This introduction aims to present the fundamentals of general relativity, Einstein's field theory of spacetime. Although it is an introductory course, it is designed for students in their final year of a bachelor's degree in Physics or the early stages of their graduate studies. As such, a solid understanding of mathematical and physical techniques, particularly analysis, geometry, classical mechanics and electrodynamics will be expected.
The classes will be held in the graduate classroom 229 every Thursday from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Specifically, we will cover the following topics: Space and time in Newton's framework, spacetime in special relativity, an introduction to manifolds and differential geometry, the postulates of general relativity, the Schwarzschild solution to Einstein's equations, the expanding universe, and gravitational waves.