General Relativity: The most beautiful of theories

General Relativity: The most beautiful of theories PDF Author: Carlo Rovelli
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
ISBN: 3110343304
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 218

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Book Description
Generalising Newton's law of gravitation, general relativity is one of the pillars of modern physics. While applications in the beginning were restricted to isolated effects such as a proper understanding of Mercury's orbit, the second half of the twentieth century saw a massive development of applications. These include cosmology, gravitational waves, and even very practical results for satellite based positioning systems as well as different approaches to unite general relativity with another very successful branch of physics – quantum theory. On the occassion of general relativity's centennial, leading scientists in the different branches of gravitational research review the history and recent advances in the main fields of applications of the theory, which was referred to by Lev Landau as “the most beautiful of the existing physical theories”. Contributions from: Andy C. Fabian, Anthony L. Lasenby, Astrophysical black Holes Neil Ashby, GNSS and other applications of General Relativity Gene Byrd, Arthur Chernin, Pekka Teerikorpi, Mauri Vaaltonen, Observations of general Relativity at strong and weaks limits Ignazio Ciufolini, General Relativity and dragging of inertial frames Carlo Rovelli, The strange world of quantum spacetime

General Relativity: The most beautiful of theories

General Relativity: The most beautiful of theories PDF Author: Carlo Rovelli
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
ISBN: 3110343304
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 218

Get Book Here

Book Description
Generalising Newton's law of gravitation, general relativity is one of the pillars of modern physics. While applications in the beginning were restricted to isolated effects such as a proper understanding of Mercury's orbit, the second half of the twentieth century saw a massive development of applications. These include cosmology, gravitational waves, and even very practical results for satellite based positioning systems as well as different approaches to unite general relativity with another very successful branch of physics – quantum theory. On the occassion of general relativity's centennial, leading scientists in the different branches of gravitational research review the history and recent advances in the main fields of applications of the theory, which was referred to by Lev Landau as “the most beautiful of the existing physical theories”. Contributions from: Andy C. Fabian, Anthony L. Lasenby, Astrophysical black Holes Neil Ashby, GNSS and other applications of General Relativity Gene Byrd, Arthur Chernin, Pekka Teerikorpi, Mauri Vaaltonen, Observations of general Relativity at strong and weaks limits Ignazio Ciufolini, General Relativity and dragging of inertial frames Carlo Rovelli, The strange world of quantum spacetime

The Perfect Theory

The Perfect Theory PDF Author: Pedro G. Ferreira
Publisher: HMH
ISBN: 0547554907
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 309

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Book Description
“One of the best popular accounts of how Einstein and his followers have been trying to explain the universe for decades” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). Physicists have been exploring, debating, and questioning the general theory of relativity ever since Albert Einstein first presented it in 1915. This has driven their work to unveil the universe’s surprising secrets even further, and many believe more wonders remain hidden within the theory’s tangle of equations, waiting to be exposed. In this sweeping narrative of science and culture, an astrophysicist brings general relativity to life through the story of the brilliant physicists, mathematicians, and astronomers who have taken up its challenge. For these scientists, the theory has been both a treasure trove and an enigma. Einstein’s theory, which explains the relationships among gravity, space, and time, is possibly the most perfect intellectual achievement of modern physics—yet studying it has always been a controversial endeavor. Relativists were the target of persecution in Hitler’s Germany, hounded in Stalin’s Russia, and disdained in 1950s America. Even today, PhD students are warned that specializing in general relativity will make them unemployable. Still, general relativity has flourished, delivering key insights into our understanding of the origin of time and the evolution of all the stars and galaxies in the cosmos. Its adherents have revealed what lies at the farthest reaches of the universe, shed light on the smallest scales of existence, and explained how the fabric of reality emerges. Dark matter, dark energy, black holes, and string theory are all progeny of Einstein’s theory. In the midst of a momentous transformation in modern physics, as scientists look farther and more clearly into space than ever before, The Perfect Theory exposes the greater relevance of general relativity, showing us where it started, where it has led—and where it can still take us.

General Relativity: The Essentials

General Relativity: The Essentials PDF Author: Carlo Rovelli
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1009033182
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 176

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Book Description
In this short book, renowned theoretical physicist and author Carlo Rovelli gives a straightforward introduction to Einstein's General Relativity, our current theory of gravitation. Focusing on conceptual clarity, he derives all the basic results in the simplest way, taking care to explain the physical, philosophical and mathematical ideas at the heart of “the most beautiful of all scientific theories”. Some of the main applications of General Relativity are also explored, for example, black holes, gravitational waves and cosmology, and the book concludes with a brief introduction to quantum gravity. Written by an author well known for the clarity of his presentation of scientific ideas, this concise book will appeal to university students looking to improve their understanding of the principal concepts, as well as science-literate readers who are curious about the real theory of General Relativity, at a level beyond a popular science treatment.

Spacetime and Geometry

Spacetime and Geometry PDF Author: Sean M. Carroll
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108488390
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 529

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Book Description
An accessible introductory textbook on general relativity, covering the theory's foundations, mathematical formalism and major applications.

