The Universe Before the Big Bang Cosmology and String Theory.pdf

Astronomers’ Universe
Other titles in this series
Origins: How the s, Stars, Galaxies,
and the Universe Began
Steve Eales
Calibrating the Cosmos: How Cosmology Explains Our
Big Bang Universe
Frank Levin
The Future of the Universe
A. J. Meadows
It’s Only Rocket Science: An Introduction to Space
Enthusiasts (ing)
Lucy Rogers
Rejuvenating the Sun and Avoiding Other
Global Catastrophes
Martin Beech
Maurizio Gasperini
The Universe Before
the Big Bang
Cosmology and String Theory
123
Prof. Maurizio Gasperini
UniversitadiBari`
Dipartimento di Fisica
Via G. Amendola, 173
70126 Bari
Italy
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ISBN: 978-3-540-74419-1 e-ISBN: 978-3-540-74421-4
Library of Congress Control Number: 2008927472
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987654321
Preface
The idea of preparing this book grew out of a series of lectures and
seminars held over several years in various Italian universities. The
interest aroused in the students – and in colleagues not specialized
in the field, who were also present at the talks – led me to the idea
of