Introducing Einstein's relativity: a deeper understanding/ Ray d'Inverno and James Vickers

Includes bibliography and index

The organization of the book -- Part A Special relativity -- The Key attributes of special relativity -- The elements of relativistic mechanics -- Part B The formalism of tensors -- Tensor calculus -- Integration variation and symmetry -- Part C General relativity -- Special relativity revisited -- The principles of general relativity -- The field equations of general relativity -- General relativity from a variational principle -- The energy-momentum tensor -- The structure of the field equations -- The 3+1 and 2+2 formalisms -- The Schwarzchild solution -- Classical experimental tests of general relativity -- Part D Black holes -- Non-rotating black holes -- Maximal extension and conformal compactification -- Charged black holes -- Rotation black holes -- Part E Gravitational waves -- Linearzed gravitational waves and their detection -- exact gravitational waves -- Radiation from an isolated source -- Part F Cosmology -- Relativistic cosmology -- The classical cosmological models -- Modern Cosmology

The main aim of this textbook is to provide students with a sound mathematical introduction coupled to an understanding of the physical insights needed to explore the subject. Indeed, the book follows Einstein in that it introduces the theory very much from a physical point of view. After introducing the special theory of relativity, the basic field equations of gravitation are derived and discussed carefully as a prelude to first solving them in simple cases and then exploring the three main areas of application.

Einstein's theory of relativity is undoubtedly one of the greatest achievements of the human mind. Yet, in this book, the author makes it possible for students with a wide range of abilities to deal confidently with the subject. Based on the author's fifteen years experience of teaching this subject, this is achieved by breaking down the main arguments into simple logical steps. The book includes numerous illustrative diagrams and exercises (of varying degrees of difficulty), and as a result this book makes an excellent course for any student coming to the subject for the first time.