TFNPF0005 Numerical Relativity

Institute of physics in Opava
summer 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/2/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Martin Urbanec, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Martin Urbanec, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Martin Urbanec, Ph.D.
Institute of physics in Opava
Prerequisites (in Czech)
(FAKULTA(FU) && TYP_STUDIA(N))
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Course introduces students to solution of problems of numerical relativity. Goal of the course is to study spacetimes where analytical description does not exist. This is the case of dynamical spacetimes, but also of some stationary or even static spacetimes. Course cover general introduction to the subject.
Learning outcomes
Students are introduced to methods of numerical relativity.
Syllabus
  • Course is organised as follows
  • General relativity
  • Gravitational waves
  • Neutron stars
  • 3+1 decomposition of Einstein field equations
  • Basic numerical methods used in numerical relativity
  • 1+1 relativity
  • Spherically symmetric spacetimes
  • Axially symmetric spacetimes
  • Gravitational collapse
  • Rotating neutron stars
  • Binary systems of black holes and neutron stars
  • Public codes for numerical relativity (LORENE, Cactus, Whisky, Einstein toolkit)
Literature
    recommended literature
  • T. W. Baumgarte and S. L. Shapiro. Numerical Relativity: Solving Einstein's Equations on the Computer. Cambridge University Press, 2010. info
  • Rezzolla, L., Zanotti, O. Relativistic Hydrodynamics, Oxford University Press, 2013
  • Gourgoulhon, E. 3+1 Formalism and Bases of Numerical Relativity, https://arxiv.org/pdf/gr-qc/0703035.pdf
  • Wilson, J. R., Mathews, G. J. Relativistic Numerical Hydrodynamics, Cambridge University Press, 2013
Teaching methods
Lectures, numerical exercises
Assessment methods
oral exam - discussion of home assignments attendance at exercises (at least 75%)
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms summer 2021, summer 2022, summer 2023, summer 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (summer 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.slu.cz/course/fu/summer2025/TFNPF0005