Topic

# Introduction to the mathematics of general relativity

About: Introduction to the mathematics of general relativity is a(n) research topic. Over the lifetime, 2583 publication(s) have been published within this topic receiving 73295 citation(s).

##### Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the number of independent tensors of this type depends crucially on the dimension of the space, and, in the four dimensional case, the only tensors with these properties are the metric and the Einstein tensors.
Abstract: The Einstein tensorGij is symmetric, divergence free, and a concomitant of the metric tensorgab together with its first two derivatives. In this paper all tensors of valency two with these properties are displayed explicitly. The number of independent tensors of this type depends crucially on the dimension of the space, and, in the four dimensional case, the only tensors with these properties are the metric and the Einstein tensors.

2,450 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a spinor affine connection is proposed for general relativity by means of a tetrad or spinor formalism, which is applied to two problems in radiationtheory; a concise proof of a theorem of Goldberg and Sachs and a description of the asymptotic behavior of the Riemann tensor and metric tensor, for outgoing gravitational radiation.
Abstract: A new approach to general relativity by means of a tetrad or spinor formalism is presented. The essential feature of this approach is the consistent use of certain complex linear combinations of Ricci rotation coefficients which give, in effect, the spinor affine connection. It is applied to two problems in radiationtheory; a concise proof of a theorem of Goldberg and Sachs and a description of the asymptotic behavior of the Riemann tensor and metric tensor, for outgoing gravitational radiation.

2,105 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, an approach to study the dynamics of thin shells of dust in general relativity is presented. But no mention of admissible or even any space-time co-ordinates is needed.
Abstract: An approach to shock waves, boundary surfaces and thin shells in general relativity is developed in which their histories are characterized in a purely geometrical way by the extrinsic curvatures of their imbeddings in space-time. There is some gain in simplicity and ease of application over previous treatments in that no mention of « admissible » or, indeed, any space-time co-ordinates is needed. The formalism is applied to a study of the dynamics of thin shells of dust.

2,090 citations

Book
01 Jan 2003
TL;DR: Spacetime and Geometry as discussed by the authors is an introductory textbook on general relativity specifically aimed at students, which covers the foundations of the theory and mathematical formalism, providing an approachable introduction to what can often be an intimidating subject.
Abstract: Spacetime and Geometry is an introductory textbook on general relativity, specifically aimed at students. Using a lucid style, Carroll first covers the foundations of the theory and mathematical formalism, providing an approachable introduction to what can often be an intimidating subject. Three major applications of general relativity are then discussed: black holes, perturbation theory and gravitational waves, and cosmology. Students will learn the origin of how spacetime curves (the Einstein equation) and how matter moves through it (the geodesic equation). They will learn what black holes really are, how gravitational waves are generated and detected, and the modern view of the expansion of the universe. A brief introduction to quantum field theory in curved spacetime is also included. A student familiar with this book will be ready to tackle research-level problems in gravitational physics.

1,646 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, it was shown that a static, spherically symmetric gravitational field is given by the Schwarzschild metric, and that in the weak-field approximation an antisymmetric field of zero mass and zero spin exists, besides gravitons.
Abstract: A gravitational theory is formulated on the Weitzenb\"ock space-time, characterized by the vanishing curvature tensor (absolute parallelism) and by the torsion tensor formed of four parallel vector fields. This theory is called new general relativity, since Einstein in 1928 first gave its original form. New general relativity has three parameters ${c}_{1}$, ${c}_{2}$, and $\ensuremath{\lambda}$, besides the Einstein constant $\ensuremath{\kappa}$. In this paper we choose ${c}_{1}=0={c}_{2}$, leaving open $\ensuremath{\lambda}$. We prove, among other things, that (i) a static, spherically symmetric gravitational field is given by the Schwarzschild metric, that (ii) in the weak-field approximation an antisymmetric field of zero mass and zero spin exists, besides gravitons, and that (iii) new general relativity agrees with all the experiments so far carried out.

948 citations

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##### Performance
###### Metrics
No. of papers in the topic in previous years
YearPapers
20191
20184
201734
201662
201556
201437