The textbook introduces students to basic geometric concepts, such as metrics, connections and curvature, before examining general relativity in more detail. It shows the observational evidence supporting the theory, and the description general relativity provides of black holes and cosmological spacetimes. --
An introduction to Einstein's general theory of relativity, this work is structured so that interesting applications, such as gravitational lensing, black holes and cosmology, can be presented without the readers having to first learn the difficult mathematics of tensor calculus.
Weinberg's 1972 work, in his description, had two purposes. The first was practical to bring together and assess the wealth of data provided over the previous decade while realizing that newer data would come in even as the book was being printed. He hoped the comprehensive picture would prepare the reader and himself to that new data as it emerged. The second was to produce a textbook about general relativity in which geometric ideas were not given a starring role for (in his words) too great an emphasis on geometry can only obscure the deep connections between gravitation and the rest of physics.
Considering mathematical questions of relativity theory, relations to modern astrophysics, as well as some conceptual foundations, this book includes papers by R. Cahill, J.G. Hartnett, F. Cardone, A. Marrani and R. Mignani, J. Dunning-Davies, A. Gutierrez-Rodriguez, A. Vankov, P. O'Donell & others.
The authors continue the book series entitled Contemporary Fundamental Physics. Edited by Professor Doctor V. V. Dvoeglazov from Universidad de Zacatecas, Mexico, this thematic issue - Relativity, Gravitation, Cosmology: Beyond Foundations - contains chapters related to contemporary problems of modern physics. This book includes an Editorial Introduction and eleven chapters, commentary, and several reprints. This book may also be considered as the continuation of past publications found in the authors' own series concerning relativity. This issue includes contributions from M. Land, V. V. Varlamov, E. Kapuscik, I. A. Vernigora and Yu. G. Rudoy, E. M. Ovsiyuk, V. V. Kisel and V. M. Redkov, O. V. Veko, S. I. Kruglov, B. G. Sidharth, A. Gutierrez-Rodriguez, M. A. Hernandez-Ruiz and A. Gonzalez-Sanchez, and V. V. Dvoeglazov. Older research concerns quantum field theory and gravitation theories. Recent research has been presented at the XI Workshop (2015) and the X and XI Schools (2014 and 2016) of the Gravitation Division of the Sociedad Mexicana de Fisica. The book will be useful to researchers, professors, and students of physics and mathematics.
General relativity and quantum mechanics have become the two central pillars of theoretical physics. Moreover, general relativity has important applications in astrophysics and high-energy particle physics. Covering the fundamentals of the subject, Principles of Cosmology and Gravitation describes the universe as revealed by observations and presents a theoretical framework to enable important cosmological formulae to be derived and numerical calculations performed. Avoiding elaborate formal discussions, the book presents a practical approach that focuses on the general theory of relativity. It examines different evolutionary models and the gravitational effects of massive bodies. The book also includes a large number of worked examples and problems, half with solutions.
For about half a century the general theory of relativity attracted little attention from physicists. However, the discovery of compact objects such as quasars and pulsars, as well as candidates for black holes on the one hand, and the microwave background radiation on the other hand completely changed the picture. In addition, developments in elementary particle physics, such as predictions of the behavior of matter at the ultrahigh energies that might have prevailed in the early stages of the big bang, have greatly en hanced the interest in general relativity. These developments created a large body of readers interested in general relativity, and its applications in astrophysics and cosmology. Having neither the time nor the inclination to delve deeply into the technical literature, such readers need a general introduction to the subject before exploring applica tions. It is for these readers that the present volume is intended. Keeping in mind the broad range of interests and wanting to avoid mathematical compli cations as much as possible, we have ventured to combine all three topics relativity, astrophysics, and cosmology-in a single volume. Naturally, we had to make a careful selection of topics to be discussed in order to keep the book to a manageable length.
Surveying key developments and open issues in cosmology for graduate students and researchers, this book focuses on the general concepts and relations that underpin the standard model of the Universe. It also examines anisotropic and inhomogeneous models, and deeper issues, such as quantum cosmology and the multiverse proposal.