General Relativity, Astrophysics, and Cosmology

Softcover Nachdruck of the original 1. Auflage 1992
ISBN: 978-0-387-40628-2
Verlag: Springer

Buch, Englisch, 312 Seiten, Paperback, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 476 g

Reihe: Astronomy and Astrophysics Library

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.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Raychaudhuri, A. K.

Banerjee, A.

Banerji, S.

Fachgebiete

• Naturwissenschaften Physik Quantenphysik Relativität, Gravitation
• Geowissenschaften Geologie Geodäsie, Kartographie, Fernerkundung
• Naturwissenschaften Physik Angewandte Physik Astrophysik
• Geowissenschaften Geographie | Raumplanung Geodäsie, Kartographie, GIS, Fernerkundung
• Geowissenschaften Geologie Geophysik
• Naturwissenschaften Physik Angewandte Physik Geophysik
• Naturwissenschaften Astronomie Kosmologie, Urknalltheorie
• Naturwissenschaften Astronomie Astrophysik
• Naturwissenschaften Astronomie Astronomie: Allgemeines

Inhaltsverzeichnis

I. The General Theory of Relativity.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Tensor Calculus and Riemannian Geometry.- 3. Einstein’s Field Equations.- 4. The Schwarzschild Metric and Crucial Tests.- 5. Electromagnetism in General Relativity.- 6. Axially Symmetric Fields.- 7. The Kerr Metric or the Rotating Black Hole.- 8. The Energy—Momentum Pseudotensor of the Gravitational Field and Loss of Energy by Gravitational Radiation.- 9. Analysis of the Observational Data of the Hulse—Taylor Pulsar. Confirmation of the Einstein Quadrupole Radiation Formula.- II. Relativistic Astrophysics.- 10. White Dwarf Stars.- 11. Stellar Evolution, Supernovae, and Compact Objects.- 12. Pulsars.- 13. Spherically Symmetric Star Models.- 14. Black Holes.- 15. Accretion onto Compact Objects.- III. Cosmology.- 16. The Standard Cosmological Model.- 17. The Singularity Problem.- 18. Thermal History of the Universe—Cosmological Nucleosynthesis.- 19. Structure Formation in the Universe.- 20. Grand Unified Theory and Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking.- 21. The Inflationary Scenario.- 22. Concluding Remarks.- Appendix. Differential Forms.- A.1. Introductory Ideas and Definitions.- A.2. Connection 1-Forms and Ricci Rotation Coefficients.- A.3. Cartan’s Equations of Structure.- A.4. Bianchi Identities and Symmetry Properties of the Riemann—Christoffel Tensor.- A.5. An Example of the Calculation of the Riemann—Christoffel Tensor.- References.