General Relativity
Abstract
This book is intended to provide a thorough introduction to the theory of general relativity. It is intended to serve as both a text for graduate students and a reference book for researchers. According to general relativity, as formulated by Einstein in 1915, the intrinsic, observer-independent, properties of spacetime are described by a spacetime metric, as in special relativity. The structure of spacetime is related to the matter content of spacetime. Manifolds and tensor fields are considered along with curvature, Einstein's equation, isotropic cosmology, the Schwarzschild solution, methods for solving Einstein's equation, causal structure, singularities, the initial value formulation, asymptotic flatness, black holes, spinors, and quantum effects in strong gravitational fields. Attention is also given to topological spaces, maps of manifolds, Lie derivatives, Killing fields, conformal transformations, and Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of Einstein's equation.
- Publication:
- Pub Date:
- 1984
- Bibcode:
- 1984ucp..book.....W
- Keywords:
-
- Gravitation Theory;
- Relativity;
- Asymptotic Properties;
- Black Holes (Astronomy);
- Cosmology;
- Curvature;
- Einstein Equations;
- Field Theory (Physics);
- Geodesic Lines;
- Manifolds (Mathematics);
- Minkowski Space;
- Quantum Electrodynamics;
- Red Shift;
- Schwarzschild Metric;
- Space-Time Functions;
- Spinor Groups;
- Tensors;
- Thermodynamics;
- Physics (General)