Physics 411: General Relativity |
General Relativity is the theory of gravity developed in the early 20th century. It is often said to be the most beautiful physical theory constructed and its consequences are still being tested today. This class is an introduction to this topic and its application to understanding cosmological phenomena. Topics that will be covered include black holes, early universe cosmology, gravitational waves, and Hawking radiation.
The course materials are provided below. The textbook for the class is Sean Carroll's "Spacetime and Geometry". This book is available from the Reed bookstore and at online booksellers. A link to Carroll's website for the book is provided below.
Link to Carroll's lecture notes
Final Exam
The final exam is due at 10 am on December 12 to my office or the box outside my office door.
More details are provided in the pdf for the exam.
FINAL EXAM
Lecture Notes
August 27 Introduction and review of Newtonian gravity
August 29 Special Relativity
August 31 Special Relativity
September 5 Manifolds
September 10 Manifolds
September 12 EM with Forms
September 17 Curvature
September 19 Curvature
September 24 Symmetries
September 26 Gravitation
October 1 Einstein's Equations
October 3 Schwarzschild
October 8 More Schwarzschild
October 10 Even More Schwarzschild
October 22 Black Holes
October 24 Charged Black Holes
October 29 Rotating Black Holes
October 31 Gravitational Radiation
November 5 More Gravitational Radiation
November 7 Detection of Gravitational Waves
November 12 Cosmology
November 14 Friedmann Equations
November 19 Our Universe
November 21 Quantum Mechanics and Gravity
November 26 Black Hole Thermodynamics
Homework Assignments
Homework 1 Due September 7
Solutions
Homework 2 Due September 14
Solutions
Homework 3 Due September 21
Solutions
Homework 4 Due September 28
Solutions
Homework 5 Due October 5
Solutions
Homework 6 Due October 12
Solutions
Homework 7 Due October 26
Solutions
Homework 8 Due November 2
Solutions
Homework 9 Due November 9
Solutions
Homework 10 Due November 16
Solutions
Example Final Presentation Topics
(1) AdS/CFT Correspondence
(2) Randall/Sundrum
(3) LIGO Neutron Star Binary
(4) Star Orbits about Sag A*
(5) 2+1 Dimensional Black Hole
(6) Event Horizon Firewalls
(7) Loop Quantum Gravity
(8) Event Horizon Telescope
(9) Mistaken Announcement of B-Modes in the CMB
(10) Gravitational Lensing
(11) Relativity in GPS
Talk Tips