What have we learned from observational cosmology ? - IN2P3 - Institut national de physique nucléaire et de physique des particules Accéder directement au contenu
Article Dans Une Revue Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics Année : 2013

What have we learned from observational cosmology ?

J.-C. Hamilton

Résumé

We review the observational foundations of the $\Lambda$CDM model, considered by most cosmologists as the standard model of cosmology. The Cosmological Principle, a key assumption of the model is shown to be verified with increasing accuracy. The fact that the Universe seems to have expanded from and hot and dense past is supported by many independent probes (galaxy redshifts, Cosmic Microwave Background, Big-Bang Nucleosynthesis and reionization). The explosion of detailed observations in the last few decades has allowed for precise measurements of the cosmological parameters within Friedman-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker cosmologies leading to the $\Lambda$CDM model: an apparently flat Universe, dominated by a cosmological constant, whose matter component is dominantly dark. We describe and discuss the various observational probes that led to this conclusion and conclude that the $\Lambda$CDM model, although leaving a number of open questions concerning the deep nature of the constituents of the Universe, provides the best theoretical framework to explain the observations.

Dates et versions

in2p3-00823684 , version 1 (17-05-2013)

Identifiants

Citer

J.-C. Hamilton. What have we learned from observational cosmology ?. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics, 2013, ⟨10.1016/j.shpsb.2013.02.002⟩. ⟨in2p3-00823684⟩
87 Consultations
0 Téléchargements

Altmetric

Partager

Gmail Facebook X LinkedIn More