Special relativity in general frames from particles to astrophysics Éric Gourgoulhon

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gourgoulhon, Éric, author.

Series:

Graduate texts in physics

Standardized Title:

Relativité restreinte. English

Language:

English

French

Subjects (All):

Special relativity (Physics).

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Berlin Springer [2013]

Summary:

Special relativity is the basis of many fields in modern physics: particle physics, quantum field theory, high-energy astrophysics, etc. This theory is presented here by adopting a four-dimensional point of view from the start. An outstanding feature of the book is that it doesnt restrict itself to inertial frames and to considering accelerated and rotating observers. It is thus possible to treat physical effects such as the Thomas precession or the Sagnac effect in a simple yet precise manner. In the final chapters, more advanced topics like tensorial fields in spacetime, exterior calculus and relativistic hydrodynamics are addressed. In the last, brief chapter the author gives a preview of gravity and shows where it becomes incompatible with Minkowsky spacetime. Well illustrated and enriched by many historical notes, this book also presents many applications of special relativity, ranging from particle physics (accelerators, particle collisions, quark-gluon plasma) to astrophysics (relativistic jets, active galactic nuclei), and including practical applications (Sagnac gyrometers, synchrotron radiation, GPS). In addition, the book provides some mathematical developments, such as the detailed analysis of the Lorentz group and its Lie algebra. The book is suitable for students in the third year of a physics degree or on a masters course, as well as researchers and any reader interested in relativity. Thanks to the geometric approach adopted, this book should also be beneficial for the study of general relativity. A modern presentation of special relativity must put forward its essential structures, before illustrating them using concrete applications to specific dynamical problems. Such is the challenge (so successfully met!) of the beautiful book by ric Gourgoulhon. (excerpt from the Foreword by Thibault Damour)

Contents:

Minkowski Spacetime Worldlines and Proper Time Observers Kinematics 1: Motion with Respect to an Observer Kinematics 2: Change of Observer Lorentz Group Lorentz Group as a Lie Group Inertial Observers and Poincar Group Energy and Momentum Angular Momentum Principle of Least Action Accelerated Observers Rotating Observers Tensors and Alternate Forms Fields on Spacetime Integration in Spacetime Electromagnetic Field Maxwell Equations Energy-Momentum Tensor Energy-Momentum of the Electromagnetic Field Relativistic Hydrodynamics What about Relativistic Gravitation?

A. Basic Algebra

B. Web Pages

C. Special Relativity Books

Notes:

"Translation from the French language edition of: Relativité restreinte: des particules à l'astrophysique, ©2010 EDP Sciences, CNRS Edition, France"--Title page verso

Includes bibliographical references and index

Print version record

Other Format:

Print version Gourgoulhon, Éric. Special relativity in general frames

ISBN:

9783642372766

3642372767

OCLC:

858626276

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license