Renato Renner: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2020 |  |
| Name | Prof. Dr. Renato Renner |
| Field | Theoretical Physics |
| Address | Institut für Theoretische Physik ETH Zürich, HIT K 41.2 Wolfgang-Pauli-Str. 27 8093 Zürich SWITZERLAND |
| Telephone | +41 44 633 34 58 |
| Fax | +41 44 633 11 15 |
| renner@itp.phys.ethz.ch | |
| URL | http://www.itp.phys.ethz.ch/people/renner/ |
| Department | Physics |
| Relationship | Full Professor |
| Number | Title | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 402-0830-00L | General Relativity  Special Students UZH must book the module PHY511 directly at UZH. | 10 credits | 4V + 2U | R. Renner | |
| Abstract | Introduction to the theory of general relativity. The course puts a strong focus on the mathematical foundations of the theory as well as the underlying physical principles and concepts. It covers selected applications, such as the Schwarzschild solution and gravitational waves. | ||||
| Objective | Basic understanding of general relativity, its mathematical foundations (in particular the relevant aspects of differential geometry), and some of the phenomena it predicts (with a focus on black holes). | ||||
| Content | Introduction to the theory of general relativity. The course puts a strong focus on the mathematical foundations, such as differentiable manifolds, the Riemannian and Lorentzian metric, connections, and curvature. It discusses the underlying physical principles, e.g., the equivalence principle, and concepts, such as curved spacetime and the energy-momentum tensor. The course covers some basic applications and special cases, including the Newtonian limit, post-Newtonian expansions, the Schwarzschild solution, light deflection, and gravitational waves. | ||||
| Literature | Suggested textbooks: C. Misner, K, Thorne and J. Wheeler: Gravitation S. Carroll - Spacetime and Geometry: An Introduction to General Relativity R. Wald - General Relativity S. Weinberg - Gravitation and Cosmology | ||||
| 406-0204-AAL | Electrodynamics Enrolment ONLY for MSc students with a decree declaring this course unit as an additional admission requirement. Any other students (e.g. incoming exchange students, doctoral students) CANNOT enrol for this course unit. | 7 credits | 15R | R. Renner | |
| Abstract | Derivation and discussion of Maxwell's equations, from the static limit to the full dynamical case. Wave equation, waveguides, cavities. Generation of electromagnetic radiation, scattering and diffraction of light. Structure of Maxwell's equations, relativity theory and covariance, Lagrangian formulation. Dynamics of relativistic particles in the presence of fields and radiation properties. | ||||
| Objective | Develop a physical understanding for static and dynamic phenomena related to (moving) charged objects and understand the structure of the classical field theory of electrodynamics (transverse versus longitudinal physics, invariances (Lorentz-, gauge-)). Appreciate the interrelation between electric, magnetic, and optical phenomena and the influence of media. Understand a set of classic electrodynamical phenomena and develop the ability to solve simple problems independently. Apply previously learned mathematical concepts (vector analysis, complete systems of functions, Green's functions, co- and contravariant coordinates, etc.). Prepare for quantum mechanics (eigenvalue problems, wave guides and cavities). | ||||
| Content | Classical field theory of electrodynamics: Derivation and discussion of Maxwell equations, starting from the static limit (electrostatics, magnetostatics, boundary value problems) in the vacuum and in media and subsequent generalization to the full dynamical case (Faraday's law, Ampere/Maxwell law; potentials and gauge invariance). Wave equation and solutions in full space, half-space (Snell's law), waveguides, cavities, generation of electromagnetic radiation, scattering and diffraction of light (optics). Application to various specific examples. Discussion of the structure of Maxwell's equations, Lorentz invariance, relativity theory and covariance, Lagrangian formulation. Dynamics of relativistic particles in the presence of fields and their radiation properties (synchrotron). | ||||
| Literature | J.D. Jackson, Classical Electrodynamics W.K.H Panovsky and M. Phillis, Classical electricity and magnetism L.D. Landau, E.M. Lifshitz, and L.P. Pitaevskii, Electrodynamics of continuus media A. Sommerfeld, Elektrodynamik, Optik (Vorlesungen über theoretische Physik) M. Born and E. Wolf, Principles of optics R. Feynman, R. Leighton, and M. Sands, The Feynman Lectures of Physics, Vol II | ||||