Special and General Relativity: Fundamentals, Applications in Astrophysics and Cosmology and Relativistic Visualization

by Sebastian Boblest, Thomas Müller, Günter Wunner

Overview

This textbook combines the mathematical foundations of the theory of special and general relativity with numerous applications in physics and astronomy. Besides the discussion of classical experiments that impressively confirm the predictions of the theory of relativity, a special focus is on cosmology, as an important application of general relativity. The discussion of the physics of compact stellar objects, i.e. white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes, and a short section on the formation and evolution of stars complement the presentation.

The authors put special emphasis on relativistic visualization. Two chapters give an overview of various visualization techniques in special and general relativity. Examples of relativistic visualization make the predictions of relativity, which so blatantly seem to contradict everyday experience, more tangible and intelligible. The resulting figures and accompanying videos support the understanding of the topics covered in the text. The videos are accessible also via the Springer Nature More Media App.

This edition is the translation and extension of a textbook of the authors written in German. It also includes more recent developments in astrophysics and cosmology, such as the detection and observation of gravitational waves, or the Hubble controversy.

The book is intended for students of physics and related study courses who would like to get an overview of both the theory of relativity and its areas of application. However, the interested layperson, too, will gain a new and deeper insight into relativity and astrophysics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783662713310
Publisher:	Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Publication date:	12/14/2025
Pages:	645
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Sebastian Boblest studied physics at the University of Stuttgart and earned his PhD in Theoretical Physics. He then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Visualization and Interactive Systems at the University of Stuttgart.

His research interests were visualization in special and general relativity, as well as the visualization of flow simulations on supercomputers. He now works with Robert Bosch GmbH, Reutlingen, in the field of embedded artificial intelligence.

Thomas Müller is a research associate at the House of Astronomy and at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg. He studied physics at the Eberhards Karls University of Tübingen, where he also earned his PhD.He then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Visualization and Interactive Systems at the University of Stuttgart. His research interests are visualization in special and general relativity, astronomy, and astrophysics, the visualization of high-resolution LIDAR data for geomorphological analyses, and the development of educational software.

Günter Wunner studied physics at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, where he earned his PhD and his habilitation degree. He worked as an associate professor at the Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics at the University of Tübingen. He held a chair for Theoretical Plasma and Atomic Physics at the University of the Ruhr at Bochum.He was head of the Institute of Theoretical Physics I at the University of Stuttgart.His research areas include nonlinear dynamics in quantum physics, non-Hermitian quantum mechanics, as well as atomic physics and astrophysics.

Table of Contents

Introduction.- The road to special relativity.- Lorentz transformations.- Physical consequences of Lorentz.- Mathematical formalism of special relativity.- Relativistic mechanics.- Covariant formulation of electrodynamics.- Visual effects at relativistic velocities.- Visualization in special relativity.- The equivalence principle as the corner stone of general relativity.- Riemannian geometry.- Einstein’s field equations.- Schwarzschild metric.- Kerr metric and detection of two Kerr black holes.- Gravitational waves.- Visualization in general relativity.- Star formation.- Internal structure of stars.- Energy production in stars.- White dwarfs.- Neutron stars.- Classification of stars.- Introduction to cosmology.- The cosmological principle and ist implication for the metric of the universe.- Field equations for the FLRW metric.- General forms of energy.- Theoretical prerequisites for cosmological observations.- SN Ia as standard candles for the young universe.- Cosmic microwave background radiation.- The first few moments.