General Relativity: A Concise Introduction

by Steven Carlip

Overview

Einstein's general theory of relativity — currently our best theory of gravity — is important not only to specialists, but to a much wider group of physicists. This short textbook on general relativity and gravitation offers students glimpses of the vast landscape of science connected to general relativity. It incorporates some of the latest research in the field. The book is aimed at readers with a broad range of interests in physics, from cosmology, to gravitational radiation, to high energy physics, to condensed matter theory. The pedagogical approach is "physics first": readers move very quickly to the calculation of observational predictions, and only return to the mathematical foundations after the physics is established. In addition to the "standard" topics covered by most introductory textbooks, it contains short introductions to more advanced topics: for instance, why field equations are second order, how to treat gravitational energy, and what is required for a Hamiltonian formulation of general relativity. A concluding chapter discusses directions for further study, from mathematical relativity, to experimental tests, to quantum gravity.

This is an introductory text, but it has also been written as a jumping-off point for readers who plan to study more specialized topics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198822158
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	03/30/2019
Edition description:	Concise
Pages:	154
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Steven Carlip, Department of Physics, University of California at Davis

Steven Carlip received an undergraduate degree in physics from Harvard in 1975. After seven years as a printer, editor, factory worker, and activist, he returned to graduate school at the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned his Ph.D. in 1987. Following a stint as a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, he joined the faculty of the University of California at Davis, where he has remained since. His main research focus is quantum gravity, but he has also worked on classical general relativity, quantum field theory, and the interface between physics and topology.

Table of Contents

1. Gravity as geometry2. Geodesics3. Geodesics in the Solar System4. Manifolds and tensors5. Derivatives and curvature6. The Einstein field equations7. The stress-energy tensor8. The weak field approximation9. Gravitational waves10. Black holes11. Cosmology12. Next stepsAppendix A. Mathematical details

Editorial Reviews

"This is a really remarkable book. It has only 150 pages, but it introduces Einstein's general theory of relativity on firm grounds with carefully chosen explanations. It covers both the differential geometric part and the physics part in a well-balanced matter...This is an introductory text, but it has also been written as a jumping off point for readers who plan to study more specialized topics." — Hans-Jürgen Schmidt, zbMATH

"Steven Carlip has produced a modern, concise, and pedagogical introduction to general relativity. This is the way the theory should be presented in our time. From students to experienced researchers, it is essential reading for everyone interested in this fascinating field." — Claus Kiefer, University of Cologne

From the Publisher