The Vindication of the Big Bang: Breakthroughs and Barriers (Artech House Materials Science)

Is the Big Bang Theory more viable today than it was at its inception 70 years ago? The prolific and ever-curious author, Barry Parker, confronts the most controversial and significant debate of modern cosmology. Big Bang bashing has been indulged in since the birth of this magnificent theory. But is it justified? In an impartial and balanced presentation, Parker introduces the distinctive personalities responsible for the breakthroughs and advances in this burgeoning field. Front Matter....Pages i-xii Discovery of the Expansion of the Universe....Pages 17-47 Formulation of the Big Bang Model....Pages 49-67 Overview of the Big Bang and Expanding Universe....Pages 69-88 Successes of the Big Bang Model....Pages 89-111 Discovery of the Cosmic Background Radiation....Pages 113-127 COBE: The Cosmic Background Satellite....Pages 129-157 Difficulties of the Big Bang Model....Pages 159-176 Bubbles, Voids, and Walls....Pages 177-208 Explaining the Large-Scale Structure....Pages 209-232 Overcoming Some of the Problems....Pages 233-257 The Troublesome Singularity....Pages 259-279 The Redshift Controversy....Pages 281-300 A Consensus of Opinions: Is the Big Bang on the Way Out?....Pages 301-312 If Not the Big Bang—What?....Pages 313-323 Plasma Cosmology....Pages 325-336 Epilogue....Pages 337-339 Back Matter....Pages 341-361 Written for the layperson, this readable account of the big bang theory explains complex topics of astrophysics and cosmology in plain terms without mathematics. The author discusses the discovery of the expansion of the universe, successes of the big bang model, discovery of cosmic background radiation, singularities, the redshift controversy, and plasma cosmology. Black and white photos included. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.