An Introduction to Mathematical Cosmology

by Jamal Nazrul Islam

This book is a concise introduction to the mathematical aspects of the origin, structure and evolution of the universe. The book begins with a brief overview of observational cosmology and general relativity, and goes on to discuss Friedmann models, the Hubble constant, models with a cosmological constant, singularities, the early universe, inflation and quantum cosmology. This book is rounded off with a chapter on the distant future of the universe. The book is written as a textbook for advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students. It will also be of interest to cosmologists, astrophysicists, astronomers, applied mathematicians and mathematical physicists.

Genres: Physics, Mathematics

202 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Jamal Nazrul Islam (Bengali : জামাল নজরুল ইসলাম) was a Bangladeshi mathematical physicist and cosmologist. He was a professor at University of Chittagong. He also served as the director of the Research Center for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (RCMPS) at the University of Chittagong.

He received a BSc degree from St. Xavier's College at the University of Calcutta. In 1959, he got his Honors in Functional Mathematics and Theoretical Physics from Cambridge University. He completed his Masters in 1960. A student of the Trinity College, he finished the Mathematical Tripos. Islam obtained his PhD in applied mathematics and theoretical physics from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1968, followed by a DSc in 1982.

Islam worked in the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy (later amalgamated to Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge) from 1967 until 1971. Later he worked as a researcher in California Institute of Technology and University of Washington. During 1973-1974 he served as the faculty of Applied Mathematics of King's College London. In 1978 he then joined the faculty of City University London until he returned to Chittagong in 1984. Until his death he served as Professor Emeritus at the University of Chittagong.

His research areas include Applied Mathematics, Theoretical Physics, Mathematical Physics, theory of Gravitation, General Relativity, Mathematical Cosmology and Quantum Field Theory. Islam authored/coauthored/edited more than 50 scientific articles, books and some popular articles published in various scientific journals. Besides this he has also written books in Bengali. Particularly noteworthy are Black Hole, published from the Bangla Academy, “The Mother Tongue, Scientific Research and other Articles” and “Art, Literature and Society”. The latter two are compilations.