Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2015 - PHYS 881 G100

Special Topics I (3)

Class Number: 5135

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 8 – Dec 7, 2015: Mon, Wed, Fri, 4:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 11, 2015
    Fri, 7:00–10:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

COURSE DETAILS:

Introductory course in relativity and gravitational phenomena: review of special relativity and its incompatibility with gravitation, tensor analysis with applications to relativistic physics (electromagnetism, fluids etc), differential geometry, spacetime curvature and gravity, physics on curved manifolds, relativistic stellar physics, black holes, cosmology, other topics as time permits (see below).    

TOPICS:  
1)  Review of special relativity and its covariant formulation:
Lorentzian geometry, electromagnetism, continuum and particle mechanics.  

2)  (Pseudo) Riemannian geometry:
Geodesic motion, symmetries, physics in curved spaces.  

3)  Introduction to gravitation:
Principle of equivalence, Einstein equations, weak field approximations, Newtonian limit.  

4)  Stars:
General relativistic fluid and plasma dynamics, stellar structure and equilibrium, white dwarfs and neutron stars.  

5)  Black holes:
Stellar collapse, what's in there?, properties of systems with event horizons.  

6)  Cosmology:
Subspaces of constant curvature, Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker spacetime, history of the universe incl. inflation, physical constraints on cosmological models.
 
7) Specialized topics depending on amount of time available and interest of students:
Quantization issues, topology (eg. wormholes), warp-drives and time machines.

Grading

NOTES:

TBA

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Recommended textbooks:

1) Gravitaion and Spacetime, H. Ohanian and R. Ruffini, W. W. Norton and Co.
2) Classical Theory of Fields, 4th ed., L. Landau and E. Lifshitz, Butterworth/Heinmann Co.
3) Spacetime and Geometry: An Introduction to General Relativity, S Carroll, Addison-Wesley Co.
4) Gravitation and Cosmology: Principles and Applications of the General Theory of Relativity, S. Weinberg, Wiley and Sons.
5) Introduction to Relativity, W.D. McGlinn, John Hopkins University Press.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS