Astronomy 598 Topics in Theoretical Astrophysics (General Relativity for Computational Scientists)

Spring 2018: Fri 11:00-12:20 Physics/Astronomy Building A214

Instructor: Pramod Gupta
psgupta *at* astro. washington. edu

Office hours: after class, or email.

Web-site: http://vpl.astro.washington.edu/users/psgupta/astro598relativity.html

Syllabus:
This course will use a computational approach to introduce General Relativity.

(1) Vectors (contravariant and covariant components)

(2) Tensor Algebra

(3) Metric tensor

(4) Raising and Lowering indices

(5) Tensor Analysis (Covariant Derivative)

(6) Geodesics (Christoffel symbols)

(7) Curvature tensor (Riemann-Christoffel tensor)

(8) Ricci Tensor, Einstein Tensor, Stress-Energy Tensor

(9) Einstein's Field Equations

(10) Einstein's Vacuum Field Equations

(11) Schwarzschild metric

(12) Computing geodesics and null geodesics for the Schwarzschild metric

(13) Deflection of light by the Sun

(14) Precession of the perihelion of Mercury

(15) Gravitational Time Dilation

(16) Schwarzschild Black Hole

Grades:

Homework problems (100% of grade) will be assigned every week.

Original Papers:

Foundations of the General Theory of Relativity
A. Einstein 1915
(In the book "Principle of Relativity" by Einstein et al)

On the gravitational field of a mass point according to Einstein's theory
K. Schwarzschild 1916
https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/9905030

Reference Books:

Gravity: An Introduction to Einstein's General Relativity
Hartle

A First Course in General Relativity
Schutz

Classics:

Gravitation and Cosmology
Weinberg

Gravitation
Misner, Thorne, and Wheeler