Recent content by geoffc

Hi, I've found the following book quite helpful as an intro to gauge theory and gravitation: http://books.google.com/books?id=N8JDSi_eNbwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=gravitation+and+gauge+symmetries&sig=Hgu_y8hePfhr-WL-jLE5lXmDgo0#PPT1,M1 Another paper that describes some of the problems...

Audio and lectures from First Quantum Geometry and Quantum Gravity School: http://www.fuw.edu.pl/~kostecki/school.html

This problem deals with the mean free path for photons inside the sun. The photons are constantly being absorbed and reemitted. Check here for a simple derivation: http://www.astronomycafe.net/qadir/ask/a11354.html

Critical phenomena is general relativity is an excellent example that can be described in the terms of what you want. The review by Gundlach is a good place to start. http://arxiv.org/abs/0711.4620

For two Schwarzschild black holes, the classic solution is due to Misner. A search for "Misner Inital Data" will pull up plenty of recent papers that might give you a derivation. For Kerr black holes, check the paper here: http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/9806017

I found the following video links useful: Pacific Institute of Mathematical Sciences has three intro lectures: http://www.pims.math.ca/science/2003/fmp/

Some of the more fascinating ideas concerning horizons are coming from condensed matter analogues. A fascinating article along those lines is by B.L. Hu entitled "Is Spacetime a Condensate?" here: http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0503067 There is also an entire book entitled "The Universe in a...

It always bothered me as well that the torsion term was simply ignored. Many people have examined what happens when you keep the term, which has led to the Einstein-Cartan theory as a way to try and incorporate spin. Although this theory doesn't appear to be fundamental, it does seem to embed...

Actually, a better place to start might be here. I always find it easier to watch videos than read papers. http://pirsa.org/speaker/Renate_Loll

Try here: http://arxiv.org/find/gr-qc/1/au:+Gentle_A/0/1/0/all/0/1 The second article might be somewhat accessible.

Here's a great paper dealing specifically with the twins on a ring that appeared in AJP http://www.elizabethheider.com/publications/circular%20twin%20paradox.pdf

Also try here: http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0410127

It looks like Perimeter Institue will be posting Eric Poisson's Advanced GR class online. Here is the first lecture: http://pirsa.org/08010025 UCSC has quantum mechanics (Physics 130) here: http://physicsstream.ucsd.edu/

Did anyone mention that it might have something to do with a spin 2 particle?

O.J. - Which textbook are you using, and in your course will you be studying special functions next? (like Bessel functions or Legendre polynomials..)