FYS4160 ¨C The General Theory of Relativity

Course content

The course provides a comprehensive introduction to the general theory of relativity where all forms of gravity can be described as a purely?geometric effect where the curvature of space and time follows the distribution of energy and the amount momentum?the matter has. An overview is given of the classical tests of theory, and how the theory is used to describe black holes, gravitational waves, and the cosmological evolution of the universe. The course also provides an introduction to differential geometry, which is necessary to be able to both formulate and apply the theory.

Learning outcome

After completing?the course, you:

• master the equivalence principle and have a good knowledge of how this leads to a geometric description of gravity, in the form of the general theory of gravity.
• know about methods used in modern differential geometry, and master tensor calculus on Riemannian manifolds.
• have detailed knowledge about how space and time are curved for spherically symmetric mass distributions, you can solve practical problems in such geometries, and you know about the basic properties of black holes.
• know how to apply perturbation theory in GR, and how this leads to the description of gravitational waves.
• have acquired basic knowledge about the cosmological concordance model, and how it is base