*** Notice: links are not maintained after the end of course!
General Relativity & Astrophysics
Fall 2019, Peking University
$$R_{\mu\nu} - \frac{1}{2} g_{\mu\nu} R = \frac{8\pi G}{c^4} T_{\mu\nu}$$ “Matter tells spacetime how to curve, and spacetime tells matter how to move.”
This course is designed to be elementary, suitable for those who want a first grasp of the tremendous beauty of Einstein’s general relativity. I will try to keep the mathematics minimum (e.g. the differential geometry), and the physics clearly stated (e.g. the equivalence principle). In this class, students are supposed to learn,
- the logic behind Einstein’s general relativity,
- the ability to derive basic equations,
- fine interpretation of various phenomena in the relativistic astrophysics,
- the limitation of the class,
- as well as the direction to explore if one wants to master more advanced materials.
Though the class targets graduates who work on astrophysics or theoretical physics, it is in general eligible for graduate students (as well as the advanced undergraduates) with Science & Engineering background.
General Information
| When & Where | Mondays 13:00—14:50 |
| Science Teaching Building 317 (理教317) | |
| Prerequisite | Mathematics |
| Theoretical Mechanics | |
| Electrodynamics | |
| Textbook | 俞允强，《广义相对论引论(第二版)》（1997） |
| Reference | Bernard Schutz, A First Course in General Relativity (2009) |
| James Hartle, Gravity: An Introduction to Einstein’s General Relativity (2003) | |
| 陈斌，《广义相对论》（2018） | |
| Matthias Blau, Lecture Notes on General Relativity [link] | |
| Sean Carroll, Spacetime and Geometry (2004) [link] | |
| Steven Weinberg, Gravitation and Cosmology (1972) | |
| Charles W. Misner, Kip S. Thorne, & John A. Wheeler, Gravitation (1973) | |
| Norbert Straumann, General Relativity with Applications to Astrophysics (2004) | |
| Lecturer | Lijing Shao (邵立晶) |
| Office KIAA-217; lshao@pku.edu.cn; 010-62758461 | |
| Teaching Assistant | Xionghui Cao (曹雄辉) |
| Office 物理南楼519室; 1801110068@pku.edu.cn |
Contents
| Content | Homework | Note |
| 0. 课程介绍 | ||
| 1. Newton 力学与 Maxwell 电磁学 | ||
| 2. 狭义相对论与广义相对论 | ||
| 3. 黎曼几何简介 | HW1 (60 points) | Oct. 21, 2019 |
| 4. Einstein 场方程 | ||
| 5. 真空球对称解 | HW2 (80 points) | Nov. 11, 2019 |
| 6. 弱场近似与实验检验 | HW3 (70 points) | Dec. 2, 2019 |
| 7. 中子星 | ||
| 8. 黑洞 | HW4 (70 points) | Dec. 16, 2019 |
| 9. 引力波简介 | ||
| 助教答疑（曹雄辉） | 物理南楼519 | Dec. 22（10-11am & 14-17pm） |
| 期末考试（开卷） | 随堂，理教317 | Dec. 23（13:00-14:50pm） |