Introduction to Einstein's Theory of Relativity: From Newton's Attractive Gravity to the Repulsive Gravity of Vacuum Energy

ISBN-13: 9783030438616 / Angielski / Miękka / 2020 / 520 str.

Øyvind Grøn

Opis

This book collects lectures on the general theory of relativity given by Dr. Oyvind Gron at the University of Oslo, Norway. This accessible text allows students to follow the deductions all the way throughout the book.

Spis treści

Newton’s law of universal gravitation.- The force law of gravitation.- Newton’s law of gravitation in local form.- Tidal forces.- The principle of equivalence.- The general principle of relativity.- The covariance principle.- Mach’s principle.- The special theory of relativity.- Coordinate systems and Minkowski diagrams.- Synchronization of clocks.- The Doppler effect.- Relativistic time-dilation.- The relativity of simultaneity.- The Lorentz contraction.- The Lorentz transformation.- The Lorentz invariant interval.- The twin paradox.- Hyperbolic motion.- Energy and mass.- Relativistic increase of mass.- Tachyons.- Magnetism as a relativistic second order effect.- Vectors, tensors and forms.- Vectors.- Four-vectors.- Tangent vector fields and coordinate vectors.- Coordinate transformations.- Structure coefficients.- Tensors.- Transformation of tensor components.- Transformation of basis 1-forms.- The metric tensor.- Forms.- Rotating and accelerated reference frames.- Rotating reference frames.- The spatial metric tensor.- Angular acceleration of the rotating frame.- Gravitational time dilation.- Path of photons emitted from the axis in a rotating frame.- The Sagnac effect.- Uniformly accelerated reference frames.- Covariant differentiation.- Differentiation of forms.- Exterior differentiation.- Covariant derivative.- The Christoffel symbols.- Geodetic curves.- The covariant Euler-Lagrange equations.- Application of the Lagrange formalism to free particles.- Equation of motion from Lagrange’s equations.- Geodesic worldliness in spacetime.- Gravitational Doppler effect.- The Koszul connection.- Connection coefficients and structure coefficients in a Riemannian (torsion free) space.- Covariant differentiation of vectors, forms and tensors.- Covariant differentiation of a vector field in an arbitrary basis.- Covariant differentiation of forms.- Generalization for tensors of higher rank.- The Cartan connection.- Curvature.- The Riemann curvature tensor.- Differential geometry of surfaces.- Surface curvature using the Cartan formalism.- The Ricci identity.- Bianchi’s 1st identity.- Bianchi’s 2nd identity.- Einstein’s field equations.- Energy-momentum conservation.- Newtonian fluid.- Perfect fluids.- Einstein’s curvature tensor.- Einstein’s field equations.- The 'geodesic postulate' as a consequence of the field equations.- The Schwarschild spacetime.- Schwarzschild’s exterior solution.- Radial free fall in Schwarzschild spacetime.- Light cones in Schwarzschild spacetime.- Analytical extension of the Schwarzschild coordinates.- Embedding of the Schwarzschild metric.- Deceleration of light.- Particle trajectories in Schwarzschild 3-space.- Motion in the equatorial plane.- Classical tests of Einstein’s general theory of relativity.- The Hafele-Keating experiment.- Mercury’s perihelion precession.- Deflection of light.- Black holes.- 'Surface gravity': gravitational acceleration on the horizon of a black hole.- Hawking radiation: radiation from a black hole.- Rotating black holes: The Kerr metric.- Zero-angular-momentum-observers.- Does the Kerr space have a horizon?.- Schwarzschild’s interior solution.- Newtonian incompressible star.- The pressure contribution to the gravitational mass of a static, spherically symmetric system.- The Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkov equation.- An exact solution for incompressible stars – Schwarzschild’s interior solution.- Cosmology.- Comoving coordinate system.- Curvature isotropy – the Robertson-Walker metric.- Cosmic dynamics.- Hubble’s law.- Cosmological redshift of light.- Cosmic fluids.- Isotropic and homogeneous universe models.- Some cosmological models.- Radiation dominated model.- Dust dominated model.- Transition from radiation to matter dominated universe.- Friegmann-Lemaître model.- Inflationary cosmology.- Problems with the Big Bang models.- Cosmic inflation.

O autorze

Øyvind Grøn is a Norwegian physicist, who took the cand. real. degree at the University of Oslo in 1973, majoring in meteorology, and went on to obtain the PhD degree in 1990 with a thesis on repulsive gravitation. He was appointed as a professor at Oslo University College in 1994, having been an associate professor since 1985, and has also been professor at the University of Oslo since 1994. Grøn has conducted research within the areas of general relativity, cosmology and classical electromagnetism. He has thrown new light on themes like the twin paradox, physics in a rotating reference system (Ehrenfest paradox) and repulsive gravitation associated with vacuum energy. He has written several books including Introduction to General Relativity and its Mathematics (Springer 1998, with Arne Næss), Einstein's General Theory of Relativity: With Modern Applications in Cosmology (Springer 2007, with Sigbjørn Hervik) and Einstein's Theory: A Rigorous Introduction for the Mathematically Untrained (Springer 2011, with Arne Næss)

Blurb

The revised and updated 2^nd edition of this established textbook provides a self-contained introduction to the general theory of relativity, describing not only the physical principles and applications of the theory, but also the mathematics needed, in particular the calculus of differential forms.

Updated throughout, the book contains more detailed explanations and extended discussions of several conceptual points, and strengthened mathematical deductions where required. It includes examples of work conducted in the ten years since the first edition of the book was published, for example the pedagogically helpful concept of a "river of space" and a more detailed discussion of how far the principle of relativity is contained in the general theory of relativity. Also presented is a discussion of the concept of the 'gravitational field' in Einstein's theory, and some new material concerning the 'twin paradox' in the theory of relativity.

Finally, the book contains a new section about gravitational waves, exploring the dramatic progress in this field following the LIGO observations.

Based on a long-established masters course, the book serves advanced undergraduate and graduate level students, and also provides a useful reference for researchers.