An Introduction to Relativity

by Jayant V. Narlikar

• ISBN13: 9780521514972
• ISBN10: 0521514975
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-03-08
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

General relativity is now an essential part of undergraduate and graduate courses in physics, astrophysics and applied mathematics. This simple, user-friendly introduction to relativity is ideal for a first course in the subject. Beginning with a comprehensive but simple review of special relativity, the book creates a framework from which to launch the ideas of general relativity. After describing the basic theory, it moves on to describe important applications to astrophysics, black hole physics, and cosmology. Several worked examples, and numerous figures and images, help students appreciate the underlying concepts. There are also 180 exercises which test and develop students' understanding of the subject. The textbook presents all the necessary information and discussion for an elementary approach to relativity. Password-protected solutions to the exercises are available to instructors at www.cambridge.org/9780521735612.

Author Biography

Jayant V. Narlikar is Emeritus Professor at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune, India. He is the author of An Introduction to Cosmology, now in its third edition (Cambridge University Press, 2002), and has been active in teaching and researching cosmology, theoretical astrophysics, gravitation and relativity for nearly five decades.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
The special theory of relativity	p. 1
From the special to the general theory of relativity	p. 34
Vectors and tensors	p. 41
Covariant differentiation	p. 59
Curvature of spacetime	p. 70
Spacetime symmetries	p. 85
Physics in curved spacetime	p. 100
Einstein's equations	p. 116
The Schwarzschild solution	p. 126
Experimental tests of general relativity	p. 143
Gravitational radiation	p. 162
Relativistic astrophysics	p. 176
Black holes	p. 194
The expanding Universe	p. 223
Friedmann models	p. 245
The early Universe	p. 275
Observational cosmology	p. 306
Beyond relativity	p. 334
References	p. 353
Index	p. 358
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