PHYS 4240 - General Relativity

Introduction to the physics of gravitation and spacetime. Special relativity, tensor calculus, and relativistic electrodynamics. General relativity with selected applications of Einstein’s field equations (gravitational time dilation; gravitational lensing; frame dragging; gravitational radiation). The physics of nonrotating and rotating black holes. Relativistic models for the large-scale structure of the Universe. Observational constraints on the cosmological parameters. Big Bang nucleosynthesis, the Cosmic Background Radiation. (Meets with ASTR 4240.)

Prerequisites/Corequisites: Prerequisite: PHYS 2330 and MATH 4600.

Cross Listed: Cross-listed with ASTR 4240. Students cannot receive credit for both PHYS 4240 and ASTR 4240.

Credit Hours: 3