A First Course in General Relativity($51.50Value)

Description

Clarity, readability, and rigor combine in the third edition of this widely used textbook to provide the first step into general relativity for advanced undergraduates with a minimal background in mathematics. Topics within relativity that fascinate astrophysics researchers and students alike are covered with Schutz's characteristic ease and authority, from black holes to relativistic objects, from pulsars to the study of the Universe as a whole. This third edition contains discoveries by astronomers that require general relativity for their explanation; two chapters on gravitational waves, including direct detections of gravitational waves and their observations' impact on cosmological measurements; new information on black holes and neutron stars; and greater insight into the expansion of the Universe. Over 300 exercises, many new to this edition, give students the confidence to work with general relativity and the necessary mathematics, while the informal writing style and worked examples make the subject matter easily accessible. Praise for the second edition: ‘Bernard Schutz's textbook A First Course in General Relativity quickly became a classic, notable for its use of the geometrical approach to the subject, combined with a refreshing succinctness. Since its first publication in 1985, the field of general relativity has exploded … Schutz has done a masterful job of incorporating these new developments into a revised edition, which is sure to become a new 'classic'.' Clifford M. Will, McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis Praise for the second edition: 'This new edition retains all of the original's clarity and insight into the mathematical foundations of general relativity, but thoroughly updates the accounts of the application of the theory in astrophysics and cosmology. The result is an indispensable volume and this new edition will no doubt become a classic text in its own right.' Mike Hobson, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge Praise for the second edition: 'Schutz has updated his eminently readable and eminently teachable A First Course in General Relativity. This text will be appreciated by any upper-level undergraduate with an interest in cosmology, astrophysics, or experimentation in gravitational physics.' Richard Matzner, The Center for Relativity, University of Texas at Austin Praise for the second edition: ' … marvellous … very clear … I cannot recommend this book highly enough to any physicist who wants a good introduction to general relativity.' David Burton, The Observatory Praise for the first edition: 'Schutz has such mastery of the material that it soon becomes clear that one is in authoritative hands, and topics are selected and developed only to a point where they prove adequate for future needs.' The Times Higher Education Supplement Praise for the first edition: '… ought to inspire more physicists and astronomers to teach and learn the other half of the twentieth century's revolution in physics.' Foundations of Physics Praise for the first edition: 'The book is a goldmine of cleverly constructed problems and exercises (and solutions!).' Nature Praise for the first edition: '… provides the first step into general relativity for undergraduate students with a minimal background in mathematics.' Zentralblatt MATH ‘Several generations of students have benefitted from the first two editions of Professor Bernard Schutz’ beautiful introductory textbook on tensor algebra, manifolds, physics in curved space times, and Einstein’s field equations. Why another edition now? The answer is that, in the last years, precision measurements of stellar orbits around the central massive black hole in the Galactic Center, the detection of gravitational waves from in-spiraling binary black holes and neutron stars with LIGO, and the detection of the central ‘radio wave shadow’ of the supermassive black hole in the galaxy M87 have suddenly opened the magical world of strongly curved spacetime to precision experimental tests. These experiments and much more to come from ground- and space-based gravitational wave studies have started a renaissance of interest in Einstein’s theory.’ Reinhard Genzel, Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics ‘Students and teachers of general relativity will welcome this new edition of Schutz’ hugely popular text, significantly broadened to cover the astonishing discoveries of gravitational-wave astronomy and their implications. A pioneer of the geometrical approach to undergraduate-level teaching of GR, the book remains unmatched in its highly readable style. With vim and authority, Schutz leads his readers masterfully from mathematical foundations to the forefront of research in astronomy and cosmology, providing them with the tools to understand future discoveries. With this new edition, Schutz’ classic text remains as fresh and relevant as ever.’ Leor Barack, University of Southampton ‘An outstanding textboo