| Univ. Bremen PD Dr. E. Hackmann, Dr. M. Scharringhausen | Celestial Mechanics (S3, elective, 6 ECTS) |
| Learning Outcomes: | Students should get a first introduction into the mathematics underlying General Relativity, and learn the equations of motion for point particles and light rays, the electromagnetic field, and the Einstein equations. |
| Knowledge and Understanding: | Participants understand the basic principles of orbital motion in Newtonian framework as well as within General Relativity. |
| Applying Knowledge and Understanding: | |
| Prerequisites | Bachelor courses on Theoretical Physics (basic courses in Physics on mechanics, basics in Special and General Relativity). |
| Program | The Kepler problem – introduction of the Kepler problem – analysis of the equations of motion, conservation laws – solution to the general problem, Hamilton Jacobi The general relativistic Kepler problem – Short repetition into General Relativity – geodesic equation in Black Hole space-times (Schwarzschild, Kerr, Schwarzschild-de Sitter) – conservation laws – solution of the geodesic equation for massive particles – solutions off the geodesic equation for light – effects (Perihelion shift, Lense-Thirring) |
| Description of how the course is conducted | – Contact hours (lecture + exercise): 56 h (4 h x 14 weeks) – Preparation, learning, exercises: 56 h (4 h x 14 weeks) – Preparation for exam: 68 h Total working hours: 180 h |
| Description of the didactic methods | |
| Description of the evaluation methods | Written exam, oral exam, or study work |
| Adopted Textbooks | – Michael W. Soffel, Wen-Biao Han: Applied General Relativity: Theory and Applications in Astronomy, Celestial Mechanics, and Metrology (Springer Nature Switzerland 2019). – Sergei Kopeikin, Michael Efroimsky, George Kaplan: Relativistic Celestial Mechanics of the Solar System (Wiley-VCH Verlag, Weinheim, 2011) |
| Recommended readings |
