MTH 437/537: General Relativity
Spring 2011
Hotlist:
Announcements,
Books,
Homework.
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Tevian Dray
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Office hours:
MW 9:30–11:30 AM in Kidder 298A
(and by appt)
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Phone: 737-5159
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Email:
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Class Meetings:
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MWF 8–8:50 AM in Wngr 304
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Required Text:
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Tevian Dray,
The Geometry of General Relativity
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Optional Texts:
(For further discussion, see the
announcements page.)
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Taylor & Wheeler,
Exploring Black Holes
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D'Inverno,
Introducing Einstein's Relativity
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Hartle,
Gravity
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McMahon,
Relativity Demystified
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Further information about these and other books can be found on the
book list.
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Web Site:
http://math.oregonstate.edu/~tevian/onid/MTH437
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Check the announcements page frequently.
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Course Evaluation:
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There will be (roughly) weekly homework (30% of grade), a midterm (30%), and a
final (40%).
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There will be (roughly) weekly homework (50% of grade) and a final (50%).
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Course Description:
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This course is a nearly self-contained introduction to Einstein's theory of
general relativity, one of the most mathematically elegant physical theories
ever proposed. In essence, this theory says that gravity is curvature!
After briefly considering special relativity from a geometric point of view we
will then study the Einstein field equations. We will examine several special
solutions of these equations, including simple cosmological models, such as
the Big Bang, and black holes.
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Prerequisites:
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The recommended prerequisite for this course is
MTH 434/534. A working
knowledge of both multivariable calculus and linear algebra is essential.
although what is really needed is a certain amount of scientific maturity,
rather than background in a particular area. Students who have not taken MTH
434/534 (or who have not done so from me) are strongly encouraged to contact
me in order to discuss their background.