Theory and Experiment in Gravitational Physics

by Clifford M. Will

Book Overview

The 2015 centenary of the publication of Einstein's general theory of relativity, and the first detection of gravitational waves have focused renewed attention on the question of whether Einstein was right. This review of experimental gravity provides a detailed survey of the intensive testing of Einstein's theory of gravity, including tests in the emerging strong-field dynamical regime. It discusses the theoretical frameworks needed to analyze gravitational...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1107117445
• ISBN13: 9781107117440
• Release Date: November 2018
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 360 Pages
• Weight: 2.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.6" x 10.1"

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.