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General Relativity
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:14:57
Abstract
This is the first of a two course series and will be continued in the spring with "Theoretical astrophysics and cosmology", where many advanced topics and general relativity applications will be developed further.
Content
Here is the rough plan of the topics we plan to cover. It is not meant to be accurate and the actual pace may vary relative to this plan. Week 1: special relativity and geometric interpretation of flat spacetime Week 2: vector and tensor analysis in special relativity, energy momentum tensor Week 3: flat spacetime in curvilinear coordinates Week 4: curved manifolds (guest lecturer: N. Straumann) Week 5: geodesics, geodesic deviations, symmetries Week 6: physics in a curved spacetime Week 7: equivalence principle and Einstein's equations Week 8: Einstein-Hilbert action Week 9: weak field limit: linearized GR Week 10: Schwarzschild solution Week 11: black holes Week 12: gravity waves Week 13: cosmology Week 14: advanced topics
Resources
Literature
Suggested textbooks: S. Carroll: An introduction to General Relativity Spacetime and Geometry B. Schutz: A first course in general relativity N. Straumann: General relativity with applications to astrophysics R. Wald: General Relativity C. Misner, K, Thorne and J. Wheeler: Gravitation J. Hartle: Gravity: an introduction to general relativity
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- BSC , DR , MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- session examination
- Mode
- oral 45 minutes
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture | General Relativity |
|
3 h weekly |
| exercise |
General Relativity
oder nach Vereinbarung
|
|
2 h weekly |
Offered In
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D-MATH (Official web site of the Zurich Graduate School in Mathematics:)
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