General relativity

Duration

30h Th, 10h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Guillaume Mahler

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

• Quick reminder of special relativity and use of the Minkowski diagram
• Vector and tensor field calculation
• Introduction to General Relativity: space-time and particle paths
• Specific metric of the gravitational field
• Einstein's equation and gravitational waves
• Black holes
• Elements of cosmology and the Penrose diagram

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Being able to convey the notions of time dilation and length contraction using the Minkoski diagram.

Being able to perform tensorial operations using Einstein's conventions for calculations with indices.

Understand the notion of curved space and know how to derive geodesics.

Being able to explain in details the different components (metric and energy-density) of Einstein's equation.

Being able to manipulate the Schwartzschild metric.

Being able to phenomenologically explain the postulates of the Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker metric.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Newtonian dynamics

Advanced calculus in vector and matrix operations

Special relativity knowledge

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Lecture in class, taking notes, group activity, and homework exercise. Supplementary work will be offered.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

Lectures notes will be posted online, link shared during class
Recommended lecture and readings:

Theoritical minimum from Susskin
Foster and Nightingale, 2nd Edition "A short course on General Relativity"

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )

Continuous assessment

Other : Presentation on homework assignments


Further information:

Final exam (4/10)

Continuous evaluation  (2/10)

Homework assignement with presentation (4/10)

Work placement(s)

None.

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Contacts

Guillaume Mahler - guillaume.mahler@uliege.be - B5c 1/11

Association of one or more MOOCs

Items online