General Relativity: An Introduction for Physicists

General Relativity: An Introduction for Physicists provides a clear mathematical introduction to Einstein's theory of general relativity. It presents a wide range of applications of the theory, concentrating on its physical consequences. After reviewing the basic concepts, the authors present a clear and intuitive discussion of the mathematical background, including the necessary tools of tensor calculus and differential geometry. These tools are then used to develop the topic of special relativity and to discuss electromagnetism in Minkowski spacetime. Gravitation as spacetime curvature is then introduced and the field equations of general relativity derived. After applying the theory to a wide range of physical situations, the book concludes with a brief discussion of classical field theory and the derivation of general relativity from a variational principle. Written for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, this approachable textbook contains over 300 exercises to illuminate and extend the discussion in the text.

Table of Contents:
1. The spacetime of special relativity; 2. Manifolds and coordinates; 3. Vector calculus on manifolds; 4. Tensor calculus on manifolds; 5. Special relativity revisited; 6. Electromagnetism; 7. The equivalence principle and spacetime curvature; 8. The gravitational field equations; 9. The Schwarzschild geometry; 10. Experimental tests of general relativity; 11. Schwarzschild black holes; 12. Further spherically-symmetric geometries; 13. The Kerr geometry; 14. The Friedmann–Robertson–Walker geometry; 15. Cosmological models; 16. Inflationary cosmology; 17. Linearised general relativity; 18. Gravitational waves; 19. A variational approach to general relativity.

About the Author :
Michael Hobson is a Reader in Astrophysics and Cosmology at the Cavendish Laboratory. He is also Director of Natural Sciences at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. George Efstathiou is Director of the Institute of Astronomy, the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of the Royal Society. Anthony Lasenby is Professor of Astrophysics and Cosmology and Head of both the Astrophysics Group and the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory at the University of Cambridge.

Review :
'... this book is a fine introduction and exposition of many of the theory's features. ... A beautiful approach is taken: the authors show that a consistent theory of electromagnetism can be derived from the simple supposition that there is a force ... I strongly recommend this book for a very wide range of readers. Advanced undergraduates will obtain a good first understanding of GR; postgraduates will find it a useful reference book, and will no doubt learn a great deal that they have not fully covered at undergraduate level. Researchers and lecturers will also find it an invaluable book, not only for recommending to students, but also for obtaining significant new insights themselves.' The Observatory 'What I enjoyed was the clarity. The text was erudite and thorough, and flowed beautifully... It was clear that students, with diligent application, could work their own way through the text and benefit hugely from self discovery of this fascinating subject.' Times higher Education Supplement