Special Relativity and Electrodynamics
Special Relativity and Electrodynamics (Spring 2008, Stanford Univ.). Instructor: Professor Leonard Susskind. In 1905, while only twenty-six years old,
Albert Einstein published "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" and effectively extended classical laws of relativity to all laws of physics, even electrodynamics.
In this course, we will take a close look at the special theory of relativity and also at classical field theory. Concepts addressed here will include space-time and
four-dimensional space-time, electromagnetic fields and Maxwell's equations. We will also encounter the work of the German mathematician Hermann Minkowski.
(from theoreticalminimum.com)
| Lecture 1 - Inertial reference frames The principle of relativity, Reference frames, Lorentz transformation, Length contraction and time dilation, Proper time. |
| Lecture 2 - Principle of least action Relativistic particle mechanics, Four-vectors and four-velocity, Principle of least action, Lagrangian for a point particle, Relativistic momentum and energy. |
| Lecture 3 - Invariance of the laws of nature Principle of covariance, Action principle, Summation convention, Contravariant/ covariant vectors, Tensors. |
| Lecture 4 - Lagrangian mechanics Action integral, Kinetic and potential energy, Lagrangian, Symmetries and conservation laws, Canonical momentum, Conservation of momentum and translational symmetry, Conservation of energy. |
| Lecture 5 - Conservation of charge and momentum Conservation of momentum and energy in field theory, Invariance and conservation of charge. |
| Lecture 6 - Relativistic wave equation and conservation laws Lorentz transformation, Wave equation, Classical field theory, Complex wave function. |
| Lecture 7 - Invariance under gauge transformations Complex field, Gauge transformation, Gauge covariant derivative, Symmetry and gauge transformations, Conservation of charge, Charged particle in a magnetic field. |
| Lecture 8 - Gauge theory Gauge transformation, Gauge invariance, Conservation of charge, Lorentz force, Magnetic monopoles. |
| References |
| Special Relativity and Electrodynamics (Spring, 2008) | The Theoretical Minimum In this course, we will take a close look at the special theory of relativity and also at classical field theory. |