The Physical Foundations of General Relativity

Relativistic Cosmology: The standard model and extensions

This paper discusses General Relativistic Aspects of Cosmology. Thus it will make only passing reference to astrophysical aspects of cosmology, and such features as GUTS, quantum gravity, etc. (these are covered in depth in recent reviews, e.g. Balian et al., 1980; Gibbons, Hawking and Siklos, 1983; Royal Society 1983).

Relativistic Cosmology: Its Nature, Aims and Problems

In the spherically symmetric case, the dominant energy condition, together with the requirement of regularity at the centre, asymptotic flatness and finiteness of the ADM mass, defines the family of asymptotically flat globally regular solutions to the Einstein equations which includes the class of metrics asymptotically de Sitter as r ? 0. The source term corresponds to an r-dependent cosmological term ??? invariant under boosts in the radial direction and evolving from the de Sitter vacuum ?g?? in the origin to the Minkowski vacuum at infinity. The ADM mass is related to a cosmological term by m = (2G)?1?0??ttr2 dr, with the de Sitter vacuum replacing a central singularity at the scale of symmetry restoration. Spacetime symmetry changes smoothly from the de Sitter group near the centre to the Lorentz group at infinity through radial boosts in between. In the range of masses m ? mcrit, de Sitter?Schwarzschild geometry describes a vacuum nonsingular black hole (?BH), and for m < mcrit, it describes a G-lump?a vacuum self-gravitating particle-like structure without horizons. The quantum energy spectrum of the G-lump is shifted down by the binding energy and zero-point vacuum mode is fixed at the value corresponding (up to the coefficient) to the Hawking temperature from the de Sitter horizon.

The cosmological term as a source of mass

A student-friendly style, over 100 illustrations, and numerous exercises are brought together in this textbook for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students in physics and mathematics. Lewis Ryder develops the theory of general relativity in detail. Covering the core topics of black holes, gravitational radiation, and cosmology, he provides an overview of general relativity and its modern ramifications. The book contains chapters on gravitational radiation, cosmology, and connections between general relativity and the fundamental physics of the microworld. It explains the geometry of curved spaces and contains key solutions of Einstein's equations - the Schwarzschild and Kerr solutions. Mathematical calculations are worked out in detail, so students can develop an intuitive understanding of the subject, as well as learn how to perform calculations. The book also includes topics concerned with the relation between general relativity and other areas of fundamental physics. Selected solutions for instructors are available under Resources.

/pdf/introduction-to-general-relativity-4t4yltkmyt.pdf

Introduction to General Relativity

This paper discusses the existing dichotomy regarding the definition of weight and its implications in science education. The history and epistemology of the weight concept and its present status in instruction and students' knowledge about weight are reviewed. The rationale of the concept of gravitational weight, currently accepted in many textbooks, is critiqued. Two mutually related implications stem from this study in science teaching: a conceptual distinction between weight and gravitational force; and replacement of the gravitational definition of weight by the operational one. Both innovations may improve the quality of science education.

http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~bedding/papers-weight/galili2001.pdf

The Physical Foundations of General Relativity

Citations

Relativistic Cosmology: The standard model and extensions

Relativistic Cosmology: Its Nature, Aims and Problems

The cosmological term as a source of mass

Introduction to General Relativity

Weight versus gravitational force: Historical and educational perspectives

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