Introduction to Baryo- and Leptogenesis

Abstract

Course presented at the ITEP School 2005. These notes aim at an introductory presentation, reviewing in a not-too-technical way the fundamental concepts involved in the baryo/leptogenesis search for the origin of the current excess of matter over antimatter. Although the title of the course was “leptogenesis”, it starts with reviewing the standard approach through direct baryogenesis, and later explains why leptogenesis is now preferred. These notes do not aim at being exhaustive, and numerous alternatives to the generation of the baryon number of the universe are not covered.