Table of Contents

1. The special theory of relativity; 2. From special to the general theory of relativity; 3. Vectors and tensors; 4. Covariant differentiation; 5. Curvature of spacetime; 6. Spacetime symmetries; 7. Physics in curved spacetime; 8. Einstein's equations; 9. The Schwarzschild solutions; 10. Experimental tests of general relativity; 11. Gravitational radiation; 12. Relativistic astrophysics; 13. Black holes; 14. The expanding universe; 15. Friedmann models; 16. The early universe; 17. Observational cosmology; 18. Beyond relativity; References; Index.

Promotional Information

Introduction to relativity, ideal as part of undergraduate and graduate courses in physics, astrophysics and applied mathematics.

About the Author

Jayant V. Narlikar is Emeritus Professor at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune, India. He is author of An Introduction to Cosmology, now in its third edition (Cambridge University Press, 2002), and has been active in teaching and researching cosmology, theoretical astrophysics, gravitation and relativity for nearly five decades.

Reviews

'… an excellent book, which researchers in relativity will treasure for its historical perspective.' Classical and Quantum Gravity