This book describes global aspects in gravitation theory and cosmology within the framework of Einstein's theory of gravity. Topics include results on the structure and topology of space-time, exact solutions to Einstein equations and singularities, the status of quantum gravity, and quantum effects near space-time singularities in strong curvature fields. The author also discusses the nature and structure of space-time singularities, the cosmic censorship problem in black hole physics, and the issue of quantum effects in strong gravity fields. Students and mathematicians, astrophysicists,...

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...

This book journeys into one of the most fascinating intellectual adventures of recent decades - understanding and exploring the final fate of massive collapsing stars in the universe. The issue is of great interest in fundamental physics and cosmology today, from both the perspective of gravitation theory and of modern astrophysical observations.