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SIGGRAPH 2001 Course #15: "Visualizing Relativity"


Introduction

At SIGGRAPH 2001, Andrew J. Hanson (Indiana University) and Daniel Weiskopf (University of Stuttgart) organized a course on "Visualizing Relativity". The course is intended for those who seek a deeper intuitive understanding of the theories of relativity. It provides an introduction to how modern computer graphics techniques can be adapted to visualize and simulate the physics of interacting light and matter under extreme conditions. The first half of the course focuses on how relativistic effects can be intuitively understood starting from Euclidean 3D geometry. The second half concentrates on recent advances in photorealistic simulation of scenes and relativistic phenomena using computer graphics to show features that could never be seen in real life at human time and space scales.

Course Details

The course takes place Sunday 12th August 2001, 1:30-5 pm.

Course topics are: A geometric, intuitive approach to special relativity. Minkowski diagrams. How relativistic transformations are related to familiar geometric concepts used in 3D rotations. Properties of light under the extreme conditions of both special and general relativity: changes of color, intensity, and direction of light, and gravitational light bending. Relativistic rendering techniques.

Prerequisites are: Substantial familiarity with conventional mathematical methods of 3D computer graphics and prior exposure to 3D rendering techniques. No prior knowledge of the theories of relativity is required. Attendees may find that some of the material covered in Course 5 ("Quaternions") provides useful background.

More information can be found on the official Course #15 Web page.

Slides

Under construction...


Last modified 20 July 2001
by Daniel Weiskopf