Product Description

A paperback edition of a classic text, this book gives a unique survey of the known solutions of Einstein’s field equations for vacuum, Einstein-Maxwell, pure radiation and perfect fluid sources. It introduces the foundations of differential geometry and Riemannian geometry and the methods used to characterize, find or construct solutions. The solutions are then considered, ordered by their symmetry group, their algebraic structure (Petrov type) or other invariant properties such as special subspaces or tensor fields and embedding properties. Includes all the developments in the field since the first edition and contains six completely new chapters, covering topics including generation methods and their application, colliding waves, classification of metrics by invariants and treatments of homothetic motions. This book is an important resource for graduates and researchers in relativity, theoretical physics, astrophysics and mathematics. It can also be used as an introductory text on some mathematical aspects of general relativity.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #805276 in Books
• Published on: 2003-03-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 680 pages

Review
‘… not only is the book an unrivalled source of knowledge on what has been charted of the rugged landscape of curved space-times, but, additionally, it is a well-organized and concise reference in matters of differential geometry.’ General Relativity and Gravitation

‘… a remarkable work, and indispensable to any serious practitioner of classical general relativity.’ Mathematics Today

‘… will be a lighthouse for those navigating in the ever expanding ocean of exact solutions to Einstein's equations.’ Zentralblatt MATH

‘This is clearly a most valuable reference book. It comprehensively reviews known local solutions of Einstein's equation and provides a secure base for future research.’ Mathematical Reviews

About the Author
Hans Stephani gained his Diploma, PhD and Habilitation at the Friedrich Schiller Universität Jena. He became Professor of Theoretical Physics in 1992, before retiring in 2000. He has been lecturing in theoretical physics since 1964 and has published numerous papers and articles on relativity and optics.

Dietrich Kramer is currently Professor of Theoretical Physics at the Friedrich Schiller Universität Jena. He graduated from this university, where he also finished his PhD (1966) and habilitation (1970). His current research concerns Classical Relativity. The majority of his publications are devoted to Exact Solutions in General Relativity.

Malcolm MacCallum is currently Professor of Applied Mathematics at the School of Mathematical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London, where he is also Vice-Principal for Science and Engineering. He graduated from Kings College, Cambridge and went on to complete his M.A. and PhD there.

Cornelius Hoenselaers gained his Diploma at Technische Universität Karlsruhe, his DSc at Hiroshima Daigaku and his Habilitation at Ludwig-Maximilian Universität München. He is currently Reader in Relativity Theory at Loughborough University.

Eduard Herlt is currently wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter at the Theoretisch Physikalisches Institut der Friedrich Schiller Universität Jena. Having studied Physics as an undergraduate at Jena, he went on to complete his PhD there as well as his Habilitation. He has had numerous publications including one previous book.