Web page:http://www-hep.physics.uiowa.edu/~meurice/gr/ or link from
http://www.physics.uiowa.edu/
Lectures: TTh 10:55 AM to 12:10 PM in Lecture Room 618 in the Van Allen Building.
Office Hours:
Mondays 2:00-3:00 PM and Tuesdays 9:45-10:45 AM. Feel free to
schedule appointments at other times.
Course Content
The main topic of the course is Cosmology.
The course will taught in such way that it can be taken by graduate
and undergraduate students.
We will start with a brief review of
special relativity at an undergraduate level
and introduce the basic ideas and equations of General Relativity
using the short monography of Dirac (see ref. below). As explained by Dirac in his
Preface, no previous knowledge is assumed beyond special relativity.
We will then review experimental facts that justify the cosmological principle
(hypothesis that the universe is homogeneous and isotropic) and derive the
simplified Einstein equations which follow from this principle. We will follow
Part I and II of Peebles and Ch. 14 and 15 of Weinberg (see refs. below).
Very recent experimental results concerning the cosmic microwave background
and observations of remote supernovae will be discussed using
original papers. The course will end with a discussion of the very early
universe and
inflationary cosmology.
Textbooks
Main textbooks:
P. J. Peebles, Principles of Physical Cosmology, Princeton, 1993.
P. A. M. Dirac, General Theory of Relativity, Princeton, 1975.
S. Weinberg, Gravitation and Cosmology, Wiley, 1972.
Additional references:
A. Taylor and J. Wheeler, Exploring Black Holes, Addison-Wesley, 2000.
C. Misner, K. Thorne and J. Wheeler, Gravitation, Freeman, 1973.
H. Ohanian and R. Ruffini, Gravitation and Spacetime, Norton, 1994.
A. Linde, Particle Physics and Inflationary Cosmology, Harwood, 1990.
There will be two in-class exams during the semester and one final exam
during the exam week.
The final grade will be calculated in the following way: 30 points for the
homeworks, 40 points for the in-class exams
and 30 points for the final exam.
Class Attendance
Attendance at lectures is highly recommended but not required.
You are strongly encouraged to ask questions during the lectures.
There are no ``stupid questions''.
Complaint Procedures
You should feel free to express any dissatisfaction regarding the
course to me.
``Academic Misconduct'' and ``Student
Complaints Concerning Faculty Actions'' procedures are available for your
review in the Schedule of Courses . The Department
Chairman, Prof. T. Boggess, can be contacted through the Main Office 203
VAN.
Students with Disabilities
Any student who
has a disability which may require some modification of seating,
testing or other class
requirements should see me after the class or
at a more convenient time so that appropriate arrangements can be made.