Contents


Preface

The current standard model of cosmology, also called the concordance cosmological model or the Lambda-C M model, assumes that the universe was created in the "Big Bang" from pure energy and is now composed of about 5% ordinary matter, 27% dark matter, and 68% dark energy. This cosmological model is based primarily on two theoretical models: (1) the standard model of particle physics, which describes the physics of the very small in terms of quantum mechanics, and (2) the general theory of relativity, which describes the physics of the very large in terms of classical physics. Both these theoretical models are considered to be incomplete in the sense that they do not provide any understanding of several empirical observations, such as the Big Bang, dark matter, dark energy, gravity, and matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe. In addition, the current standard model of cosmology makes several assumptions involving the homogeneous and isotropic nature of the universe and two unknown entities called dark matter and dark energy. The main aim of this book is to discuss these serious problems that

In the introductory Chapter 1, numerous dubious assumptions of the current standard model are discussed in some detail. The following Chapters 2–6 are divided into two main sections. Section 2 is devoted primarily to alternatives to the Big Bang scenario of the standard model based on modifications of the steady-state models that were popular prior to the discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation. Section 3 contains chapters that discuss modifications to the general theory of relativity. These include suggestions of alternative models that provide a generalization of the field equations of the general theory of relativity and a generalization of the equivalence principle to reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity.

> **Brian Albert Robson** Honorary Professor,

> > Canberra, Australia

Research School of Physics and Engineering,

The Australian National University,

threaten to undermine the current standard model of cosmology.
