Gravity, black holes, and the very early universe

Tai L. Chow9780387736297, 0387736298

Chow introduces the mathematical methods essential to understanding and applying general relativity–tensor calculus, some differential geometry, etc.–but leaves to more advanced references derivations that a beginning student would likely find overly long and tedious. The book employs standard tensor analysis–which requires only basic calculus for its understanding–and resists the temptation to adopt more powerful mathematical formalisms (like exterior calculus and differential forms) used by researchers in the field. In this way, the student can concentrate on learning physics–and not be distracted by the complexities of unfamiliar mathematical methods.

The book also offers comprehensive discussion of the physics of black holes. The author hits just the right level of presentation: sufficient mathematical detail to demonstrate or make plausible the physical attributes of black holes – in contrast to “hand-waving” discussions found in popularizations of the subject – yet not so much mathematics as to lose track of the physics in an impenetrable forest of equations. An equally strong point is the author’s discussion of the most exciting contemporary issues in astrophysics apart from black holes: recent measurements of the cosmic microwave background, the existence of the cosmological constant, dark matter, dark energy and the accelerated expansion of the universe. The final chapters on unification and inflation are also very well done and not generally found in other introductory treatments of general relativity.

In sum, the book is highly informative and has a user-friendly style, which should make it an attractive choice for teachers and students.

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Table of contents :
About the Author……Page 5
Preface……Page 6
Contents……Page 8
Basic Ideas of General Relativity……Page 13
Curvilinear Coordinates and General Tensors……Page 30
Einstein’s Law of Gravitation……Page 56
The Schwarzschild Solution……Page 66
Experimental Tests of Einstein’s Theory……Page 75
The Physics of Black Holes……Page 91
Introduction to Cosmology……Page 120
Big Bang Models……Page 141
Particles, Forces, and Unification of Forces……Page 170
The Inflationary Universe……Page 194
The Physics of the Very Early Universe……Page 207
Classical Mechanics……Page 236
The Special Theory of Relativity……Page 250
Index……Page 281