An Introduction to Relativistic Gravity

Abstract

The standard world models which are used as the framework for astrophysical cosmology and for studying the problems of galaxy formation are based upon Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. General Relativity is a beautiful theory but it requires a thorough understanding of tensor calculus in four-dimensional non-Euclidean spaces to appreciate fully Einstein’s epoch-making achievement. This is beyond the scope of the present text and so Sects. 6.1 to 6.5 are intended to provide some flavour of the full theory and to introduce some key ideas which will be needed later.1 In Sect. 6.6, the experimental and observational status of General Relativity is reviewed and it is shown that it has triumphantly survived the many critical tests of the theory which have been devised since its inception in 1915.² If you are happy to accept General Relativity at its face value, you may advance to Chap. 7.