MATH 465: General Relativity and Cosmology

2009 Trimester 2

MATH 465 CRN 10022, 15 Points (2009 2/3)
Coordinator: Prof Matt Visser
Prerequisites: MATH 464
Recommended Reading: Useful references: Misner, Thorne and Wheeler, Gravitation; James B. Hartle, Gravity: An Introduction to Einstein's General Relativity; Sean Carroll: Spacetime and Geometry: An Introduction to General Relativity.
Description: This course introduces Einstein's general relativity, black holes, gravitational waves, some idealized models of the universe, and a brief discussion of some extensions to the theory. Extensive notes are supplied.

Topics include:
  • Special relativity: R4 with a Lorentzian metric; the Lorentz group; causal structure
  • Lorentzian (pseudo-Riemannian) geometry
  • General relativity: the Einstein equivalence principle
  • Einstein's equations (vacuum); Schwarzschild solution
  • Einstein's equations with matter
  • Gravitational waves
  • Idealized cosmologies; FLRW universes
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