largely inac-cessible for centuries. The cosmic vista into the yonder, however, continued to fascinate humankind due to its inherent beauty and sheer curiosity. The invention of the optical telescope more than five centuries back, however, led to the opening of observational cosmology as a scientific discipline with firm experimental basis. However, the investigations based on visible light posed obvious limitations for the range of such observational cosmology. The advent of the radio telescope in the first half of the 20th century marked a fundamental new step in the progress of this branch of science. There has been no looking back in the march of knowledge in the discipline since then. A whole new vista was laid bare as a result of this development, leading to the discovery of altogether new celestial objects, such as quasars and pulsars and still newer galaxies. The parallel progress of the physics of fundamental constituents of the material world and their interactions led to an interesting merger of these two branches of physical sciences, yielding absolutely astounding knowledge of the nature and evolution of the Universe. New concepts of dark energy and dark matter thought to constitute the dominant share of the Universe were brought to light as a result of these new observations and theoretical ideas. This brief article aims to provide an overview of these exciting developments in the field of cosmology and the associated physics.
Cite this paper
Iqbal, M. (2015) Progress in Physics of the Cosmos. International Journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics, 5, 79-89. doi: 10.4236/ijaa.2015.52011.
Iqbal, M. (2015) Progress in Physics of the Cosmos. International Journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics, 5, 79-89. doi: 10.4236/ijaa.2015.52011.
References
[1] Jansky, K.G. (1933) Radio Waves from Outside the Solar System. Nature, 132, 66.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/132066a0 [2] Hey, J.S. (1983) The Radio Universe. Vol. 1, Oxford Pergamon Press, Oxford, 253. [3] Bolton, J.G., Stanley, G.J. and Slee, O.B. (1949) Positions of Three Discrete Sources of Galactic Radio-Frequency Radiation. Nature, 164, 101-102.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/164101b0 [4] Barath, F.T., Barrett, A.H., Copeland, J., Jones, D.E. and Lilley, A.E. (1963) Microwave Radiometers. Science, 139, 908-909.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.139.3558.908 [5] Burke, B.F. and Franklin, K.L. (1955) Observations of a Variable Radio Source Associated with the Planet Jupiter. Journal of Geophysical Research, 60, 213-217.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/JZ060i002p00213 [6] Muller, C.A. and Oort, J.H. (1951) Observation of a Line in the Galactic Radio Spectrum: The Interstellar Hydrogen Line at 1420 Mc./sec., and an Estimate of Galactic Rotation. Nature, 168, 357-358.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/168357a0 [7] Ewen, H.I. and Purcell, E.M. (1951) Observation of a Line in the Galactic Radio Spectrum. Nature, 168, 356-358. [8] Chen, W., Gehrels, N., Diehl, R. and Hartmann, D. (1996) On the Spiral Arm Interpretation of COMP℡^ 26^ Al Map Features. Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series, 120, 315. [9] Russeil, D. (2003) Star-Forming Complexes and the Spiral Structure of Our Galaxy. Astron. Astrophys.-Berl.-, 397, 133-146. [10] Levine, E.S., Blitz, L. and Heiles, C. (2006) The Spiral Structure of the Outer Milky Way in Hydrogen. Science, 312, 1773-1777. [11] Churchwell, E., Babler, B.L., Meade, M.R., Whitney, B.A., Benjamin, R., Indebetouw, R., Cyganowski, C., Robitaille, T.P., Povich, M., Watson, C. and Bracker, S. (2009) The Spitzer/GLIMPSE Surveys: A New View of the Milky Way. Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 121, 213-230.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/597811 [12] Jennison, R.C. and Das Gupta, M.K. (1953) Fine Structure of the Extra-Terrestrial Radio Source Cygnus 1. Nature, 172, 996-997.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/172996a0 [13] Baade, W. and Zwicky, F. (1934) Cosmic Rays from Super-Novae. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 20, 259-263.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.20.5.259 [14] Schmidt, M. (1963) 3C 273: A Star-Like Object with Large Red-Shift. Nature, 197, 1040.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/1971040a0 [15] Matthews, T.A. and Sandage, A.R. (1963) Optical Identification of 3c 48, 3c 196, and 3c 286 with Stellar Objects. Astrophysical Journal, 138, 30. [16] Greenstein, J.L. and Schmidt, M. (1964) The Quasi-Stellar Radio Sources 3c 48 and 3c 273. Astrophysical Journal, 140, 1.