Course syllabus adopted 2021-02-26 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).
Overview
- Swedish nameGravitation och kosmologi
- CodeFFM071
- Credits7.5 Credits
- OwnerMPPHS
- Education cycleSecond-cycle
- Main field of studyEngineering Physics
- DepartmentPHYSICS
- GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail
Course round 1
- Teaching language English
- Application code 85120
- Block schedule
- Open for exchange studentsYes
Credit distribution
Module | Sp1 | Sp2 | Sp3 | Sp4 | Summer | Not Sp | Examination dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0101 Examination 7.5 c Grading: TH | 7.5 c |
In programmes
Examiner
Riccardo Catena- Professor, Subatomic, High Energy and Plasma Physics, Physics
Eligibility
General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.
Specific entry requirements
English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.
Course specific prerequisites
Newtonian mechanics, linear algebra, special theory of relativity, electromagnetic field theory.
Aim
Einstein formulated the theory of general relativity as a theory for gravity in 1915. It has since then been verified with increasing precision, and is by now established as the correct theory of gravitation. The theory can be used to analyze the evolution of our universe, and has made astounding predictions of new physics, such as black holes and gravitational radiation. The course gives an introduction to the theory of general relativity, including the mathematical formalism underlying it as well as its physical implications. The purpose of the course is to provide the students with a working knowledge of the basic concepts of general relativity, ensuring that after completion of the course they are well equipped to take on more advanced topics, including the study of research articles in the field.Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)
- understand Einstein's principle of equivalence. - have an understanding and a working knowledge of the mathematical description of curved spaces and spacetimes. - understand the how the presence of matter and energy affects the geometry of spacetime. - be able to understand and use the mathematical formalism of tensors in order to describe physics in a coordinate-independent way. - understand Einstein's equations, and describe the basic steps for how to solve them. - be able to derive Einstein's equations from an action principle, and explain how this action principle can be used to couple the theory to other physical theories, such as electrodynamics. - be able to study and deal with the topics of gravitational radiation, black holes, symmetric spaces and models for cosmology. The student is expected to demonstrate, during and after the course, a knowledge of the material covered in the course, and an ability to apply advanced mathematical methods to analytical calculations and advanced problem-solving in the subject.Content
- Brief history of the subject. - Basics of special relativity. - The principle of equivalence and gravitational forces. - Tensor analysis and the principle of general covariance. - Gravitational effects in particle mechanics and electrodynamics. - Curvature of spacetime. - Einstein's field equations. - The Schwarzschild solution and black holes. - Gravitational radiation. - The mathematics of symmetric spaces. - Standard model for cosmology and the evolution of the universe.Organisation
- Lectures
Literature
(1) S Weinberg: Gravitation and Cosmology: Principles and Applications of the General Theory of Relativity. John Wiley & Sons Inc. 1972.(2) Lecture Notes on General Relativity by Sean Carroll (available at http://arxiv.org/pdf/gr-qc/9712019v1.pdf)
Examination including compulsory elements
- The course is concluded with an oral examination (mandatory, weight 60% in final grade)
The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.