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ELEC_ENG 411: Fundamentals and Applications of Special Relativity

VIEW ALL COURSE TIMES AND SESSIONS

Prerequisites

Familiarity with the Laws of Electromagnetism at the Level of ELEC_ENG 224

Description

COURSE INSTRUCTOR: Prof. Selim Shahriar

REQUIRED TEXTS: None; Written lecture notes will be provided.

REFERENCE TEXTS: 

1. Primary: “Special Relativity,” A.P. French, W.W. Norton, New York, London (MIT Introductory Physics Series); Available from Amazon.com
2. Secondary: “Classical Electrodynamics,” J.D. Jackson, Third Edition, Wiley, New York.; Available from Amazon.com

DETAILED COURSE TOPICS:

1. Experimental Foundation behind Special Relativity
2. Lorentz Transformation of Coordinates
3. Addition of Velocities
4. Time Dilation and Lorentz Contraction; Proper Time.
5. Forward Time Travel and Resolution of the Twin Paradox.
6. Lorentz Transformation of Electric and Magnetic Fields.
7. Second Order Doppler Effect.
8. Origin of Magnetic Fields and Forces.
9. Lorentz Invariant Representation of Maxwell’s Equations.
10. Maxwell Stress-Energy Tensor and its Role in Electromagnetic Forces in Nanostructures
11. Relativistic Dynamics of Charged Particles
12. SR in accelerated frames
13. Sagnac Effect; Fresnel Drag for Electromagnetic Waves in Moving Media.
14. Relevance of SR to modern devices: Optical and Atomic Gyroscopes, Global Positioning Systems, Atomic Clocks, Free Electron Laser
15. Electron Spin and Pauli Exclusion Principle