

Once the required background is covered, concepts related to faster-than-light travel and time travel are discussed. Advanced topics in relativity, such as causal structures, the Raychaudhuri equation, and the energy conditions are presented in detail. No previous knowledge of quantum field theory, or anything else beyond the standard undergraduate curriculum, is required. Previous knowledge of general relativity at the level of a standard undergraduate-level introductory course is recommended, but all the relevant material is included for completion and reference. The lectures cover some of what is currently known about the possibility of superluminal travel and time travel within the context of established science, that is, general relativity and quantum field theory. These lecture notes were prepared for a 25-hour course for advanced undergraduate students participating in Perimeter Institute’s Undergraduate Summer Program.
