Module description
Syllabus
Brief review of manifolds, tensors, Einstein's field equations and geodesics. Black holes including their causal structure, Action formulation of Einstein's theory, Isometries and maximally symmetric spaces. Cosmology including the Roberston- Walker metric, Friedman equations The different models of the evolution of the universe and its spacetime structure, The course may also contain further topics such as gravity waves and inflation.
Prerequisites
You should be familiar with Special Relativity, Classical Lagrangian mechanics and have had some previous introduction to General Relativity. Students with no previous exposure to General Relativity should take Space-time Geometry and General Relativity (7CCM334B). Note that both modules cannot be taken in the same year. You are advised to take 7CCMMS32 AND 7CCMMS38
Assessment details
Written examination.
Educational aims & objectives
This module provides an account of General Relativity aimed so that you can follow current research in this as well as related areas of theoretical physics.
Teaching pattern
Two hours of lectures and one hour of tutorial per week throughout the term