Physics 617, Spring 2021

Course Information:

Prof. Matthew Buckley (office: Serin W329, mbuckley@physics.rutgers.edu)

Lectures: Tuesdays/Thursdays 3:20-4:40 Zoom Link via Canvas

Office Hours: TBD

Course Description

This is a graduate course in general relativity. We will cover the mathematical framework behind Einstein's theory, the formulation of Einstein's equations, the Schwarzschild and Kerr metrics, gravitational radiation, and cosmology. The textbook for the course is Spacetime and Geometry by Sean Carroll (2003, Pearson ISBN 978-0805387322). 

Additional texts that may be of use to students are General Relativity by Robert Wald and Gravitation by Misner, Thorne, and Wheeler (i.e. the giant black book about gravity). Neither are required for the course.

Remote Instruction and Accommodations due to COVID

The course will be taught via zoom, link and passcode below. If you feel comfortable having your video on during class, I am sure I will appreciate seeing your faces. That said, that may not be possible or preferable for you, and I will not require it.

Despite being a year into the COVID emergency, this is the first time I will be teaching remotely. I expect that I will have to make adjustments as I go. If you have suggestions, criticisms, or complaints about how the online teaching is going, please let me know. I promise I will not hold it against you.

My plan is to lecture using a blackboard. As you will see, GR is a very equation-dense subject, and using a virtual whiteboard I do not think will give me the space needed. I believe that my writing on the blackboard should be legible, but if it is not, tell me. If I cannot make adjustments, I will find a different solution.

In my experience, the meaning behind the equations in GR is best grasped if you, the student, are actively writing them down yourself. Understanding where the mus and nus go and why they go there is part of GR, and at least for me, writing imparted that better than just reading. I strongly encourage you to take notes during lecture as if it was an in-person class (also, if you take notes using LaTeX, I will warn you TeXing up GR tends to go slower than you'd expect. Handwriting might be more effective).

Finally, I am well aware of how difficult this last year has been for all of us, though it has been difficult in varying ways and varying degrees for each of us. Your well-being is of paramount concern to me as your professor. If during the semester you find yourself needing some accommodation due to the extraordinary circumstances we all continue to find ourselves in, I hope you will feel comfortable in letting me know. We are all here because of a shared love of physics, and I hope that you will enjoy learning general relativity despite everything going on around us. 

Grading

  • Grades will be based on weekly problem sets (100% of final grade).

  • Weekly homework will be assigned on Thursday in class and due on the following Thursday in class.

  • Collaboration with other students is strongly encouraged, but your write-up of the solutions must be your own. You must also cite any external sources you use (other than the textbook).

  • Ideally, solutions should be typed (in LaTeX), but handwritten solutions are acceptable as long as they are clearly written.

  • In general, late homework will automatically receive a maximum of half points. Seek arrangement with me at least 24 hours in advance if you think you have a legitimate excuse for late work. After I have posted solutions for a homework, I will not accept submissions for that assignment.

Office Hours

Office hours will be held via zoom. Time/link to be announced.

Extra meetings can be held by appointment.

Student Accommodations

If you require special accommodation in the course, please speak with me as early in the semester as possible. Visit this link for information on Rutgers policies. 

(image credit: NASA/JPL)