AST 2060HF General Relativity I

AST 2060HF / PHY 1483F Introduction to General Relativity
Charles C. Dyer
Dept. of Astronomy and Astrophysics
University of Toronto

This course provides an introduction to General Relativity, including a brief review of Special Relativity and some required mathematical topics. An introduction to astrophysical applications, such as black holes and cosmology, will be discussed in the later part of the course.

The course concentrates on the basis for Einstein’s theory through an introduction to differential geometry and curvature, tensor analysis, and related topics, followed by the application of these ideas to gravitational physics, to lead to General Relativity. The theory is then studied from a number of points of view, starting from the simple exact solutions of Schwarzschild, Kerr, etc. to the study of various classes of solutions, with particular attention to the mathematical and physical basis for their existence. This involves significant emphasis on the groups of symmetries and conformal symmetries that underlie almost all the known solutions. There is some consideration of ‘alternate’ theories of gravity, but this has to be cursory, due to time limitations.

There is no specific text required for this course, but a reading list and references to specific texts and journal articles are referred to as appropriate. Refer to the course web-site for a listing of other relevant texts.

A set of notes is provided on the course web-site, in PDF and PostScript formats. These are meant to support the material presented in lectures, but they do not cover all material presented in lectures, and thus do not define the full extent of the curriculum of the course. Further, they are likely to change from time-to-time as the course progresses, and it is likely that new notes will be added as well. While reading notes ahead of lectures may be useful, do not depend solely on the notes for the content, or developing your understanding of the actual course material. Participation in classes is important for a full understanding. Access to the notes requires a password, which will provided in class and on the Blackboard site.

Evaluation will be as follows: (This remains sub ject to final confirmation)
1. Problem Set 1, worth 15%, tentatively due in second week of October.
2. Written in-class mid-term exam, 2 hours duration, worth 25%
3. Problem Set 2, worth 25%, tentatively due in third week of November.
4. Oral final exam in December exam period, worth 35%, of one half hour duration.

Course web-site: odarragh.astro.utoronto.ca/GR-I.html. Course announcements will also be made on the course Blackboard site relevant to the course code for which you are registered, at portal.utoronto.ca