Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2024 - PHYS 890 G100

General Relativity and Gravitation (3)

Class Number: 1927

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Mon, Wed, 4:30–5:50 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Oct 15, 2024: Tue, 4:30–5:50 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 17, 2024
    Tue, 7:00–10:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Gravity and space-time, Einstein's equations and their solution, tests of relativity, black holes, stellar equilibrium and collapse, and cosmological models. Students with credit for PHYS 490 may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

Course Description:

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, relativistic 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 andneutron 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 theuniverse 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

  • Assignments 20%
  • Project 35%
  • Final Examination 45%

NOTES:

*This marking scheme is tentative and subject to change.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Recommended:

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

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

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:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/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

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.