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8.224

Exploring Black Holes: General Relativity and Astrophysics

3-0-9 units · Undergraduate

Study of physical effects in the vicinity of a black hole as a basis for understanding general relativity, astrophysics, and elements of cosmology. Extension to current developments in theory and observation. Energy and momentum in flat space-time; the metric; curvature of space-time near rotating and nonrotating centers of attraction; trajectories and orbits of particles and light; elementary models of the Cosmos. Weekly meetings include an evening seminar and recitation. The last third of the term is reserved for collaborative research projects on topics such as the Global Positioning System, solar system tests of relativity, descending into a black hole, gravitational lensing, gravitational waves, Gravity Probe B, and more advanced models of the cosmos. Subject has online components that are open to selected MIT alumni. Alumni wishing to participate should contact Professor Bertschinger at edbert@mit.edu. Limited to 40.

Spring 2003 · Exploring Black Holes: General Relativity & Astrophysics

Topics

  • Introduction to the Class
  • The Universe: Questions You were Afraid to Ask
  • No Evening Seminar this Week, Just Recitation Section
  • Global Positioning System
  • Einstein’s Field Equations
  • Tracing Einstein’s Development of the Special Relativity Theory
  • Supermassive Black Hole at the Center of Our Galaxy –Sagittarius A*
  • X-Ray Binaries and the Search for Black Holes
  • The Universe and Three Examples
  • LIGO: Detecting Gravitational Waves
  • Cosmic Structure Formation; From Inflation to Galaxies
  • Project Reports in Seminar; Project Reports in Recitation Section

Readings

  • [EBH] = Edwin F. Taylor, and John Archibald Wheeler. Exploring Black Holes: Introduction to General Relativity . Addison Wesley Longman, 2000.
    Listed reading
  • [Thorne] = Thorne, Kip. Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein’s Outrageous Legacy . W. W. Norton, 1994.
    Listed reading
  • Handout: Bertschinger. Coordinates and Proper Time.
    Listed reading
  • Taylor, Edwin F., and John Archibald Wheeler. Exploring Black Holes: Introduction to General Relativity . Addison Wesley Longman, 2000, ISBN 9780201384239. Called “EBH” in all assignments. NOTE: You should have the fifth printing; the first number in the very bottom line of the Acknowledgments page (behind the title page) should be a 5.
    Listed reading
  • Thorne, Kip. Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein’s Outrageous Legacy . W. W. Norton, 1995, ISBN 9780393312768. Called “Thorne” in all assignments.
    Listed reading

Prerequisites & course information

Prereq: 8.033 or 8.20 U (Fall) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units

Sources