Theory and Experiment in Gravitational Physics

By Clifford M. Will

Book Overview

This is a revised edition of a classic and highly regarded book, first published in 1981, describing the status of theory and experiment in general relativity. This book offers a comprehensive survey of the intensive research and testing of general relativity that has been conducted over the past three decades. As a foundation for this survey, the book first introduces the important principles of gravitation theory, developing the mathematical formalism that is necessary to carry out specific computations so that theoretical predictions can be compared with experimental findings. It provides an up-to-date survey of experimental results, not only for Einstein's "classical" tests, such as deflection of light and the perihelion of Mercury, but also for new solar-system tests, never envisioned by Einstein, that make use of the high-precision space and laboratory technologies of today. The book goes on to explore new arenas for testing gravitation theory in black holes, neutron stars, gravitational waves and cosmology. Included is a systematic account of the remarkable "binary pulsar" PSR 1913+16, which has yielded precise confirmation of the existence of gravitational waves. A new chapter has been added to cover recent important experimental tests, and the bibliography has been brought up to date.

• Format: Electronics
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0511564244
• ISBN13: 9780511564246
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Customer Reviews

money well spent

Will is one of foremost leaders in the field and can do calculating at post-Newtonian orders that make the average relativist cringe. This is a great reference with many detailed computations. It starts with a self contained overview of GR from the "geometric" perspective. Don't expect to learn the GR for the first time from this text. Will assumes a knowledge of Track 1 MTW (if you don't know what that is you might be in over your head). Highlights are chapters comparing alternative theories of gravity using the methods like the PPN method (which Cliff originated) and tying in experimental data. The new edition has some new material on gravitational radiation, and other recent experiements. The treatment of the Hulse-Taylor binary pulsar is as good as it gets. Missing is a chapter on implications for GR in the context of LIGO data (i.e. parameter estimation (for when they find something) and non-detection upper-limits ). Still worth the cash.