This work provides the current theory and observations behind the cosmological phenomenon of dark energy. The approach is comprehensive with rigorous mathematical theory and relevant astronomical observations discussed in context. The book treats the background and history starting with the new-found importance of Einstein's cosmological constant (proposed long ago) in dark energy formulation, as well as the frontiers of dark energy. The authors do not presuppose advanced knowledge of astronomy, and basic mathematical concepts used in modern cosmology are presented in a simple, but rigorous way. All this makes the book useful for both astronomers and physicists, and also for university students of physical sciences.

Autorentext

Gene Byrd, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, USA; Arthur D. Chernin, Moscow State University, Russia; Pekka Teerikorpi and Mauri Valtonen, University of Turku, Finland.

Zusammenfassung

"The book has been edited in an attractive form. Numerous drawings, diagrams, photos, tables, gray boxes containing additional information, and also sparse problems excellently supplement the main material. Many chapters of the book can be read independently of each other. The book is addressed to a variety of readers, from graduate students to academic researchers who are not necessarily well acquainted with astrophysics and General Relativity." Mathematical Reviews

"A very interesting and comprehensive book, clearly written by four authors who tackle one of the most intriguing issues of modern astrophysics, the concept of dark matter and dark energy based on theory and observations. It presents to a reader a whole spectrum of facts and descriptions starting from historical introductions on how the gravity and related phenomena were first understood to the latest state of the art in the knowledge of cosmology obtained both by theoretical and observational means. The considered subjects are clearly described and explained, supplemented by standard mathematical derivations that can easily be followed even by those who are not strict specialists in these fields. In other words, the book is smoothly readable and can serve as a textbook for students, a reference book for researcher but also as a book the non-specialists can easily learn from." Zentralblatt für Mathematik