Modern General Relativity
Black Holes, Gravitational Waves, and Cosmology

Introduces the physics of general relativity in relation to modern topics such as gamma-ray bursts, black holes, and gravitational waves.

Mike Guidry (Author)

9781107197893, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 3 January 2019

622 pages, 1500 b/w illus.
25.2 x 19.3 x 3 cm, 1.5 kg

'Guidry's new book is a winner. While its depth and coverage are superior to most other textbooks at this level, it manages to stay pedagogical and friendly throughout. Impressive!' Rafael López-Mobilia, University of Texas, San Antonio

Einstein's general theory of relativity is widely considered to be one of the most elegant and successful scientific theories ever developed, and it is increasingly being taught in a simplified form at advanced undergraduate level within both physics and mathematics departments. Due to the increasing interest in gravitational physics, in both the academic and the public sphere, driven largely by widely-publicised developments such as the recent observations of gravitational waves, general relativity is also one of the most popular scientific topics pursued through self-study. Modern General Relativity introduces the reader to the general theory of relativity using an example-based approach, before describing some of its most important applications in cosmology and astrophysics, such as gamma-ray bursts, neutron stars, black holes, and gravitational waves. With hundreds of worked examples, explanatory boxes, and end-of-chapter problems, this textbook provides a solid foundation for understanding one of the towering achievements of twentieth-century physics.

Part I. General Relativity: 1. Introduction
2. Coordinate systems and transformations
3. Tensors and covariance
4. Lorentz covariance and special relativity
5. Lorentz-invariant dynamics
6. The principle of equivalence
7. Curved spacetime and general covariance
8. The general theory of relativity
9. The Schwarzschild spacetime
10. Neutron stars and pulsars
Part II. Black Holes: 11. Spherical black holes
12. Quantum black holes
13. Rotating black holes
14. Observational evidence for black holes
15. Black holes as central engines
Part III. Cosmology: 16. The Hubble expansion
17. Energy and matter in the Universe
18. Friedmann cosmologies
19. Evolution of the Universe
20. The Big Bang
21. Extending classical Big Bang theory
Part IV. Gravitational Wave Astronomy: 22. Gravitational waves
23. Weak sources of gravitational waves
24. Strong sources of gravitational waves
Part V. General Relativity and Beyond: 25. Tests of general relativity
26. Beyond standard models.

Subject Areas: Relativity physics [PHR], Physics [PH], Cosmology & the universe [PGK]