The Large Scale Structure of Space-Time

by Stephen Hawking, G. F. R. Ellis, Peter Landshoff

Overview

Einstein's General Theory of Relativity leads to two remarkable predictions: first, that the ultimate destiny of many massive stars is to undergo gravitational collapse and to disappear from view, leaving behind a 'black hole' in space; and secondly, that there will exist singularities in space-time itself. These singularities are places where space-time begins or ends, and the presently known laws of physics break down. They will occur inside black holes, and in the past are what might be construed as the beginning of the universe. To show how these predictions arise, the authors discuss the General Theory of Relativity in the large. Starting with a precise formulation of the theory and an account of the necessary background of differential geometry, the significance of space-time curvature is discussed and the global properties of a number of exact solutions of Einstein's field equations are examined. The theory of the causal structure of a general space-time is developed, and is used to study black holes and to prove a number of theorems establishing the inevitability of singualarities under certain conditions. A discussion of the Cauchy problem for General Relativity is also included in this 1973 book.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521099066
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	02/27/1975
Series:	Cambridge Monographs on Mathematical Physics
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	404
Product dimensions:	5.94(w) x 8.94(h) x 0.79(d)

About the Author

Stephen Hawking (b. Jan. 8, 1942 - d. Mar. 14, 2018) was a renowned English physicist whose research on black holes, general relativity, and quantum mechanics revolutionized human understanding of the cosmos. He held Isaac Newton's chair as Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge and authored several books including Black Holes and Baby Universes, The Grand Design, and the ground-breaking bestseller A Brief History of Time. A film adaptation of his life story, The Theory of Everything, was released in 2014 based on the memoir Travelling to Infinity by his first wife Jane Hawking.

Hometown:

Cambridge, England

Date of Birth:

January 8, 1942

Date of Death:

March 14, 2018

Place of Birth:

Oxford, England

Table of Contents

Preface; 1. The role of gravity; 2. Differential geometry; 3. General relativity; 4. The physical significance of curvature; 5. Exact solutions; 6. Causal structure; 7. The Cauchy problem in General Relativity; 8. Space-time singularities; 9. Gravitational collapse and black holes; 10. The initial singularity in the universe; Appendixes; References; Notation; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"...an excellent set of reviews of some of the most exciting areas of research in gravitational physics...I have not found a comparable compilation of valuable information on the current status of general relativity." American Scientist

From the Publisher