Introduction to General Relativity

A student-friendly style, over 100 illustrations, and numerous exercises are brought together in this textbook for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students in physics and mathematics. Lewis Ryder develops the theory of general relativity in detail. Covering the core topics of black holes, gravitational radiation, and cosmology, he provides an overview of general relativity and its modern ramifications. The book contains chapters on gravitational radiation, cosmology, and connections between general relativity and the fundamental physics of the microworld. It explains the geometry of curved spaces and contains key solutions of Einstein's equations - the Schwarzschild and Kerr solutions. Mathematical calculations are worked out in detail, so students can develop an intuitive understanding of the subject, as well as learn how to perform calculations. The book also includes topics concerned with the relation between general relativity and other areas of fundamental physics. Selected solutions for instructors are available under Resources.

Preface; Notation; Important formulae and physical constants; 1. Introduction; 2. Special relativity, non-inertial effects and electromagnetism; 3. Differential geometry I: vectors, forms and absolute differentiation; 4. Differential geometry II: geodesics and curvature; 5. Einstein field equations, the Schwarzschild solution and experimental test of general relativity; 6. Gravitomagnetic effects: gyroscopes and clocks; 7. Gravitational collapse and black holes; 8. Action principles, conservation laws and the Cauchy problem; 9. Gravitational radiation; 10. Cosmology; 11. Gravitation and field theory; References; Index.

Lewis Ryder is an Honorary Senior Lecturer in Physics at the University of Kent, UK. His research interests are in geometrical aspects of particle theory and its parallels with general relativity.