Relativistic Astrophysics & Cosmology

Major option in Part III Experimental and Theoretical Physics in the Natural Sciences Tripos at the University of Cambridge

I acted as a supervisor for this course 2009-13 conducting tutorials in groups of 6-10. Lectured by Anthony Lasenby and Andy Fabian.

The course begins with an overview of general relativity (with a particular emphasis on physical applications) then explores high energy astrophysical phenomena, from stellar collapse (white dwarfs, neutron stars and pulsars), through to X-ray binaries, AGN, galaxy clusters and gravitational waves before turning to cosmology.

Suggested Reading

• General Relativity, An Introduction for Physicists – M.P. Hobson, G. Efstathiou and A.N. Lasenby (Cambridge, 2006)

• High Energy Astrophysics – M.S. Longair (2nd Ed, Cambridge, 1992)

• Principles of Astrophysical Fluid Dymanics – C.J. Clarke and R.F. Carswell (Cambridge, 2007)