Cosmological Questions for the European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope

Abstract

The next decade promises an observational revolution which will change cosmology forever. The precise measurement of the angular anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background should specify to a few percent all of the parameters of the cosmological model which effect astrophysics. The growth of structure will then be determined (but not yet observed) until gravitational collapse becomes highly non-linear and stars, galaxies and active galactic nuclei (AGN) form. These processes are hard to model with basic physics because they are complex and allow a rich variety of expression. Instead observations will determine when the first stars and quasars formed, and how and when galaxies assembled. If we can reconcile the numerous contradictions which characterize the subject today, cosmology will become a mature subject, founded on the agreement between detailed, inclusive and realistic models, which make precise predictions, and the wealth of new data which will come from a wide variety of observations, at all wavelengths. This is an ambitious schedule, but nothing less is worthy of the outstanding capabilities of the 8 -- 10 m telescopes, the next generation space telescope, the opportunities at millimeterto sub-millimeter wavelengths and advanced computer modeling. The ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT) should play a major role in this revolution.