General Relativity

Catalog description

This is an advanced graduate course that presents, develops, and analyzes the foundations of Einstein's theory of General Relativity. Exploring the fundamentals of the force of gravity, with emphasis on modern perspectives, we will explore spacetime and the value of the predictions of the theory developed by Albert Einstein. Topics covered in the first half of the course include modern applied differential geometry, tensor analysis, curved spacetime, curvature, the Principle of Equivalence, Classical Field Theory, and the stress-energy tensor, as well as the foundations of General Relativity and derivation of Einstein’s equation from fundamental action principles. The second half of the course explores the physical consequences, applications, and experimental tests of Einstein's theory in the context of Astrophysics and Cosmology: black holes, neutron stars, and Solar System tests of gravitation. Students will develop comprehensive, deep, and overarching knowledge of the theory of relativity at the frontier of the discipline. This class lays the foundations for further investigations in black hole theory, quantum gravity, and cosmology.