History of cosmology

Objective

This course is intended for anyone who wishes to increase their general knowledge of astronomy and astrophysics, but does not have the usual mathematical and/or physical background. This course illustrates, in a simplified but no less correct way, the results of the scientific method applied to the study of the Universe, the Universe and the Universe itself;Universe, from Greek antiquity to the recent progress of cosmology, the fruit of the confrontation between theory and observation. The presentation of basic notions of astronomy and astrophysics makes it possible to understand the description of the real progress achieved thanks to the Big Bang theory and to learn about the fundamental questions that remain to be answered.

Content

ANTIQUITY: Illustration of some ancient cosmologies, closer to religious myths than to science. Explanations of the first scientific victories (the measurement of the radius of the Earth, for example).

RENAISSANCE: Compétition between the ge&eaccentric (Aristotle, Ptolémée) and héliocentric (Copernicus, Brahe and Kepler) systems.

MODERN TIMES: Advènement of the why and no longer just the how: Galilée and Newton. Introduction of Newtonian mechanics: Halley's comet.

NINETEENTH CENTURY: Discovery of new planets in the Solar System: Herschel, Le Verrier and Adams. Advancement of the science of celestial mechanics during the 19th century. The first catalogues of stars: Messier and Herschel père et fils. Observation of the galactic nébuleuse and counts of néwebs.

XXth century: Distinction between nébuleuses and galaxies by Hubble. Nuclear reactions, stellar nuclear synthesis or transmutation of electrons, Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. Formation and evolution of webs. Development of exosolar planets. Formation of planets. Does life exist elsewhere than on Earth? Galaxy counts. Formation and evolution of galaxies. Einstein's general relativity to describe the Universe as a whole. The founding fathers of the Big Bang theory: Lema, Friedmann and Gamow. Observational evidence for the Big Bang: expansion of the Universe, cosmological nuclear synthesis, cosmological background radiation. The enigmatic questions of the nature of dark matter and dark energy.

Objective

The seminar enables student to delve deeper into a particular theme linked é à the history of cosmology. Sensitive à to the interdisciplinary dimension of the (Sciences)² programme, the History of Cosmology seminar offers the opportunity éalise a piece of research à the intersection of different but complementary methods and approaches.

Content

The theme of the seminar is as open as its method, as long as the latter are well defined.

So, for example, students can work on current or historical scientific topics: mithic astronomy, the names of celestial objects or the role of astronomy in navigation; They can also focus their research on techniques, know-how and instruments, for example: spectrometry (concepts, themes, instruments), the functions, successes and failures of Herschel's telescope or the genesis and structures of celestial maps. The work can also focus on historical figures or institutions such as the Royal Astronomical Society, Einstein, Galileo, the relationship between Brahe and Kepler, and so on. Of course, astronomical phenomena in their own right are also subjects for study: astrophysics, the discovery of Neptune, black holes, the aurora borealis, and so on.Finally, it is most welcome to focus on philosophical or conceptual issues related to the history of cosmology, such as the issues involved in the Copernican revolution, and the genesis and functions of concepts such as the vacuum or the ether..

There are many approaches that can be be implemented for this work : genetic (historical, biographical), structural (scientific, technological), epistemological i.e. studying the genesis and structure of a scientific theory or a certain conceptuality), etc. In addition, it is possible to cross-reference several complementary methods.

Coursework: examination écrit
Tutorial : personal work