C8525 - THEORY OF BLACK HOLES

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will have acquired advanced theoretical notions about classical and quantum aspects of black holes, from the classical causal structure to the Hawking effect. The student will also be able to understand some of the basic phenomenology of astrophysical black holes.

Course contents

Prerequisite: General Relativity

1) Classical black hole solutions of the Einstein equations: Schwarzschild, Reissner-Nordstroem and Kerr metric

2) Initial value problem, no-hair and singularity theorems

3) Semiclassical gravity: Hawking effect and black hole thermodynamics

 

 

Readings/Bibliography

S. Hawking, G. Ellis, The large scale structure of space-time, Cambridge Univ. Press (1973)

R. Wald, General Relativity, Chicago Univ. Press (1984)

E. Poisson, A relativist's toolkit, Cambridge Univ. Press (2004)

P. Chrusciel, Geometry of black holes, Boston Univ. Press (2023)

N. Birrell, P. Davies, Quantum fields in curved space, Cambridge Univ. Press (1982)

A. Fabbri, J. Navarro-Salas, Modelling black hole evaporation, Imperial College Press (2005)

Teaching methods

Blackboard lessons, including both theoretical content and exercises, with occasional use of a projector. 

The use of Mathematica (available to all UniBO students) or other analytical and numerical calculation programs is recommended.

Assessment methods

There will be no scheduled exams, but the tests will be held by appointment with the teacher via email.

Oral exam with discussion of a short essay (max 10 pages) to be sent in advance and questions both on the theoretical part and carrying out exercises from the course notes. Essay will weigh approximately 1/3 of the final grade, questions the remaining 2/3. The use of AI tools in the preparation of the essay is permitted exclusively for bibliographic research and to improve the text.

Final grade: sufficient knowledge 18-20; basic knowledge 21-23; fair knowledge 24-26; good knowledge 27-29; excellent knowledge 30-30L.

Students with temporary or permanent learning disabilities (SLD): please contact the relevant University's office promptly. The office will recommend any accommodations to affected students. These applications must be submitted to the instructor for approval 15 days in advance, who will evaluate their suitability in light of the course's educational objectives.

Teaching tools

Detailed bibliographic references.

Office hours

See the website of Roberto Casadio

See the website of Andrea Giusti