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/147889 [17] Hewish, A., Bell, S.J., Pilkington, J.D.H., Scott, P.F. and Collins, R.A. (1968) Observation of a Rapidly Pulsating Radio Source. Nature, 217, 709-713.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/217709a0 [18] Penzias, A.A. and Wilson, R.W. (1965) A Measurement of Excess Antenna Temperature at 4080 Mc/s. Astrophysical Journal, 142, 419-421.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/148307 [19] Boggess, N.W., Mather, J.C., Weiss, R., Bennett, C.L., Cheng, E.S., Dwek, E., Gulkis, S., Hauser, M.G., Janssen, M.A., Kelsall, T., et al. (1992) The COBE Mission—Its Design and Performance Two Years after Launch. Astrophysical Journal, 397, 420-429.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/171797 [20] Cosmic Background Explorer. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 21 July 2014. [21] Riess, A.G., Filippenko, A.V., Challis, P., Clocchiatti, A., Diercks, A., Garnavich, P.M., Gilliland, R.L., Hogan, C.J., Jha, S., Kirshner, R.P., et al. (1998) Observational Evidence from Supernovae for an Accelerating Universe and a Cosmological Constant. Astronomical Journal, 116, 1009.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/300499 [22] Perlmutter, S., Aldering, G., Goldhaber, G., Knop, R.A., Nugent, P., Castro, P.G., Deustua, S., Fabbro, S., Goobar, A., Groom, D.E., et al. (1999) Measurements of Ω and Λ from 42 High-Redshift Supernovae. Astrophysical Journal, 517, 565.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/307221 [23] Peebles, P.J.E. and Ratra, B. (2003) The Cosmological Constant and Dark Energy. Reviews of Modern Physics, 75, 559.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.75.559 [24] Zwicky, F. (2009) Republication of: The Redshift of Extragalactic Nebulae. General Relativity and Gravitation, 41, 207-224.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10714-008-0707-4 [25] Ade, P.A.R., Aghanim, N., Armitage-Caplan, C., Arnaud, M., Ashdown, M., Atrio-Barandela, F., Aumont, J., Baccigalupi, C., Banday, A.J., Barreiro, R.B., et al. (2013) Planck 2013 Results. I. Overview of Products and Scientific Results. arXiv:1303.5062. [26] Francis, M. (2013) First Planck Results: The Universe Is Still Weird and Interesting. Ars Technica, 21 March 2013.
http://arstechnica.com/science/2013/03/first-planck-results-the-universe-
is-still-weird-and-interesting/ [27] First Observational Evidence of Dark Matter.
http://www.darkmatterphysics.com/Galactic-rotation-curves-of-spiral-galaxies.htm [28] Dark Matter. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 22 July 2014. [29] Cowen, R. (2014) Telescope Captures View of Gravitational Waves. Nature, 507, 281-283.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/507281a [30] Cowan, R. (2014) Big Bang Finding Challenged. Nature, 510, 20.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/510020a [31] Steinhardt, P. (2014) Big Bang Blunder Bursts the Multiverse Bubble. Nature, 510, 9.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/510009a
[1] Jansky, K.G. (1933) Radio Waves from Outside the Solar System. Nature, 132, 66.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/132066a0 [2] Hey, J.S. (1983) The Radio Universe. Vol. 1, Oxford Pergamon Press, Oxford, 253. [3] Bolton, J.G., Stanley, G.J. and Slee, O.B. (1949) Positions of Three Discrete Sources of Galactic Radio-Frequency Radiation. Nature, 164, 101-102.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/164101b0 [4] Barath, F.T., Barrett, A.H., Copeland, J., Jones, D.E. and Lilley, A.E. (1963) Microwave Radiometers. Science, 139, 908-909.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.139.3558.908 [5] Burke, B.F. and Franklin, K.L. (1955) Observations of a Variable Radio Source Associated with the Planet Jupiter. Journal of Geophysical Research, 60, 213-217.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/JZ060i002p00213 [6] Muller, C.A. and Oort, J.H. (1951) Observation of a Line in the Galactic Radio Spectrum: The Interstellar Hydrogen Line at 1420 Mc./sec., and an Estimate of Galactic Rotation. Nature, 168, 357-358.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/168357a0 [7] Ewen, H.I. and Purcell, E.M. (1951) Observation of a Line in the Galactic Radio Spectrum. Nature, 168, 356-358. [8] Chen, W., Gehrels, N., Diehl, R. and Hartmann, D. (1996) On the Spiral Arm Interpretation of COMP℡^ 26^ Al Map Features. Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series, 120, 315. [9] Russeil, D. (2003) Star-Forming Complexes and the Spiral Structure of Our Galaxy. Astron. Astrophys.-Berl.-, 397, 133-146. [10] Levine, E.S., Blitz, L. and Heiles, C. (2006) The Spiral Structure of the Outer Milky Way in Hydrogen. Science, 312, 1773-1777. [11] Churchwell, E., Babler, B.L., Meade, M.R., Whitney, B.A., Benjamin, R., Indebetouw, R., Cyganowski, C., Robitaille, T.P., Povich, M., Watson, C. and Bracker, S. (2009) The Spitzer/GLIMPSE Surveys: A New View of the Milky Way. Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 121, 213-230.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/597811 [12] Jennison, R.C. and Das Gupta, M.K. (1953) Fine Structure of the Extra-Terrestrial Radio Source Cygnus 1. Nature, 172, 996-997.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/172996a0 [13] Baade, W. and Zwicky, F. (1934) Cosmic Rays from Super-Novae. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 20, 259-263.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.20.5.259 [14] Schmidt, M. (1963) 3C 273: A Star-Like Object with Large Red-Shift. Nature, 197, 1040.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/1971040a0 [15] Matthews, T.A. and Sandage, A.R. (1963) Optical Identification of 3c 48, 3c 196, and 3c 286 with Stellar Objects. Astrophysical Journal, 138, 30. [16] Greenstein, J.L. and Schmidt, M. (1964) The Quasi-Stellar Radio Sources 3c 48 and 3c 273. Astrophysical Journal, 140, 1.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/147889 [17] Hewish, A., Bell, S.J., Pilkington, J.D.H., Scott, P.F. and Collins, R.A. (1968) Observation of a Rapidly Pulsating Radio Source. Nature, 217, 709-713.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/217709a0 [18] Penzias, A.A. and Wilson, R.W. (1965) A Measurement of Excess Antenna Temperature at 4080 Mc/s. Astrophysical Journal, 142, 419-421.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/148307 [19] Boggess, N.W., Mather, J.C., Weiss, R., Bennett, C.L., Cheng, E.S., Dwek, E., Gulkis, S., Hauser, M.G., Janssen, M.A., Kelsall, T., et al. (1992) The COBE Mission—Its Design and Performance Two Years after Launch. Astrophysical Journal, 397, 420-429.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/171797 [20] Cosmic Background Explorer. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 21 July 2014. [21] Riess, A.G., Filippenko, A.V., Challis, P., Clocchiatti, A., Diercks, A., Garnavich, P.M., Gilliland, R.L., Hogan, C.J., Jha, S., Kirshner, R.P., et al. (1998) Observational Evidence from Supernovae for an Accelerating Universe and a Cosmological Constant. Astronomical Journal, 116, 1009.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/300499 [22] Perlmutter, S., Aldering, G., Goldhaber, G., Knop, R.A., Nugent, P., Castro, P.G., Deustua, S., Fabbro, S., Goobar, A., Groom, D.E., et al. (1999) Measurements of Ω and Λ from 42 High-Redshift Supernovae. Astrophysical Journal, 517, 565.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/307221 [23] Peebles, P.J.E. and Ratra, B. (2003) The Cosmological Constant and Dark Energy. Reviews of Modern Physics, 75, 559.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.75.559 [24] Zwicky, F. (2009) Republication of: The Redshift of Extragalactic Nebulae. General Relativity and Gravitation, 41, 207-224.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10714-008-0707-4 [25] Ade, P.A.R., Aghanim, N., Armitage-Caplan, C., Arnaud, M., Ashdown, M., Atrio-Barandela, F., Aumont, J., Baccigalupi, C., Banday, A.J., Barreiro, R.B., et al. (2013) Planck 2013 Results. I. Overview of Products and Scientific Results. arXiv:1303.5062. [26] Francis, M. (2013) First Planck Results: The Universe Is Still Weird and Interesting. Ars Technica, 21 March 2013.
http://arstechnica.com/science/2013/03/first-planck-results-the-universe-
is-still-weird-and-interesting/ [27] First Observational Evidence of Dark Matter.
http://www.darkmatterphysics.com/Galactic-rotation-curves-of-spiral-galaxies.htm [28] Dark Matter. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 22 July 2014. [29] Cowen, R. (2014) Telescope Captures View of Gravitational Waves. Nature, 507, 281-283.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/507281a [30] Cowan, R. (2014) Big Bang Finding Challenged. Nature, 510, 20.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/510020a [31] Steinhardt, P. (2014) Big Bang Blunder Bursts the Multiverse Bubble. Nature, 510, 9.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/510009a