(ASTR 342) General Relativity

3 Credits

An introduction to Einstein’s theory of general relativity. Topics covered: the geometry of spacetime; curvature and the gravitational field equations; the Schwarzschild and Kerr black holes and more general spacetime geometries; black hole thermodynamics; gravitational waves; the Friedmann–Robertson–Walker geometry and inflationary cosmology; dark energy and the cosmological constant problem. Prerequisites: ( PHY 021 ) and ( MATH 023 or MATH 033 ) and PHY 215 Can be taken Concurrently: MATH 023 , MATH 033 , PHY 215 Attribute/Distribution: NS, Q