Relativity, Gravitation and Cosmology

by Robert J. A. Lambourne

Overview

Aimed at advanced undergraduates, this self-contained textbook covers the key ideas of special and general relativity together with their applications. The textbook introduces students to basic geometric concepts, such as metrics, connections and curvature, before examining general relativity in more detail. It shows the observational evidence supporting the theory, and the description general relativity provides of black holes and cosmological space-times. The textbook is in full colour, with numerous worked examples and exercises with solutions. Key points and equations are highlighted for easy identification, and each chapter ends with a summary list of important concepts and results. This textbook provides the essential background for an up-to-date discussion of modern observational cosmology. Each chapter builds on the previous one as concepts are developed, making it ideal for self-study. Accompanying resources to this textbook are available at: http://www.cambridge.org/features/astrophysics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521131384
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	06/01/2010
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	312
Sales rank:	890,599
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 10.30(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Robert Lambourne is Director of the Physics Innovation Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (piCETL) in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, The Open University. In 2002 he was awarded the Bragg medal and prize of the Institute of Physics for his contributions to physics education, and was made a National Teaching Fellow in 2006.

Table of Contents

1. Special relativity and spacetime; 2. Special relativity and physical laws; 3. Geometry and curved spacetime; 4. General relativity; 5. The Schwarzschild solution and black holes; 6. Testing general relativity; 7. Cosmological solutions; 8. Our Universe; Index.

Editorial Reviews

The author has done a great job of producing a text suitable for upper level undergrads and even first year graduate students. The graphics are very good and I particularly appreciate the concise chapter summaries and the exercises with solutions. Students will love this text. I will definitely use it in my upper division classes.” - Professor John Huchra, Harvard University

“The presentation of special and general relativity is remarkably clear, with explicit derivations and explanations accompanied by useful and relevant exercises. This text strikes a nice balance between theory and applications and does a commendable job of bringing undergraduates up to speed on a challenging topic. I highly recommend it for a first undergraduate course in general relativity.” - Dr Jeremy Darling, University of Colorado

“…is an attractive production, with nice clear diagrams, good use of colour, and photographs and thumb-nail sketches of the major contributors to the field. Lambourne’s book really scores, however, in its careful, thorough and well thought-out presentation of the subject…The text reads very comfortably and creates a sense that one is being guided by experienced and knowledgeable authors…This is an excellent volume which can be highly recommended for an introductory course on general relativity and I hope will have the effect of increasing understanding of this most beautiful and striking creation of twentieth century physics.” – Lewis Ryder, Contemporary Physics, May 2011

From the Publisher