List of likely exam questions
- What is the GKZ cutoff? What is the cutoff energy?
- What is the difference between covariant and contravariant
tensors?
- What is the rank of tensors?
- What is a mixed tensor?
- How do you define the trace of a mixed rank-2 tensor?
- What is the direct product of tensors?
- What is the quotient rule for tensors?
- Define tidal forces.
- What is a Riemann manifold?
- What is the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic
curvature?
- Define the metric tensor.
- Define covariant and contravariant bases.
- Explain the covariant derivative of a contravariant vector and
the connection coefficients.
- How does the covariant derivative of a covariant vector differ
from that of a contravariant vector?
- Derive the formula for the connection coefficients.
- What is the geodesic equation?
- What is the definition of the Riemann tensor?
- Define the Ricci tensor and the Ricci scalar.
- What is the geodesic deviation?
- What is the principle of general covariance?
- What is the principle of consistency?
- What is the principle of equivalence?
- What is the stress-energy tensor?
- What is the transverse-traceless gauge?
- The transfer function of a simple Michelson interferometer.
- Discuss the method to produce sidebands in the laser beam in
an interferometer.
- What is the Schnupp asymmetry?
- Derive the Airy function for a Fabry-Perot resonant cavity.
- Discuss the "photon lifetime" in a Fabry-Perot cavity.
- Why are GW interferometers usually operated with overcoupled
FP cavities?
- What is power recycling in a GW interferometer?
- Describe the phases of a compact binary coalescence.
- Discuss thermal noise in a GW interferometer.
- Decribe the antenna patterns of a GW interferometer.
- What is a matched filter?
- How is the BNS range defined?
- What is a kilonova?
- Upper bound on the difference between speed of light and speed
of gravity from GW170817.
- What is the difference between source frame mass and detector
frame mass?
December 2023