Product Description

Clarity, readability and rigor combine in the second edition of this widely-used textbook to provide the first step into general relativity for undergraduate students with a minimal background in mathematics. Topics within relativity that fascinate astrophysical researchers and students alike are covered with Schutz’s characteristic ease and authority - from black holes to gravitational lenses, from pulsars to the study of the Universe as a whole. This edition now contains discoveries by astronomers that require general relativity for their explanation; a revised chapter on relativistic stars, including new information on pulsars; an entirely rewritten chapter on cosmology; and an extended, comprehensive treatment of modern detectors and expected sources. Over 300 exercises, many new to this edition, give students the confidence to work with general relativity and the necessary mathematics, whilst the informal writing style makes the subject matter easily accessible. Password protected solutions for instructors are available at www.cambridge.org/9780521887052.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #123019 in Books
• Published on: 2009-05-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 410 pages

Review
Advance praise for the second edition: 'Bernard Schutz’s textbook A First Course in General Relativity quickly became a classic, notable for its use of the geometrical approach to the subject, combined with a refreshing succinctness. Since its first publication in 1985, the field of general relativity has exploded, with new discoveries in astrophysics and cosmology, and with the successful operation of laser interferometric gravitational-wave antennae. Schutz has done a masterful job of incorporating these new developments into a revised edition, which is sure to become a new 'classic'. I look forward to teaching out of the second edition of First Course.' Clifford M Will, McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences, Washington University, St Louis

'Like many others involved in the teaching of general relativity to undergraduate and beginning graduate students, I have long hoped that Professor Schutz would produce a second edition of his excellent, and now classic, text. I am pleased to say the wait has not been in vain. This new edition retains all of the original's clarity and insight into the mathematical foundations of general relativity, but thoroughly updates the accounts of the application of the theory in astrophysics and cosmology, which have moved on considerably in the intervening 23 years. In particular, Professor Schutz has completely revised and considerably extended the discussion of the astrophysics of black holes and relativistic stars, the detection of gravitational waves, and modern cosmological theory and observations, all with the erudition and accessible exposition that we have come to expect from him. The result is an indispensable volume for anyone wishing to develop a deep and physically well-motivated understanding of relativistic gravitation, and this new edition will no doubt become a classic text in its own right.' Mike Hobson, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge

'Schutz has updated his eminently readable and eminently teachable A First Course in General Relativity. The result maintains the style of the first edition - intuitively and physically motivated presentation of the subject. He has added developments from the quarter century since the appearance of the first edition, including developments in cosmology (the accelerating universe, the development of structure from early inflation, quantum evolution of the early universe), in quantum gravity (the Hawking radiation), and especially in understanding of the sources and in the efforts to detect astrophysical gravitational radiation. The study of gravitational radiation has been the center of Schutz's research, and it is a pleasure to find it so clearly presented by an expert in the field. This text will be appreciated by any upper level undergraduate with an interest in cosmology, astrophysics, or experimentation in gravitational physics.' Richard Matzner, The Center for Relativity, University of Texas at Austin

Reviews from the first edition: ‘Schutz has such mastery of the material that it soon becomes clear that one is in authoritative hands, and topics are selected and developed only to a point where they prove adequate for future needs.’ The Times Higher Education Supplement

‘… ought to inspire more physicists and astronomers to teach and learn the other half of the 20th century's revolution in physics.’ Foundations of Physics

‘The book is a goldmine of cleverly constructed problems and exercises (and solutions!) …’ Nature

About the Author
Bernard Schutz is Director of the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics, a Professor at Cardiff University, UK, and an Honorary Professor at the University of Potsdam and the University of Hannover, Germany. He is also a Principal Investigator of the GEO600 detector project and a member of the Executive Committee of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration. Professor Schutz has been awarded the Amaldi Gold Medal of the Italian Society for Gravitation.

Customer Reviews

Fantastically graspable explanation
This book is great. With reasonable knowledge of linear algebra and vector analysis I was able to quickly grasp the concepts of some of the mathematics behind Special and General Relativity. The author seems to do a near perfect job at explaining the theory in a way that seems to flow beautifully from one concept to the other without leaving you with too many unanswered questions. The mathematics behind Einstein's theories can be very subtle at times. I am studying the mathematics of Special and General relativity for a hobby (it's like doing a big puzzle. A bit of a crude analogy, but alright) , and am by no means a physicist as such. If you have the right background (Mine being Computer Science, Computer Graphics), and you are willing to spend a lot of thought on the matter, you will be able to follow this text, and be a considerably more knowledgeable person at the end.

An Accessible Introduction To GR
This book approaches the idea of curvature in a gentle way. The introductory chapters are quite accessible to a student with limited mathematical backround. I found the combination of this book, Schutz's 'Geometrical Methods of Mathematical Physics' and Foster and Nightingale's 'First Course in GR' as suitable preparation for more weighty tomes such as Misner Thorne and Wheeler's 'Gravitation'.

The greatest approach of General Relativity for dummies
I think this is an obligated reference for undergraduate beginners in General Relativity. Almost all the mathematical requirements are included, but it would be the best book if it also treated the Hilbert action and the variational deduction of Einstein's field equation. I suggest buying the other Schut's title "Geometrical Methods for Mathematical Physics" which supplies more mathematical background.