Recent years have seen a symbiosis of the fields of elementary particle physics and the astrophysics of the early universe. This text presents the background of the subjects and the latest developments at a level suitable for the average physics undergraduate. After introductory chapters in elementary particles and their interactions and role in the expanding universe, the problems and challenges of cosmological asymmetries, dark matter and dark energy are presented, followed by chapters on the growth of cosmic structure, on high energy cosmic rays and on particle processes in stars. A balance is maintained between theory and experiment and the text supplemented with over 100 problems, together with answers and model solutions.

Author Biography

D.H.Perkins, PhD from Imperial College in 1948, Lecturer and Reader in Physics at Bristol University 1952-66, Professor of Elementary Particle Physics at Oxford University 1966-93. Awarded the following medals: Guthrie medal (Institute of Physics), Holweck medal (Societe francaise de physique), Royal medal (Royal Society of London) and the High Energy Physics prize (European Physical Society).