Description
This monograph describes the different formulations of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. Unlike traditional treatments, Cartan's geometry of fibre bundles and differential forms is placed at the forefront, and a detailed review of the relevant differential geometry is presented. Particular emphasis is given to general relativity in 4D space-time, in which the concepts of chirality and self-duality begin to play a key role. Associated chiral formulations are catalogued, and shown to lead to many practical simplifications. The book develops the chiral gravitational perturbation theory, in which the spinor formalism plays a central role. The book also presents in detail the twistor description of gravity, as well as its generalisation based on geometry of 3-forms in seven dimensions. Giving valuable insight into the very nature of gravity, this book joins our highly prestigious Cambridge Monographs in Mathematical Physics series. It will interest graduate students and researchers in the fields of theoretical physics and differential geometry.
Documenting the different formulations of general relativity, this book reveals valuable insight into the nature of the gravitational force.
About the Author
Kirill Krasnov is Professor of Mathematical Physics at the University of Nottingham. Since receiving his Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University, he has worked at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics in Potsdam.
Reviews
'The work is mathematically rigorous and complete. Researchers working in fields such as quantum gravity will find this a very useful reference. Postgraduate students will also find it a helpful adjunct to the usual books on general relativity.' A. Spero, Choice
'... in this book Krasnov deals mainly with chiral formulations of four-dimensional general relativity, a topic that usually is not present in most (if not all) of the relevant textbooks, thereby bringing to the forefront the importance of Cartan's calculus of differential forms, the geometry of fibre bundles, but also spinors and (finally) twistors.' Theophanes Grammenos, MathSciNet
Book Information
ISBN 9781108481649
Author Kirill Krasnov
Format Hardback
Page Count 404
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 820g
Dimensions(mm) 173mm * 250mm * 25mm
Documenting the different formulations of general relativity, this book reveals valuable insight into the nature of the gravitational force.
About the Author
Kirill Krasnov is Professor of Mathematical Physics at the University of Nottingham. Since receiving his Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University, he has worked at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics in Potsdam.
Reviews
'The work is mathematically rigorous and complete. Researchers working in fields such as quantum gravity will find this a very useful reference. Postgraduate students will also find it a helpful adjunct to the usual books on general relativity.' A. Spero, Choice
'... in this book Krasnov deals mainly with chiral formulations of four-dimensional general relativity, a topic that usually is not present in most (if not all) of the relevant textbooks, thereby bringing to the forefront the importance of Cartan's calculus of differential forms, the geometry of fibre bundles, but also spinors and (finally) twistors.' Theophanes Grammenos, MathSciNet
Book Information
ISBN 9781108481649
Author Kirill Krasnov
Format Hardback
Page Count 404
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 820g
Dimensions(mm) 173mm * 250mm * 25mm
