The University of Potsdam and the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) offer a crash course on the physical and mathematical foundations of gravity. This course can be attended by students holding an intermediate diploma in Physics or Mathematics. The seminar consists of three separate lecture series: The lectures will be given in English.
- Introduction to Gravitational field theory (Mikolaj Korzynski, Jacques Smulevici)
- Geometric Aspects of Mass and Black Holes (Jan Metzger)
- Black Holes and Neutron Stars (Jörg Hennig)
The timetable is arranged to provide two lectures in the morning, each one lasting 90 minutes. In the afternoon there will be opportunities for questions and discussions.
The lectures will take place daily from 9.00-10.30 and 11.00-12.30 in the lecture hall of the main building of the Max Planck campus in Golm (near Potsdam). They will be given in German.
Registration
Please use this form and send it via e-mail to , deadline 15th December 2009. In the second half of January we will inform the participants who can be admitted. Note that the number of participants is limited to 50.
Abstracts of the lecture series
1) Introduction to Gravitational field theory
We start the introduction of the physical fundaments of General Relativity by reviewing the concepts of time, space, mass and force in Newtonian physics as well as in Special Relativity. We then present the basic assumptions of General Relativity, i.e. the Lorentzian spacetime structures and Einstein’s field equations, and depict empirical testings. Further topics include Gravitational Radiation, the initial value problem, spherically symmetric spacetimes, neutron star models, gravitational collapse, black holes.
2) Geometric Aspects of Mass and Black Holes
At the heart of general relativity lies the relation of mass to spacetime curvature. Here we discuss the question what geometry can tell us about the matter, matter density, and global aspects of isolated systems. Moreover, we consider conditions for the formation of black holes.
3) Black Holes and Neutron Stars
We discuss black holes and neutron stars as important examples for compact astrophysical objects whose accurate mathematical description essentially requires General Relativity. In particular, we derive the Schwarzschild solution and study its physical properties (geodesic motion, perihelion precession, light deflection, gravitational redshift). Further topics include: The initial value problem in general relativity, gravitational collapse and black hole formation, spherically symmetric spacetimes and neutron star models.
Requirements
Basic knowledge of differential geometry, Newtonian mechanics and gravity, special relativity.
The notes skriptdiffgeo.pdf (on differential geometry) and skriptmechgrav.pdf (on mechanics and gravitation) will give some of the appropriate background material.
References
N. Straumann, General Relativity, Springer, Berlin 2004
W. Rindler, Introduction to Special Relativity, Oxford University Press 1982
N.M.J. Woodhouse, Special Relativity, Springer, Berlin 1992
R. Wald, Space, Time and Gravity, University of Chicago Press, 1992
C. Misner, K. Thorn, J. Wheeler, Gravitation, Freemann and Company, 1973
H. Stephani, General Relativity, C.U.P.,1990
S. W. Hawking, G. F. R. Ellis, The Large Scale Structure of Space-Time, C.U.P., 1975.
Scripts
Script for the lecture “Black holes and Neutron stars” :
Black holes and Neutron stars (english)
Black holes and Neutron stars (german)