Gravitational Collapse and Spacetime Singularities

This book examines gravitational collapse for graduate students and researchers in gravitation physics, fundamental physics, astrophysics, and cosmology.

Pankaj S. Joshi (Author)

9780521871044, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 13 December 2007

284 pages
25.3 x 18.4 x 1.8 cm, 0.652 kg

'Gravitational collapse of massive objects is still a major unsolved problem in general relativity at the present time. Collapse of massive objects may lead to a black hole, but may also lead to a naked singularity. Both are possible, as the conjectured 'cosmic censorship' that would cloak naked singularities does not always hold; it is an important topic in gravitational physics to determine which will occur under what circumstances. In this well reasoned book, Dr Joshi gives a careful survey of the general relativity aspects of this problem, emphasizing how it remains unsolved to the present day. The book will provide a good springboard for those wishing to tackle this important problem.' George Ellis, University of Cape Town

Physical phenomena in astrophysics and cosmology involve gravitational collapse in a fundamental way. The final fate of a massive star when it collapses under its own gravity at the end of its life cycle is one of the most important questions in gravitation theory and relativistic astrophysics, and is the foundation of black hole physics. General relativity predicts that continual gravitational collapse gives rise to a space-time singularity. Quantum gravity may take over in such regimes to resolve the classical space-time singularity. This book investigates these issues, and shows how the visible ultra-dense regions arise naturally and generically as an outcome of dynamical gravitational collapse. It will be of interest to graduate students and academic researchers in gravitation physics, fundamental physics, astrophysics, and cosmology. It includes a detailed review of research into gravitational collapse, and several examples of collapse models are investigated in detail.

1. Introduction
2. The spacetime manifold
3. Spherical collapse
4. Cosmic censorship
5. Final fate of a massive star
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Astrophysics [PHVB], Relativity physics [PHR], Cosmology & the universe [PGK]