Ph 236: General Relativity

For the previous year (2011-12), see here.

The course will serve as an introduction to general relativity. Links provided below are to the relevant lecture notes.

FIRST TERM: The mathematical foundations and formulation of GR, and some simple examples.

Special relativity in the language of tensors
- Vectors, tensors, and forms in flat spacetime (2012 Oct 01)
- Coordinate bases, tensor algebra in flat spacetime, and special relativity (2012 Oct 03)
- Tensor calculus and electrodynamics in flat spacetime (2012 Oct 08)
- Stress-energy tensor and conservation of energy and momentum (2012 Oct 10)
Calculus in curved spacetime
- Vectors and tensor calculus in curved spacetime (2012 Oct 15)
  - Supplement (examples)
- Geodesics and curvature (2012 Oct 24)
General relativity
- Gravity gradients, the Ricci tensor, and the field equations (2012 Oct 31)
Linearized gravity and its applications
- Linearized gravity (2012 Nov 05)
- Weak field tests of GR: the gravitational redshift, deflection of light, and Shapiro delay (2012 Nov 07)
- External fields and generation of gravitational waves (2012 Nov 12)
- Asymptotically flat spacetimes and gravitational energy (2012 Nov 19)
- Binary evolution and radiation reaction (2012 Nov 26)
Cosmology
- Relativistic cosmology (2012 Nov 28)
- Global structure, acceleration, and the initial singularity (2012 Dec 05)

SECOND TERM: Relativistic stars, black holes, numerical methods, and advanced topics.
[With Yanbei Chen]

Instructor: Chris Hirata (Cahill #272; chirata@tapir.caltech.edu)
TAs: Nicholas Hunter-Jones (nhunterj@caltech.edu) and Abhilash Mishra (abhilash@astro.caltech.edu)
Location: Lauritsen #269, Monday & Wednesday 1:00-2:30 PM
Prerequisites: Standard undergraduate coursework on classical mechanics, electrodynamics, and special relativity.
Textbook: Misner, Thorne, and Wheeler, Gravitation (1973). This will be supplemented with more recent material as appropriate.
Homework: Due Wednesdays.
Office Hours: Monday 5-6pm in 4th floor lounge, Lauritsen; and Tuesday 5-6pm in the TAPIR interaction room, 3rd floor, Cahill.
Grading: 80% weekly homeworks, 20% final exam. A "passing" grade is ≥50%.

First Term:

The exam is to be completed in 2.5 hours. It is due Wednesday 12/12/12 to Chris Hirata's mailbox on the 3rd floor of Cahill.
This is a closed-book, open-notes exam. You may consult the course lecture notes, your own notes taken in class or elsewhere, and your returned homeworks and solution sets. You may not consult other references (papers, books, Internet sites other than the notes posted here, your classmates).
You should have the course notes available when you take the exam since they will be helpful.
When you are ready to start the exam, download the PDF ___here___.