General Relativity, Astrophysics, and Cosmology (Astronomy and Astrophysics Library) by A.K. Raychaudhuri (PDF)

Description

For about half a century the general theory of relativity attracted little attention from physicists. However, the discovery of compact objects such as quasars and pulsars, as well as candidates for black holes on the one hand, and the microwave background radiation on the other hand completely changed the picture. In addition, developments in elementary particle physics, such as predictions of the behavior of matter at the ultrahigh energies that might have prevailed in the early stages of the big bang, have greatly en­ hanced the interest in general relativity. These developments created a large body of readers interested in general relativity, and its applications in astrophysics and cosmology. Having neither the time nor the inclination to delve deeply into the technical literature, such readers need a general introduction to the subject before exploring applica­ tions. It is for these readers that the present volume is intended. Keeping in mind the broad range of interests and wanting to avoid mathematical compli­ cations as much as possible, we have ventured to combine all three topics­ relativity, astrophysics, and cosmology-in a single volume. Naturally, we had to make a careful selection of topics to be discussed in order to keep the book to a manageable length.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐This is a great book for those who want to study and understand GR. It touches all of the main topics in the subject with the right level of depth and explanation so you “get it”. If you are looking for a layman’s explanation of GR, there are many other books that don’t go into the Math at all, but this is not what this book is about. I highly recommend this book for the serious physicist or the enthusiast who wants to get serious at some point.

⭐Lacks important details available through other more valuable texts on this subject.

⭐This textbook is a rare beast: an exposition which is not too elementary and not too advanced. The intent:”…an introduction that will enable the reader to consult more detailed treatises.” Presenting a trilogy of topics (general relativity, astrophysics, cosmology), it makes no claim to completeness in those subjects. However, if armed with background of advanced calculus and undergraduate physics, a student should have little difficulty in following the text. Mathematics is kept at a low-brow level. It is less detailed than Weinberg’s treatise and much less detailed than Misner, Thorne, Wheeler. Beginning with a lucid survey of equivalence principle in chapter one: “…we can introduce a Lorentzian coordinate system locally in a small region of space, only,” followed by a survey of tensor calculus, chapter two. (A typo mars equation 2.51, page 23, Lagrangian differential equation missing an over-dot– is noted–although, it is printed correctly on page 11). Tensors are defined and step by step one is led from the basics to algebraic and differential identities. Thus, within thirty pages, in the beginning, one is provided firm foundation for chapter three: Einstein’s equations. This is one of the finest elementary expositions I have encountered of the Einstein equations. Beginning with historical mode of thought of Albert Einstein, on to weak fields, then to gravitational waves, then energy-momentum, culminating in a brief on variational principles. A rapid-fire introduction of 20 pages ! Schwarzschild’s solution, next. This solution plus its implications for describing Black Holes, gives chapter four its flavor, including a derivation of frequency shift of spectral lines of light emitted by a collapsing body. Reading: “…still, the curious point remains that as the collapse up to the horizon takes infinite time in the reckoning of an outside observer and the universe has only a finite age, logically, no true black hole exists for anybody in the universe unless perhaps he himself is within the black hole itself.” (page 77, Compare with: Gravitation, Misner, Thorne, Wheeler, page 821). An interlude involving electromagnetism ends with a discussion of duality rotation, Read: “A superposition of duality rotation and Lorentz transformation…may reduce any non-null field to a simple electric field.” (chapter five, page 85).Lie derivatives and Killing equations make first appearance in chapter six: here, a discussion of axially symmetric fields. If searching for an introduction to the Kerr metric, one need look no further than the next chapter (seven) which ends with summary of the Penrose process “…extract energy from Kerr black hole.” The next two chapters comprise a set: The discussion goes from loss of energy due to gravitational radiation to an analysis of data and a confirmation of quadrupole formula (equation 8.23) and read: “some degree of uncertainty remains.” (page 118). White dwarfs, compact objects, pulsars, neutron stars, black holes and accretion, that’s in eighty pages. An upper-mass limit for neutron stars is made plausible through derivation at an elementary level. The discussion includes: thermodynamics of black holes, gravitational lensing and an elementary account of accretion of gas onto compact objects (chapter fifteen provides painless discussion of disk accretion). A great bonus of this text is a discussion of Raychaudhuri’s equation (pages 228-234), difficult to find at this elementary vantage (compare to: Wald’s General Relativity, page 218, or Carroll’s Spacetime and Geometry, page 462). Final remarks: elementary discussion of the inflationary scenario and a brief, lucid, appendix on differential forms are included.This is an interesting, if unusual, book: replete with physical insight, historical notes, detailed derivations. Straightforward problems for student involvement concludes most chapters (some are easy, some come with solution hints). While decidedly extensive rather than intensive, the book does accomplish its goals.Thus, an interesting adjunct to advanced or sophisticated treatments.

⭐This book is extraordinary; every general relativist and graduate student should have one. General relativity is a difficult subject, and like other difficult subjects (quantum field theory, topos theory, for example) you cannot expect to learn everything from one book.This is an intermediate-level text that expects that you have had (at least) some exposure to Riemannian geometry and special relativity.If you are just beginning to learn general relativity I recommend that you begin with Schutz’s

⭐, and if you do not know any Riemannian geometry, I recommend that you read Frank Morgan’s

⭐.This book, however, is invaluable. It contains a serious but intuitive description of the relationship between general relativity and Newtonian gravity. Personally, I found this to be the best explanation I have ever seen. This book also contains a chapter on the Scharzschild metric is a godsend; everything is worked out in detail and explained beautifully.This book also contains brief but very insightful descriptions of black holes, black hole thermodynamics, and cosmology.This book will make reading MTW

⭐, Wald

⭐, Poisson

⭐, Weinberg

⭐, and other GR texts much easier.

⭐For whom was this book written? If you don’t know tensor analysis, GR and the rest of that stuff you’re sure not going to learn it here. If you do know tensor analysis and the other stuff why are you reading this book?

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