- #1
TomServo
- 281
- 9
Let's say I'm getting a PhD in an area of gravitational physics. Upon getting that diploma, what is expected of me in terms of knowledge of GR? I hope my question can be useful to other students in other concentrations, so substitute QFT, or condensed matter, or whatever.
For example, is it expected that I am at least familiar with every topic in the Sean Carroll book? Or Wald? Or MTW? Is it bad if my quantum or classical e&m skills and knowledge have atrophied since I last took a course in them? Or is it just expected that I know my little area of gravitational physics expertly but it's okay if I need refreshers on other topics? I'm asking for somebody who is a newly minted PhD student, so what people expect from a postdoc applicant, for example.
I bought the book on relativity problems and I was going to try to solve them all this Summer. Is that too much misguided effort? I went to the April APS meeting and feel like I know AT BEST 5-10% of what everybody else know and that's just about gravity.
I hope my question doesn't sound stupid, thanks.
For example, is it expected that I am at least familiar with every topic in the Sean Carroll book? Or Wald? Or MTW? Is it bad if my quantum or classical e&m skills and knowledge have atrophied since I last took a course in them? Or is it just expected that I know my little area of gravitational physics expertly but it's okay if I need refreshers on other topics? I'm asking for somebody who is a newly minted PhD student, so what people expect from a postdoc applicant, for example.
I bought the book on relativity problems and I was going to try to solve them all this Summer. Is that too much misguided effort? I went to the April APS meeting and feel like I know AT BEST 5-10% of what everybody else know and that's just about gravity.
I hope my question doesn't sound stupid, thanks.