COSMIC PRIMER A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO COSMOLOGY

Cosmology deals with the ultimate mysteries of our universe its origin, evolution and eventual fate. What is the origin of the universe? How has it evolved over time? What is our place in the universe? Cosmology is a vast and fascinating subject, and questions like these have captivated people for centuries. The term Cosmology conjures excitement, but also the concern that such a topic is bound to be hard to comprehend. I am happy to introduce to you this book, a primer on Cosmology, which provides a comprehensive discussion on the topic, in a very clear and accessible style. It is suitable for readers with a variety of backgrounds. Whether you are a student, a teacher, or simply someone who is curious about the universe, this book will give you a fascinating view about cosmology. It covers all the major topics in the field, starting from ancient astronomy to the Big Bang theory, the formation of galaxies and stars, cosmic structures and cosmological modelling, and the elusive mysteries in the field such as dark matter and energy. The authors are remarkable in their passion towards Cosmology and their knowledge of the subject. Pritam Dutta, working with Dr. Shibesh, is a phenomenal researcher, possessing a passionate and expert knowledge of a subject as complex as cosmology. Dr. Shibesh Kumar Jas Pacif, as well as being a professor of Cosmology is an active science communicator. As an astronomer myself with many years of experience of working at NASA as well as at the educational organization STEM & Space in India, I have had the pleasure of being associated with his passion for science outreach. He tirelessly strives to engage the scientific curiosity of students. The two authors have collaborated to siphon their knowledge of this complex subject into this comprehensive book written in a very engaging style. In recent decades, cosmology has made incredible progress. This book describes the evolution of cosmology interweaving it with advances in observational astronomy and theoretical physics, which has led us to a much better understanding of the universe. I have had the privilege to be associated with NASA’s Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) project which confirmed the presence of the Cosmic microwave background. Such notable milestones which have observed and confirmed major theoretical conjectures are highlighted in this book – such as Gravitational waves, exoplanets, James Webb Space telescope’s achievements, experiments such as Large Underground Xenon (LUX), Cryogenic Dark Matter Search and the Dark Energy Survey (DES) which will try to unravel the mysteries of Dark matter and Dark energy. As you read this book, you will encounter many thoughts about the universe. Cosmology is a rapidly evolving field, and new discoveries are being made all the time. You may find answers to some of the questions you have about the universe or it may trigger your curiosity further. Cosmology is a journey of exploration and discovery, and I hope that this book will inspire you to delve deep into this amazing subject.