Clifford WILL (Washington University, Saint-Louis) & Gilles ESPOSITO-FARESE (IAP)

Gravitation: theories and experiments

Part 1 : C. Will
4 lectures: 26, 27, 28, 29 September 2006

Background Reading and References:

Outline of Lectures

1. Einstein Equivalence Principle
[PDF notes, PowerPoint file]

2. Post-Newtonian limit in GR [PDF notes, PowerPoint file]


3. PPN framework 
[PDF notes, PowerPoint file]

4.Tests of PPN parameters [PDF notes, PowerPoint file]

Part 2 : G. Esposito-Farèse

3 lectures: 10, 11, 12 October 2006

A. Scalar-tensor gravity [PDF notes]
  1. General relativistic action
  2. Higher-order gravity
  3. Einstein and Jordan frames
  4. Scalar-tensor theories
  5. Nordström, Brans-Dicke and generalizations
  6. Weak-field predictions
  7. Strong-field predictions
  8. Gravitational waves
B. Binary-pulsar tests [PDF notes]
  1. Pulsars
  2. Post-Keplerian formalism
  3. PSRs B1913+16 and B1534+12
  4. The dissymmetric PSR J1141-6545
  5. The double pulsar J0737-3039
  6. Constraints on scalar-tensor theories
  7. Comparison with LIGO/VIRGO and LISA
  8. Null tests of symmetry principles
C. Modified Newtonian dynamics [PDF notes]
  1. Dark matter
  2. Milgrom's MOND phenomenology
  3. Various theoretical attempts
  4. Aquadratic (k-essence) models
  5. Light deflection
  6. Disformal and vector-tensor theories
  7. Experimental issues
  8. Pioneer anomaly