Part II provides mathematical background regarding Riemann space and the
vectors and tensors that inhabit it. It uses the ideas and notation of the component or
classic approach to tensors but also includes discussion of the more modern ideas
and notation of the intrinsic abstract view of tensors.
Part III gives a view of basic general relativity as a theory of gravity and the
geometric ideas that underlie it; it includes chapters on gravitational waves and
black holes and includes a brief heuristic discussion on Hawking radiation.
Part IV is a survey of relativity theory as used in cosmology; this book is mostly
about theory and its mathematical basis, but Part IV includes, of necessity, a fair
amount of material on the experimental and observational work being done or being
planned. Also of necessity, the material on the observational work is far from
complete, but is intended to provide a start and references for anyone interested in
pursuing it further and perhaps becoming a researcher.
My prime target readers are early graduate students or advanced and confident
undergraduate physics students. A student with the usual mathematical background
in calculus and vectors and matrices and a physics background in mechanics and
electromagnetism should be able to handle the material without much outside
reading. Nominally, the entire book should be readable in a two semester or a two
or three quarter course.
Thanks are due to many people who helped in the writing of this book. Much of
its content is based on my teaching as an adjunct professor at San Francisco State
University and work done on the Gravity Probe B mission at Stanford University.
My SFSU relativity classes have given me much feedback and corrected numerous
errors. At Stanford and at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory my colleagues
Robert Wagoner, James Bjorken, Francis Everitt, Alex Silbergleit, Pisin Chen,
David Santiago, and John Berberian have provided many interesting ideas and
discussions. Fred Martin patiently proof-read, criticized, and improved the early
notes. James Overduin encouraged me to revise and expand the notes for publication and provided thought-provoking comments.
San Francisco/Stanford, USA
Ronald J. Adler
email: gyroron@gmail.com
Preface
ix
vectors and tensors that inhabit it. It uses the ideas and notation of the component or
classic approach to tensors but also includes discussion of the more modern ideas
and notation of the intrinsic abstract view of tensors.
Part III gives a view of basic general relativity as a theory of gravity and the
geometric ideas that underlie it; it includes chapters on gravitational waves and
black holes and includes a brief heuristic discussion on Hawking radiation.
Part IV is a survey of relativity theory as used in cosmology; this book is mostly
about theory and its mathematical basis, but Part IV includes, of necessity, a fair
amount of material on the experimental and observational work being done or being
planned. Also of necessity, the material on the observational work is far from
complete, but is intended to provide a start and references for anyone interested in
pursuing it further and perhaps becoming a researcher.
My prime target readers are early graduate students or advanced and confident
undergraduate physics students. A student with the usual mathematical background
in calculus and vectors and matrices and a physics background in mechanics and
electromagnetism should be able to handle the material without much outside
reading. Nominally, the entire book should be readable in a two semester or a two
or three quarter course.
Thanks are due to many people who helped in the writing of this book. Much of
its content is based on my teaching as an adjunct professor at San Francisco State
University and work done on the Gravity Probe B mission at Stanford University.
My SFSU relativity classes have given me much feedback and corrected numerous
errors. At Stanford and at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory my colleagues
Robert Wagoner, James Bjorken, Francis Everitt, Alex Silbergleit, Pisin Chen,
David Santiago, and John Berberian have provided many interesting ideas and
discussions. Fred Martin patiently proof-read, criticized, and improved the early
notes. James Overduin encouraged me to revise and expand the notes for publication and provided thought-provoking comments.
San Francisco/Stanford, USA
Ronald J. Adler
email: gyroron@gmail.com
Preface
ix