PHZ6607-7825(20829) - Spec and Gen Relativity

Academic Term: Fall 2024

Instructor:

• Siyao Xu, NPB 2174
  
• xusiyao@ufl.edu
• 352-756-0899
• Office Hours: M (10:30-11:20 am) and W (10:30-11:20 am)

Course Description: PHZ6607 Special & General Relativity, Letter Grade

Special relativity, tensor analysis, covariant electromagnetism; general relativity, Riemannian geometry, gravity as curvature, exact solutions; relativistic astrophysics, cosmology.

Course Pre-Requisites (if you are not a physics graduate student)

• PHY6346 and PHY6347 - Graduate Electrodynamics
• PHY6246 - Graduate Classical Mechanics

Course Objectives

The course will be given as an introduction to the Theory of Special and General Relativity. It will prepare students for pursuing a higher degree in General Relativity and for advanced research in topics such as gravitational waves, astrophysics, cosmology, quantum gravity and quantum field theory on curved spacetime. This will be accomplished by:

• Understanding that simultaneity is a frame-dependent concept, and how to resolve relativistic paradoxes.
  
• Understanding tensor transformation laws in special and general relativity.
• Organizing dynamics in terms of tensor equations.
  
• Understanding the nonrelativistic and the weak field correspondence limits of general relativity.
  
• Understanding how gravity affects matter and how matter affects gravity.
  
• Studying three special systems: black holes, gravitational radiation and FLRW cosmology. 
  

Required Text

• Spacetime and Geometry: An Introduction to General Relativity,
  Sean Carroll (Addison-Wesley, 2003) ISBN 0-805-38732-3.

Course Schedule

• Section 1 in Carroll (approximately 2 weeks)
• Sections 2-4 in Carroll (approximately 6 weeks)
• Sections 5-6 in Carroll (approximately 3 weeks)
• Sections 7-8 in Carroll (approximately 2 weeks)

Attendance Policy, Class Expectations, and Make-Up Policy

Requirements for class attendance and make-up exams, assignments, and other work in the course are consistent with university policies. See UF Academic Regulations and Policies for more information regarding the University Attendance Policies.

Students are expected to attend lectures and attendance will be taken. Excusing missed assignments must be consistent with university policies in the Graduate Catalog (LinkLinks to an external site.) and will require appropriate documentation.

Evaluation of Grades 

There will be no exams. The course grade will be based on assessment of classroom participation (33%), homework (33%), and a presentation on a chosen project at the end of the semester (34%).

Grading Policy 

Information on current UF grading policies for assigning grade points can be found at the University grades and grading policies.

Students Requiring Accommodations

Students with disabilities who experience learning barriers and would like to request academic accommodations should connect with the Disability Resource Center. See the “Get Started With the DRC” webpage on the Disability Resource Center site. It is important for students to share their accommodation letter with their instructor and discuss their access needs, as early as possible in the semester.

Course Evaluation

Students are expected to provide professional and respectful feedback on the quality of instruction in this course by completing course evaluations online via GatorEvals. Guidance on how to give feedback in a professional and respectful manner is available at https://gatorevals.aa.ufl.edu/students/. Students will be notified when the evaluation period opens, and can complete evaluations through the email they receive from GatorEvals, in their Canvas course menu under GatorEvals, or via https://ufl.bluera.com/ufl/. Summaries of course evaluation results are available to students at https://gatorevals.aa.ufl.edu/public-results/.

University Honesty Policy

UF students are bound by The Honor Pledge which states “We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honor and integrity by abiding by the Honor Code. On all work submitted for credit by students at the University of Florida, the following pledge is either required or implied: “On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment.” The Conduct Code specifies a number of behaviors that are in violation of this code and the possible sanctions. See the UF Conduct Code website for more information. If you have any questions or concerns, please consult with the instructor or TAs in this class.

