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Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal
PHY 315: Theory of Relativity (4)
Pre-Einstein Relativity: Inertial and non-inertial frames; Galilean relativity; Michelson-Morley experiment; Concepts of aether
Einstein’s Relativity: Postulates of the special theory of relativity; Lorentz transformations; Length contraction; Time dilations; Simultaneity; Velocity addition theorem; Aberration; Doppler effect; Mass energy relation
Algebra of Lorentz Transformations: Proper time and the light cone; Intervals; Minkowski metric; Causality; Lorentz transformations as orthogonal transformations in 4 dimensions; 4-vectors and tensors; Covariance of the equations of physics; Relativistic momentum and energy; Variation of mass with velocity
Relativistic Particle Kinematics: Kinematics of decay products of an unstable particle; Centre of momentum transformation and reaction thresholds; Transformation of scattering cross section; Momenta and energies from CM to laboratory systems
Incompleteness of Special Theory of Relativity: Non-intertial reference frames; The Equivalence Principle; Gravitational red shift and time delay; Towards General Relativity
Suggested Books:
- Resnick - Special Theory of Realtivity
- French - Special Theory of Realtivity
- Edwin F. Taylor and John Archibald Wheeler - Spacetime Physics: Introduction to Special Relativity
- Wolfgang Rindler - Introduction to Special Relativity
- S. Carroll - General Relativity
- S. Weinberg - Gravitation and Cosmology
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