The Physicist and the Philosopher

The Physicist and the Philosopher PDF Author: Jimena Canales
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 1400865778
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 488

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Book Description
The explosive debate that transformed our views about time and scientific truth On April 6, 1922, in Paris, Albert Einstein and Henri Bergson publicly debated the nature of time. Einstein considered Bergson's theory of time to be a soft, psychological notion, irreconcilable with the quantitative realities of physics. Bergson, who gained fame as a philosopher by arguing that time should not be understood exclusively through the lens of science, criticized Einstein's theory of time for being a metaphysics grafted on to science, one that ignored the intuitive aspects of time. The Physicist and the Philosopher tells the remarkable story of how this explosive debate transformed our understanding of time and drove a rift between science and the humanities that persists today. Jimena Canales introduces readers to the revolutionary ideas of Einstein and Bergson, describes how they dramatically collided in Paris, and traces how this clash of worldviews reverberated across the twentieth century. She shows how it provoked responses from figures such as Bertrand Russell and Martin Heidegger, and carried repercussions for American pragmatism, logical positivism, phenomenology, and quantum mechanics. Canales explains how the new technologies of the period—such as wristwatches, radio, and film—helped to shape people’s conceptions of time and further polarized the public debate. She also discusses how Bergson and Einstein, toward the end of their lives, each reflected on his rival’s legacy—Bergson during the Nazi occupation of Paris and Einstein in the context of the first hydrogen bomb explosion. The Physicist and the Philosopher is a magisterial and revealing account that shows how scientific truth was placed on trial in a divided century marked by a new sense of time.

Introduction to Einstein’s Theory of Relativity

Introduction to Einstein’s Theory of Relativity PDF Author: Øyvind Grøn
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030438627
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 536

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Book Description
The revised and updated 2nd edition of this established textbook provides a self-contained introduction to the general theory of relativity, describing not only the physical principles and applications of the theory, but also the mathematics needed, in particular the calculus of differential forms. Updated throughout, the book contains more detailed explanations and extended discussions of several conceptual points, and strengthened mathematical deductions where required. It includes examples of work conducted in the ten years since the first edition of the book was published, for example the pedagogically helpful concept of a "river of space" and a more detailed discussion of how far the principle of relativity is contained in the general theory of relativity. Also presented is a discussion of the concept of the 'gravitational field' in Einstein's theory, and some new material concerning the 'twin paradox' in the theory of relativity. Finally, the book contains a new section about gravitational waves, exploring the dramatic progress in this field following the LIGO observations. Based on a long-established masters course, the book serves advanced undergraduate and graduate level students, and also provides a useful reference for researchers.

Gravity

Gravity PDF Author: James B. Hartle
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1316517543
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 605

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Book Description
Best-selling, accessible physics-first introduction to GR uses minimal new mathematics and begins with the essential physical applications.

Special & General Relativity (Concise Edition)

Special & General Relativity (Concise Edition) PDF Author: Albert Einstein
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1804175730
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 130

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Book Description
Einstein's pioneering work helped shape the cultural landscape of the world today. Now in a digestible, pocket format for the modern reader. A new, popular edition with a clear introduction, Special & General Relativity by Albert Einstein contains his core paper, 'Relativity, The Special & The General Theory: A Popular Exposition', which established his reputation as one of the greatest thinkers of our (and perhaps any) age. Also included are two of the Princeton University lectures he gave to explain his findings in more detail, on 'The Meaning of Relativity', as well as the early paper which led to his famous equation E = mc2. The FLAME TREE Foundations series features core publications which together have shaped the cultural landscape of the modern world, with cutting-edge research distilled into pocket guides designed to be both accessible and informative.

Relativity

Relativity PDF Author: Albert Einstein
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Relativity (Physics)
Languages : de
Pages : 200

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Book Description
In this famous short book Einstein explains clearly, using the minimum amount of mathematical terms, the basic ideas and principles of the theory which has shaped the world we live in today [Special and General Relativity} -- google books

Einstein Gravity in a Nutshell

Einstein Gravity in a Nutshell PDF Author: A. Zee
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 1400847451
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 888

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Book Description
An ideal introduction to Einstein's general theory of relativity This unique textbook provides an accessible introduction to Einstein's general theory of relativity, a subject of breathtaking beauty and supreme importance in physics. With his trademark blend of wit and incisiveness, A. Zee guides readers from the fundamentals of Newtonian mechanics to the most exciting frontiers of research today, including de Sitter and anti-de Sitter spacetimes, Kaluza-Klein theory, and brane worlds. Unlike other books on Einstein gravity, this book emphasizes the action principle and group theory as guides in constructing physical theories. Zee treats various topics in a spiral style that is easy on beginners, and includes anecdotes from the history of physics that will appeal to students and experts alike. He takes a friendly approach to the required mathematics, yet does not shy away from more advanced mathematical topics such as differential forms. The extensive discussion of black holes includes rotating and extremal black holes and Hawking radiation. The ideal textbook for undergraduate and graduate students, Einstein Gravity in a Nutshell also provides an essential resource for professional physicists and is accessible to anyone familiar with classical mechanics and electromagnetism. It features numerous exercises as well as detailed appendices covering a multitude of topics not readily found elsewhere. Provides an accessible introduction to Einstein's general theory of relativity Guides readers from Newtonian mechanics to the frontiers of modern research Emphasizes symmetry and the Einstein-Hilbert action Covers topics not found in standard textbooks on Einstein gravity Includes interesting historical asides Features numerous exercises and detailed appendices Ideal for students, physicists, and scientifically minded lay readers Solutions manual (available only to teachers)