Gravity, Black Holes, and the Very Early Universe

In the early 1900s, Albert Einstein formulated two theories that would forever change the landscape of physics: the Special Theory of Relativity and the General Theory of Relativity. By 1925, quantum mechanics had been born out of the dissection of these two theories, and shortly after that, relativistic quantum field theory. We now had in place some important ties between the laws of physics and the types of particle interactions the new physics was uncovering.

Gravity is one of the four types of forces that are found throughout the universe. In fact, although it is a relatively weak force, it operates at huge distances, and so must be accounted for in any cosmological system. Unfortunately, gravity continues to defy our neat categorization of how all the forces in nature work together.

Professor Tai Chow, from the California State University at Stanislaus in Turlock, lays out for us the basic ideas of Einstein, including his law of gravitation, explains the physics behind black holes, and weaves into this an absorbing account an explanation of the structure of the universe and the science of cosmology, including presenting the various models of the Big Bang, the Inflationary Universe, and the Unification of Forces. Travel with him down this engaging path to reach some fascinating conclusions, which raise even more interesting questions for the future of astronomy and physics.

Says Dr. Mark Silverman of Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut:

"The author ... introduces the mathematical methods essential to understanding and applying general relativity...but leaves to more advanced references derivations that a beginning student would likely find overly long and tedious.... In this way the student can concentrate on learning physics ....A strong point [is] the comprehensive discussion of the physics of black holes. Here again the author has hit just the right level of presentation: sufficientmathematical detail to demonstrate ...the physical attributes of black holes...yet not so much mathematics as to lose track of the physics in an impenetrable forest of equations. An equally strong point is the discussion of the most exciting contemporary issues in astrophysics apart from black holes..."

Autorentext

Tai L. Chow is Professor of Physics at California State University, Stanislaus. He has written a successful text on Mathematical Methods with Cambridge University Press:

Chow, Mathematical Methods for Physicists: A Concise Introduction (Cambridge, ISBN 0521655447 , 555 pp., Hardcover, $58.00 [Hardcover: $120.00], 7/2000)

Klappentext

Here it is, in a nutshell: the history of one genius's most crucial work - discoveries that were to change the face of modern physics. In the early 1900s, Albert Einstein formulated two theories that would forever change the landscape of physics: the Special Theory of Relativity and the General Theory of Relativity. Respected American academic Professor Tai Chow tells us the story of these discoveries. He details the basic ideas of Einstein, including his law of gravitation. Deftly employing his inimitable writing style, he goes on to explain the physics behind black holes, weaving into his account an explanation of the structure of the universe and the science of cosmology.

Inhalt

Preface Chapter 1 Basic Ideas of General Relativity 1.1 Inadequacy of special relativity and Mach's principle 1.2 Einstein's principle of equivalence 1.3 Immediate consequences of the principle of equivalence The bending of a light beam Gravitational shift of spectral lines 1.4 The curved spacetime concept 1.5 The principle of general covariance 1.6 Distance and time intervals References Problems Chapter 2 Curvilinear Coordinates and General Tensors 2.1 Curvilinear coordinates 2.2 Parallel displacement and covariant differentiation 2.3 Symmetry properties of the Christoffel symbols 2.4 Christoffel symbols and the metric tensor 2.5 The Geodesics 2.6 The stationary property of geodesics 2.7 The curvature tensor 2.8 Geodesic deviation 2.9 Laws of physics in curved space 2.10 The metric tensor and the classical gravitational potential 2.11 Some useful calculation aids References Problems Chapter 3 Einstein's Law of Gravitation 3-1 Introduction (summary of general principles) 3-2 A heuristic derivation of Einstein's equations 3-3 Energy-momentum tensor References Problems Chapter 4 The Schwarzschild Solution 4-1 The Schwarzschild metric 4-2 The Schwarzschild solution of the vacuum field equations The gravitational redshift 4-3 Isotropic coordinates 4-4 Schwarzschild geodesic 4-5 First integrals of the Schwarzschild solutions 4-6 Quasiuniform gravitational field References Problems Chapter 5 Experimental Tests of Einstein's Theory 5-1 Precession of the perihelion of Mercury 5-2 Deflection of light rays in a gravitational field 5-3 Light retardation (The Shaoiro experiment) 5-4 Test of gravitational radiation(Hulse-Taylor's measurement of decay of the orbit of the binary pulsar PSR-1913+16) References Problems Chapter 6 The Physics of Black Holes 6-1 The Schwarzschild black holes 6-2 Inside a black hole 6-3 How a black hole forms 6-4 The Kerr-Newmann black holes Energy extraction from a rotating black hole: the Penrose process The area theorem Energy extraction from two coalescing black holes 6-5 Thermodynamics of black holes Quantum mechanics of black holes; Hawking radiation 6-6 The detection of black holes a. Detection of stellar-mass black holes b. Supermassive black holes in the centers of galaxies c. Intermediate-mass black holes 6-7 How do electric and gravitational fields get out of black holes? 6-8 Black holes and particle Physics References Problems Chapter 7 Introduction to Cosmology 7-1 Introduction 7-2 A little history on the development of western cosmological concepts Ancient Greece The renaissance of cosmology Newton and infinite universe Newton's law pf gravity predicts a non-stationary universe Olbers's paradox 7-3 The discovery of expansion of the universe 7-4 The Big Bang Cosmological redshift 7-5 The microwave background radiation 7-6 Additional evidence for the Big Bang References Problems Chapter 8 Big Bang Models 8-1 The cosmic fluid and fundamental observers 8-2 Properties of the Robertson-Walker metric 8-3 Cosmic dynamics; Friedmann's equations 8-4 The solutions of Friedmann's equations A. Flat model (k = 0) B. Closed model (k = 1) C. Open model (k = -1) 8-5 Dark matter and the fate of the universe 8-6 The Beginning, the end, and time's arrow 8-7 An accelerating universe? 8-8 The co