Software Use

All faculty, staff, and students of the University are required and expected to obey the laws and legal agreements governing software use. Failure to do so can lead to monetary damages and/or criminal penalties for the individual violator. Because such violations are also against University policies and rules, disciplinary action will be taken as appropriate. We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to uphold ourselves and our peers to the highest standard of honesty and integrity.

Student Privacy

As in all courses, unauthorized recording and unauthorized sharing of recorded materials is prohibited. Also, there are federal laws protecting your privacy with regards to grades earned in courses and on individual assignments. For more information, please see Link .

In-Class Recording 

Students are allowed to record video or audio of class lectures. However, the purposes for which these recordings may be used are strictly controlled. Th only allowable purposes are (1) for personal education use, (2) in connection with a complaint to the university, or (3) as evidence in, or in preparation for, a criminal or civil proceeding. All other purposes are prohibited. Specifically, students may not publish recorded lectures without the written consent of the instructor.

A “class lecture” is an educational presentation intended to inform or teach enrolled students about a particular subject, including any instructor-led discussions that form part of the presentation, and deliver by an instructor hired or appointed by the University, or by a guest instructor, as part of a University of Florida course. A class lecture does not include lab sessions, student presentations, clinical presentation such as patient history, academic exercises involving solely student participation, assessments (quizzes, tests, exams), field trips, private conversations between students in the class or between a student and the faculty or guest lecturer during a class session.

Publication without permission of the instructor is prohibited. To “publish” means to share, transmit, circulate, distribute, or provide access to a recording, regardless, of format or medium, to another person (or persons), including but not limited to another student within the same class section. Additionally, a recording, or transcript of a recording, is considered published if it is posted on or uploaded to, in whole or in part, any media platform, including but not limited to social media, book, magazine, newspaper, leaflet, or third-party note/tutoring services. A student who publishes a recording without written consent may be subject to a civil cause of action instituted by a person injured by the publication and/or discipline under UF Regulation 4.040 Student Honor Code and Student Conduct Code.

Health and Wellness

U Matter, We Care: If you or someone you know is in distress, please contact umatter@ufl.edu, 352-392-1575, or visit U Matter, We Care website to refer or report a concern and a team member will reach out to the student in distress.

Counseling and Wellness Center: Visit the Counseling and Wellness Center website or call 352-392-1575 for information on crisis services as well as non-crisis services.

Student Health Care Center: Call 352-392-1161 for 24/7 information to help you find the care you need, or visit the Student Health Care Center website.

University Police Department: Visit UF Police Department website or call 352-392-1111 (or 9-1-1 for emergencies).

UF Health Shands Emergency Room / Trauma Center: For immediate medical care call 352-733-0111 or go to the emergency room at 1515 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608; Visit the UF Health Emergency Room and Trauma Center website.

GatorWell Health Promotion Services: For prevention services focused on optimal wellbeing, including Wellness Coaching for Academic Success, visit the GatorWell website or call 352-273-4450.

Academic Resources

E-learning technical support: Contact the UF Computing Help Desk at 352-392-4357 or via e-mail at helpdesk@ufl.edu.

Career Connections Center: Reitz Union Suite 1300, 352-392-1601. Career assistance and counseling services.

Library Support: Various ways to receive assistance with respect to using the libraries or finding resources. Call 866-281-6309 or email ask@ufl.libanswers.com for more information.

Teaching Center: 1317 Turlington Hall, 352-392-2010 or to make an appointment 352- 392-6420. General study skills and tutoring.

Writing Studio: Daytime (9:30am-3:30pm): 2215 Turlington Hall, 352-846-1138 | Evening (5:00pm-7:00pm): 1545 W University Avenue (Library West, Rm. 339). Help brainstorming, formatting, and writing papers.

Academic Complaints: Office of the Ombuds; Visit the Complaint Portal webpage for more information.

Enrollment Management Complaints (Registrar, Financial Aid, Admissions): View the Student Complaint Procedure webpage for more information.