Short description
Einstein's general theory of relativity requires a curved space for the description of the physical world. This title comprises thirty-five compact chapters that takes the reader point-by-point through the necessary steps for understanding general relativity.
Long description
Einstein's general theory of relativity requires a curved space for the description of the physical world. If one wishes to go beyond superficial discussions of the physical relations involved, one needs to set up precise equations for handling curved space. The well-established mathematical technique that accomplishes this is clearly described in this classic book by Nobel Laureate P.A.M. Dirac. Based on a series of lectures given by Dirac at Florida State University, and intended for the advanced undergraduate, General Theory of Relativity comprises thirty-five compact chapters that take the reader point-by-point through the necessary steps for understanding general relativity.
Review
Seasoned physicists will appreciate the book as an elegant, well-organized introduction to the basic mathematics and physics of curved space. -- Physics Today Dirac was a man of few words, and this little book-with 35 sections spanning 69 pages-exhibits the concise, direct style that was his trademark. Seasoned physicists will appreciate the book as an elegant, well-organized introduction to the basic mathematics and physics of curved space. -- R. Corby Hovis, Physics Today
Table of contents
- 1Special Relativity 2Oblique Axes 3Curvilinear Coordinates 4Nontensors 5Curved Space 6Parallel Displacement 7Christoffel Symbols 8Geodesics 9The Stationary Property of Geodesics 10Covariant Differentiation 11The Curvature Tensor 12The Condition for Flat Space 13The Bianchi Relations 14The Ricci Tensor 15Einstein's Law of Gravitation 16The Newtonian Approximation 17The Gravitational Red Shift 18The Schwarzchild Solution 19Black Holes 20Tensor Densities 21Gauss and Stokes Theorems 22Harmonic Coordinates 23The Electromagnetic Field 24Modification of the Einstein Equations by the Presence of Matter 25The Material Energy Tensor 26The Gravitational Action Principle 27The Action for a Continuous Distribution of Matter 28The Action for the Electromagnetic Field 29The Action for Charged Matter 30The Comprehensive Action Principle 31The Pseudo-Energy Tensor of the Gravitational Field 32Explicit Expression for the Pseudo-Tensor 33Gravitational Waves 34The Polarization of Gravitational Waves 35The Cosmological Term Index