Relativistic physics I

NTMF037

doc. RNDr. Oldřich Semerák, DSc.,     Mgr. Vojtěch Witzany, PhD

fall term 2024, 4/2 exam/credit

Short syllabus:

More on geometry: tensor densities, covariant divergence, Fermi-Walker transport. Invariant and coordinate features of the Schwarzschild solution, analytic extension of the metric. Pericentre precession and light bending in the Schwarzschild field. Reissner-Nordström solution of the Einstein equations. Kerr and Kerr-Newman solutions of the Einstein equations, Carter equations for electro-geodesic test motion. Gravitational collapse and black holes: black-hole uniqueness theorems, formation of black holes, laws of black-hole (thermo)dynamics, extraction of energy from black holes. Relativistic theory of stellar equilibria: description of a static and spherically symmetric star, equations of stellar equilibria, radial oscillations and stability. Final stages of stellar evolution: degenerate fermion gas, white dwarfs and neutron stars; Chandrasekhar limit. Linearized theory of gravitation, plane gravitational waves.

A follow-up of the basic general-relativity course (NTMF111), mainly suitable for theoretical physicists and astrophysicists at the turn of their bachelor and master studies.
The course continues by NTMF038 – Relativistic physics  II (in spring term).

Time, space, rules:

Monday 12:20-14:55 and Wednesday 14:00-16:15, at T1 lecture room (MFF Trója).

In 2024/25, the course is being taught in Czech. Videos from 2020/21 English run are linked below.

Student seminar talks: one talk per year (per 2 semesters of Relativistic physics) is generally required for credit.
Examinantion in Czech as well as in English may be chosen.
Emails: oldrich.semerak@mff.cuni.cz, vojtech.witzany@matfyz.cuni.cz.

Topics of student seminar talks:

  • (also required at exam, but not all in detail -- see below)
  •   1) Composition of Lorentz transformations, boosts and Thomas precession [Votruba, sections IV.7 and IV.8; also GTR, section 18.2]
          ... Jan Zlatník (October 9) ... notes by Jan
          ... you should know "in principle", examined without details
      2) Pericentre shift, light bending [GTR, section 17.1; or also Dvořák]
          ... Lukáš Frk, Adam Mendl (October 9) ... notes by Lukáš and Adam
          ... examined almost in detail (final tricks are not compulsory)
      3) Electro-geodesics in the Kerr-Newman space-time, Carter equations [GTR, section 17.3]
          ... Samuel Brož, Václav Šmahlík, (October 30)
          ... examined in semi-detail (need not learn the metric by heart)
      4) Parallel transport (derived in a different way than in the first semester) [Kuchař, section II.4]
          ... Tomáš Tuleja, Jozef Csipes (November 13) ... notes by Tomáš and Jozef
          ... examined, but not in full detail
      5) Equivalent criteria for space-time flatness [Kuchař, section II.6]
          ... Michal Stano (November 20)
          ... examined almost in detail (tricks in computation of "the integral" are not compulsory)
      6) Wave-fronts in field theories [Bičák, Rudenko, section 4.1]
          ... Filip Smorada, David Podrápský (November 25) ... notes by David and Filip
          ... may be examined in semi-detail
      7) Linearized theory of gravitation [GTR, sections 22.1-22.4, or Bičák, Rudenko, section 3.1]
          ... Matěj Svidenský, Johana Dalíková (November 27)
          ... examined in detail
      8) Plane waves in the linearized gravity [GTR, sections 22.5 and 22.6, or Bičák, Rudenko, sections 3.3 and 3.4]
          ... Michal Ciesla, Rebecca Szabó (December 4)
          ... examined in detail
     
    *) Angular momentum (spin) and the Fermi-Walker transport [Bičák, Rudenko, sections 1.5, 1.6, 2.2; also GTR, chapter 18 (up to 18.1)]
          ... (???)
          ... properties of the FW transport in detail, spin-behaviour derivation is not compulsory
    *) Uniqueness of the Riemann tensor [Kuchař, section II.5.8]
          ... (???)
          ... understanding required, without details (transformations)
    *) Asymptotic form of the field of an isolated source [Bičák, Rudenko, section 3.2]
          ... Matěj Váňa, Benedikt Janda (???)
          ... should just know what it is about
    *) Example of a gravitational wave in an exact theory (sandwich wave) [Bičák, Rudenko, section 4.2]
          ... (January 8)
          ... may be examined in semi-detail
    *) (possibly) Thermodynamics, hydrodynamics, electrodynamics, geometrical optics, and kinetic theory [MTW, section 22]
          ... (???)
          ... should know basic equations in GR setting

    References:

    GTR: Relativistic Physics
    Votruba: Základy speciální teorie relativity
    Kuchař: Základy obecné teorie relativity
    Bičák, Rudenko: Teorie relativity a gravitační vlny (skripta)
    Dvořák: Obecná teorie relativity a moderní fyzikální obraz vesmíru (skripta)
    Misner, Thorne & Wheeler: Gravitation

    (Kuchař, Bičák & Rudenko, and MTW we have as files, can send you.)

    Links to recordings from 2020/21 English run (mp4):

    5th October morning,   5th October afternoon

    12th October morning,   12th October afternoon,   12th October afternoon,     Boosts & Thomas precession

    19th October morning,   19th October afternoon,   Lie derivative & Killing vectors,   and, if you did not recognize what I had on T-shirt

    26th October lecture,   Parallel transport

    2th November lecture,   Spin and Fermi-Walker transport

    9th November lecture,   Uniqueness of the Riemann tensor

    16th November lecture,   Equivalent criteria of flatness,   Apsidal precession & light bending

    23th November lecture,   Motion in Kerr-Newman (Carter equations),   and dark side of the T-shirt

    30th November lecture,   Linearized theory of gravitation

    7th December lecture,   Plane waves in linearized theory

    14th December lecture,   Asymptotic form of an isolated-system field (multipole expansion)

    Wave-fronts in field theories,   Xmas climbing (contains upsetting scenes!),   and "Nesem vám noviny" (Silvester-Eve edit)
    singing of carols via Zoom was not recorded, but we made it, even with a decent piano accompaniment

    4th January -- Chandrasekhar limit,   Sandwich wave in exact theory,   Non-gravitational physics within GR

  • Special message from 25th January (2021):
    I made a mistake in one of the lectures (second part of the semester). I mean quite a serious one, not just a wrong index :-(. Who discovers and explains it will be rewarded somehow (don't know how yet).
  • Special message from 2023:
    Jonáš Dujava did recognize the mistake, and explained it properly (he even proposed a better way how to go through the point), cool!