This introduction presents the fundamental concepts of general relativity, Einstein’s field theory describing the geometry of spacetime. While introductory in scope, the course is intended for students in the final year of a bachelor’s degree in Physics or in the early stages of graduate study. Accordingly, participants are expected to have a solid grasp of mathematical and physical methods, particularly in analysis, geometry, classical mechanics, and electrodynamics.
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.