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EDITORIAL INFORMATION

Ever since Einstein devised his theory on graviation, cosmologists have succeeded in formulating a consistent picture of how the universe has been evolving from about one second after the big bang. But whilst they agree that the universe is evolving, they disagree when they discuss the question of the very beginning and end of this evolution, or even whether there is a beginning and an end at all. Taking views and opinions from 38 international experts, this latest volume in the Dahlem series seeks to move the arguments forward and distinguish between established results and unproven hypothesis. The Evolution of the Universe will provoke debate, challenge and stimulate further research in this fascinanting and rapidly expanding branch of science.

(Extracted from the press release).

GENERAL TABLE OF CONTENTS

-Contents.

-The Dahlem Konferenzen.

-List of Participants with Files of Research.

-1. Introduction.

-2. Is There a Consistent Standard Model?

-3. The Nature of Dark Matter.

-4. The Age of the Universe.

-5. Group Report: What Do We Know about Global Properties of the Universe?

-6. Initial Conditions and Inflationary Models.

-7. What Can Fundamental Theories Say about the Origin of the Universe?

-8. Cosmological Constraints on Particle Physics.

-9. Group Report: Are We Making Progress in Relating Cosmology and Fundamental Theories?

-10. Structure Formation via Gravitational Instabilities.

-11. Cosmological Structure Formation with Topological Defects.

-12. Implications of the Background Radiation for Cosmic Structure Formation.

-13. Group Discussion: Formation of Large-scale Structure.

-14. Hierarchical Clustering and Galaxy Formation.

-15. The Influence of Environmental Effects on Galaxy Formation.

-16. Thermal History of the Intergalactic Medium.

-17. Group Report: How Did Galaxies Form?

-Author Index.

-Subject Index.

OUR REVIEW

Cosmology (in particular the evolution of the Universe) is one of the most intriguing and at the same time interesting sides of current astronomic research.

This book gathers the papers by almost 40 experts on the matter, whose contributions were divulged thanks to the famous Dahlem Konferenzen. This institution, associated to the Freie Universität Berlin since 1990, periodically organizes its Dahlem Workshops, where noteworthy scientic issues are dealt with, as they are being discussed among numerous specialists. Each workshop is organised around four key questions, approached by four discussion groups integrated by about ten participants each.

The result of these discussions, that usually last for a week, is published in the form of articles, and these have been revised by all the members of the Workshop and therefore do not correspond to unconnected individual initiatives.

Between September 10 and 15, 1995, 40 scientists met to speak about the evolution of the universe. Divided into four groups, they tried to respond to the following questions: What do we really know about the global characteristics of the universe? Are we advancing when relating cosmology and the fundamental theories? What do we know about the formation of large-scale structures? What connection is there between the origin of the galaxies and the function of the large-scale structures? This book provides us with the results of this meeting.