Peter A. Becker, ST1 room 111, telephone 993-3619
Text: ``Gravitation and Cosmology'' by Steven Weinberg.
Additional printed material will be provided by the instructor.
This course provides an overview of the mathematical and physical aspects of the theory of General Relativity. An understanding of mathematics through partial differential equations is required. The specific topics to be discussed are listed below:
Lecture 1: Principles of special
relativity; time dilation; length contraction.
Lecture 2: Lorentz transformations;
relativity of simultaneity;
transformation of radiation fields.
Lecture 3: Four-vectors; transformation
properties; energy and momentum.
Lecture 4: Tensors in special relativity;
transformation properties.
Lecture 5: Tensor calculus;
covariance of electromagnetic phenomena.
Lecture 6: Principle of equivalence;
tensors in general relativity;
metric tensor; affine connection.
Lecture 7: Principle of general
covariance; covariant differentiation.
Lecture 8: Riemann curvature tensor;
Bianchi identities.
Lecture 9: Derivation of Einstein's field
equations.
Lecture 10: Schwarzschild solution for stationary black
holes.
Lecture 11: Kerr solution for rotating black holes.
Lecture 12: Relativistic cosmology.
Lecture 13: Cosmological models.
Grades will be based on two exams (25% each), one project (20%), weekly homework (20%), and class participation (10%).
