Harvard University Department of Astronomy

The Cosmological Constant Kinematics I Basic Idea: Expansion of the universe and its effects: A simple physical analogy, some information on the Hubble constant and other quantities, and the effect of this expansion on the contents of the universe. Energy analogy: kinetic (expansion rate) potential (total mass) total energy (curvature, 3 types) Measurements of expansion rate (Hubble constant), mass density, curvature. Note that older texts equate curvature with matter density not equal to one, rather than total energy density (including lambda and any other odd sorts of energy) not equal to one. scale factor a, effect of expansion on the contents of the universe non-relativistic matter radiation redshift radiation domination curvature other things, e.g. tangled strings lambda Some references. Home Syllabus References Lecture References Useful Links Contact Info Back to Harvard University Department of Astronomy Academics. Back to Harvard University Department of Astronomy Courses.