Phase transitions in the early universe: theory and observations : Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Phase Transitions in the Early Universe: Theory and Observations Erice, Sicily, Italy 6-17 December 2000

A fundamental, profound review of the key issues relating to the early universe and the physical processes that occurred in it. The interplay between cosmic microwave background radiation, large scale structure, and the dark matter problem are stressed, with a central focus on the crucial issue of the phase transitions in the early universe and their observable consequences: baryon symmetry, baryogenesis and cosmological fluctuations. There is an interplay between cosmology, statistical physics and particle physics in studying these problems, both at the theoretical and the experimental / observational levels. Special contributions are devoted to primordial and astrophysical black holes and to high energy cosmic rays and neutrino astrophysics. There is also a special section devoted to the International Space Station and its scientific utilization. Content: Front Matter....Pages i-xvi Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Phase transitions in the early and the present Universe: from the big bang to heavy ion collisions....Pages 3-44 Tsunami Inflation: Selfconsistent Quantum Dynamics....Pages 45-80 String Driven Cosmology and its Predictions....Pages 81-102 Quark-Gluon Plasma in the Early Universe....Pages 103-121 Finite Temperature and Non-Equilibrium Phase Transitions in the Early Universe....Pages 123-143 Phase Transitions during Inflation and Chemically Inhomogeneous Universe....Pages 145-160 Chaos in Cosmology....Pages 161-180 Front Matter....Pages 181-181 The Physics of CMB Anisotropies....Pages 183-205 The Cosmic Microwave Background after Maxima and Boomerang....Pages 207-214 Front Matter....Pages 215-215 Large—scale Structure, Theory and Statistics....Pages 217-247 Measuring Global Curvature and Cosmic Acceleration with Supernovae....Pages 249-266 Recent Developments in the Search for Baryonic Dark Matter....Pages 267-283 Front Matter....Pages 285-285 Complexity in Cosmology....Pages 287-302 Statistical Mechanics of the Self-Gravitating Gas. Thermodynamic Limit, Phase Diagrams Local Physical Magnitudes and Fractal Structures....Pages 303-372 Phase Transitions and Galaxy Clustering....Pages 373-387 The Ultimate Phase Transition....Pages 389-395 Front Matter....Pages 397-397 Black Holes: Scatterers, Absorbers and Emitters of Particles....Pages 399-416 Black Hole Astrophysics....Pages 417-428 Black Hole Emission in String Theory and the String Phase of Black Holes....Pages 429-450 Primordial Black Holes as a Probe of the Early Universe and a Varying Gravitational Constant....Pages 451-469 Front Matter....Pages 397-397 Primordial Black Holes and Hot Matter....Pages 471-481 Front Matter....Pages 483-483 The Curious Adventure of the Ultrahigh Energy Cosmic Rays....Pages 485-503 Challenges of the Highest Energy Events Observed....Pages 505-522 In What Sense is the Energy Spectrum a Universal Property of Extreme Energy Cosmic Rays....Pages 523-526 Physics of Charged Cosmic Rays with the AMS Experiment....Pages 527-542 Cosmic Magnetic Fields....Pages 543-557 Front Matter....Pages 559-559 Space Science Utilization of the International Space Station....Pages 561-583 The Italian Role on the International Space Station....Pages 585-591 Back Matter....Pages 593-593 Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute, held in Erice, Sicily, Italy, 6-17 December 2000