Entry requirements

120 credits with Linear Algebra II and Mechanics III.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• transform displacements, velocities, momenta, etc. from one inertial frame to another
• explain and compute doppler shifts, aberrations and other light phenomena
• determine outcomes of relativistic colissions including Compton scattering
• explain the concept of the stress-tensor and determine it in different inertial frames
• write down Maxwell's equations in covariant form
• solve Maxwell's equations in the vacuum for various situations, including a radiating particle

Content

Lorenz transformations: Minkowski space. Interval, proper time. Rotation group and Lorenz group. 4-vectors. Dirac and Majorana spinors.

Relativistic Mechanics: 4-velocity and 4-momentum. Relativistic particles. 4-force and 4-acceleration. Energy-momentum conservation. Collisions.

Relativistic treatment of electromagnetism: 4-vectors for electric charge and current density, tensor form of electromagnetic fields. Relativistic motion for a point charge in an electromagnetic field. Maxwell's equations in covariant form. Electromagnetic wave equation.

Instruction

Lectures and tutorials.

Assessment

Written examination.

In addition there are hand-in problems. Credit points from these are included only in the regular exam and the first regular re-exam.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.

Other directives

The course may not be included in the same higher education qualifications as 1FA154 Analytical mechanics and special relativity.