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General Relativity
* Special relativity (a brief overview) * Equivalence principle* Riemannian differential geometry (a major chunk of the course)* Covariant electrodynamics – Maxwell equations with differential forms* Einstein’s equations * Weak-field limit of G.R.* Variational principle in curved spacetimes* Symmetry principles – Killing vectors* Spherical symmetry (Schwarzschild solution: stars, black holes)* Classical tests of G.R. (deflection of light, planetary orbits etc)
Students will be able to understand and apply the concepts and calculational techniques given in the course description.
Subject to approval of the Head of Department.
David Wiltshire
Assignments (4 @ 7% each): 28%Participation in problems classes: 7%Final exam: 65%
S.M. Carroll; Spacetime and geometry: An introduction to general relativity ; Addison-Wesley, 2004.
Other useful references:General relativity at introductory level:R. d’Inverno, Introducing Einstein’s relativity, (Oxford Univ. Press, 1992)J.B. Hartle, Gravity: An introduction to Einstein’s general relativity, (Addison-Wesley,2003)B.F. Schutz, A first course in general relativity, (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1985).J. Foster and J.D. Nightingale, A short course in general relativity, 2nd ed., (Longman,London, 1995).H.C. Ohanian and R. Ruffini, Gravitation and spacetime, 2nd ed., (W.W. Norton and Co.,New York, 1994).H. Stephani, General relativity, (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1982).General relativity with greater depth / more topics:R.M. Wald, General relativity, (Univ. of Chicago Press, 1984).S.W. Hawking and G.F.R. Ellis, The large scale structure of spacetime, (Cambridge Univ.Press, 1973).C.W. Misner, K.S. Thorne and J.A. Wheeler, Gravitation, (W.H. Freeman, San Francisco,1973).S. Weinberg, Gravitation and Cosmology: Principles and applications of the general theoryof relativity, (Wiley, New York, 1972).Related topics:B.F. Schutz, Geometrical methods of mathematical physics, (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1980).N.A. Doughty, Lagrangian interaction: An introduction to relativistic symmetry in electrodynamicsand gravitation, (Addison Wesley, Sydney, 1990).
This course introduces the foundations of general relativity - Einstein's theory of gravitational interactions - with applications. We begin with a physical motivation for general relativity in terms of the equivalence principle and tidal forces. We then develop the mathematical framework of differential geometry needed for working in curved space-time. Equipped with the machinery of connections, covariant derivatives, and the Riemann curvature tensor we will investigate the geodesic equations and Einstein's equations, which describe the dynamic relationship between matter and geometry. Applications will include the determination of orbits near stars and black holes, and the bending of light.
Domestic fee $909.00
International Postgraduate fees
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Physics and Astronomy .