Most of time, everything is homogeneous and isotropic, until it’s not…
TIPI strongly believe General Relativity should be a prerequisite for Cosmology. That being said, Tong’s notes do a brilliant job introducing the subject without its need. But, in no way, you can consider your Cosmology education complete by doing it just the Newtonian way. So, while Tong might be an excellent introduction, make sure you follow it up eventually by picking up Baumann’s textbook / or supplement with some of the nice video lectures that are available these days on Youtube.
📍 PRIMARY REFERENCES
📔 Lecture notes on Cosmology - David Tong 🌟
Introductory Ideal for Beginners
Honestly, these lecture notes are the closest thing to a Holy Grail if you’re starting from scratch. If you’ve never touched the topic before, this is the place to begin. Like all of his stuff, this set is brilliant — clear, elegant, and packed with intuition. The best part? You don’t need to go anywhere near General Relativity; it’s all done in good old Newtonian physics. The way he builds intuition is just chef’s kiss — things click in a way they usually don’t in textbooks. They also work really well as reference notes if you’re following a formal course. Just don’t expect worked examples — they’re lecture notes, after all. And fair warning: if it’s your first time seeing this material, it might take a bit of patience to appreciate how the results fit together. But once you do, it’s an absolute delight.
TIPAttempt the Problem sets, they are not that hard for these set of notes.
📖 Cosmology - Daniel Baumann 💫
Introductory State-of-the-art
No matter which Cosmology course you’re taking, these notes are your go-to sidekick. There’s even an appendix on General Relativity — but only the parts you actually need for cosmology, which is a blessing.
What really makes these notes shine are the details: step-by-step calculations, tons of clear diagrams, and those little boxed sections that are way more important than they look at first glance (seriously, don’t skip them).
And get this — the notes come with full lecture “scripts,” which are basically long summaries of each class. They’re perfect for revising or piecing together what you might’ve missed. Honestly, it feels like having the cheat code for your cosmology course.
UpdateThe notes have been converted into a book in 2024
📖 Intro to Cosmology - Barbara Ryden
Introductory Ideal for Beginners
Stumbled upon this gem post my Cosmology coursework, though I’d heard it mentioned a few times before. While I initially stuck with Dodelson, I’ve gotta say, this one is a superior first read for newbies to the subject. It takes you on an excellent linear journey, extensively covering all the crucial topics. Plus, it pairs up perfectly with Baumann’s lecture notes. If you’re diving into Cosmology, this book is like your trusty guidebook – a must-read!
📖 Modern Cosmology - Dodelson
Intermediate Unique
Meet the maestro in the field! Every comment, no matter how tiny, is a nugget of wisdom in this book. If there’s a topic giving you a headache, this book is your go-to guru. The sections on Boltzmann equations (3 and 4) and Inflation (chapter 6) are pure gold – definitely worth a deep dive.
📍 ADVANCED REFERENCES
📖 The Early Universe - Kolb and Turner
Advanced Old-is-gold