The Springer Handbook of Spacetime is dedicated to the ground-breaking paradigm shifts embodied in the two relativity theories, and describes in detail the profound reshaping of physical sciences they ushered in. It includes in a single volume chapters on foundations, on the underlying mathematics, on physical and astrophysical implications, experimental evidence and cosmological predictions, as well as chapters on efforts to unify general relativity and quantum physics. The Handbook can be used as a desk reference by researchers in a wide variety of fields, not only by specialists in relativity but also by researchers in related areas that either grew out of, or are deeply influenced by, the two relativity theories: cosmology, astronomy and astrophysics, high energy physics, quantum field theory, mathematics, and philosophy of science. It should also serve as a valuable resource for graduate students and young researchers entering these areas, and for instructors who teach courseson these subjects.

The Handbook is divided into six parts. Part A: Introduction to Spacetime Structure. Part B: Foundational Issues. Part C: Spacetime Structure and Mathematics. Part D: Confronting Relativity theories with observations. Part E: General relativity and the universe. Part F: Spacetime beyond Einstein.

Historical origins of the spacetime notion > Basic ideas of special and general relativity > Nature of time and gravity > Mathematical structures > Physical and astrophysical implications > Observational status of the two relativity theories, > Various approaches to unify general relativity and quantum physics.

Concise, clear and coherent presentation > Research and application-oriented > Includes recent developments > Exhaustive references to approved data > All chapters with summaries > A resource for graduate students, researchers and teachers in the field

Autorentext

Abhay Ashtekar is Eberly Professor of Physics and Director of the Institute for Gravitation and the Cosmos at The Pennsylvania State University. He is one of the founders of Loop Quantum Gravity and its subfield Loop Quantum Cosmology. He is author or co-author of several books on relativity and cosmology, and an editor-in-chief of the Springer journal General Relativity and Gravitation.

Vesselin Petkov received a graduate degree in physics from Sofia University, a doctorate in philosophy from the Institute for Philosophical Research of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and a doctorate in physics from Concordia University in Montreal. Vesselin Petkov is one of the founding members of the Institute for Foundational Studies "Hermann Minkowski".

Inhalt

Introduction to Spacetime Structure.- Foundational Issues.- Spacetime Structure and Mathematics.- Confronting Relativity Theories with Observations.- General Relativity and the Universe.- Spacetime Beyond Einstein.