Relativistic Astrophysics

1st Edition - January 1, 1985
Author: Marek Demiański
Editor: D. Ter Haar
Language: English
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 1 - 4 8 3 2 - 7 8 9 8 - 8

Relativistic Astrophysics brings together important astronomical discoveries and the significant achievements, as well as the difficulties in the field of relativistic… Read more

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Relativistic Astrophysics brings together important astronomical discoveries and the significant achievements, as well as the difficulties in the field of relativistic astrophysics. This book is divided into 10 chapters that tackle some aspects of the field, including the gravitational field, stellar equilibrium, black holes, and cosmology. The opening chapters introduce the theories to delineate gravitational field and the elements of relativistic thermodynamics and hydrodynamics. The succeeding chapters deal with the gravitational fields in matter; stellar equilibrium and general relativity stability; and the properties of pulsar, rotating and neutron stars. The discussion then shifts to the association between gravitational collapse and black holes, as well as the astrophysical investigations of neutron stars and black holes. The final chapters examine the principles of gravitational waves and advances in understanding the field of cosmology. This book will be of great value to astrophysicists and related scientists.

Preface

1. Gravitational Fields

1.1. Newton's theory of gravitation

1.2. Gravitational fields in the General Theory of Relativity

1.3. Local inertial frames

1.4. Spherically symmetric gravitational fields

1.5. Motion of test particles in a spher cally symmetric gravitational field

1.6. Extension of the Schwarzschild metric

1.7. The weak-field approximation

1.8. Stationary gravitational fields. The Kerr metric

1.9. Motion of test particles and light signals in Kerr space-time

Literature

2. Elements of Relativistic Thermodynamics and Hydrodynamics

2.1. Relativistic transformation properties of thermodynamic quantities

2.2. The energy-momentum tensor

2.3. Kinematic quantities characterizing the motion of a medium

2.4. Relativistic equations of hydrodynamics

2.5. Relativistic equations of dissipative processes

2.6. Equations of hydrodynamics in the post-Newtonian approximation

Literature

3. Gravitational Fields in Matter

3.1. Gravitational fields in matter. The Friedman solution

3.2. Complete solution for a spherically symmetric dust cloud. Matching conditions

3.3. Spherically symmetric, static distribution of matter

3.4. Weak gravitational fields

Literature

4. Stellar Equilibrium and Stability in General Relativity

4.1. Conditions of equil brium

4.2. Polytropic stars in Newton's theory

4.3. Adi batic gaseous spheres in general relativity

4.4. Stellar stabil'ty in Newton's theory

4.5. Stellar st bility in the post-Newtonian approximation

4.6. Stability of spherically symmetric equilibrium configurations with respect to radial perturbations

4.7. Spherical configurations of cold, catalyzed matter. Critical mass

Literature

5. Rotating Stars

5.1. Critical mass of rotating stars

5.2. Newtonian theory of rotating bodies

5.3. Assumptions and definitions

5.4. Basic equ tions

5.5. Preferred observers. Dragging of inertial frames

5.6. Relativistic von Zeipel theorems. Convective stability

5.7. Slow rotation. Models of rotating neutron stars

Literature

6. Neutron Stars and Pulsars

6.1. Late stages of stellar evolution

6.2. Neutron stars

6.3. Pulsars

Literature

7. Gravitational Collapse and Black Holes

7.1. Spherically symmetric collapse of a dust cloud

7.2. Adiabatic spherical collapse

7.3. Nonspherical collapse. Trapped surfaces and apparent horizons

7.4. General properties of black holes

7.5. Stationary black holes

7.6. Kerr-Newman black holes

7.7. The four laws of black hole mechanics

7.8. Stability of Schwarzschild and Kerr solutions

7.9. Particle creation by black holes. The Hawking process

Literature

8. Astrophysics of Neutron Stars and Black Holes

8.1. Spherically symmetric accretion of matter onto neutron stars and black holes

8.2. Binary star systems

8.3. Accretion of matter onto a black hole or neutron star in a binary system

8.4. Compact X-ray sources and observational data

8.5. Cyg X-l as observational confirmation of the existence of a black hole

8.6. Black holes in spherical clusters and galactic nuclei

8.7. Interaction of a black hole with its environment

8.8. Equations of motion for a black hole

Literature

9. Gravitational Waves

9.1. Gravitational waves in the weak-field approximation

9.2. Gravitational waves in curved space

9.3. Motion of test particles in a plane gravitational wave. Polarization

9.4. Astrophysical sources of gravitational waves

9.5. Weber's antenna and other attempts to detect gravitational waves

9.6. Interaction between electromagnetic and gravitational waves. Laboratory sources and detectors of gravitational waves

9.7. Binary pulsar PSR 1913 +16: an indirect confirmation of the existence of gravitational waves

Literature

10. Cosmology

10.1. Homogeneous and isotropic matter distributions. The Friedman solution

10.2. The red shift. Horizons

10.3. Hubbl's constant

10.4. Galaxy and radio counts

10.5. Microwave background radiation

10.6. The hot big bang model of the universe

10.7. The problem of initial conditions. The hadron era

10.8. The lepton era

10.9. The radiation era. Formation of light elements

10.10. The recombination period

10.11. Perturbations cf an isotropic Newtonian cosmological model. Jeans instability

10.12. Perturbations of the Friedman model

10.13. Influence of radiation on the evolution of perturbations in the expanding universe

10.14. Theories of galaxy formation

10.15. Structure and evolution of galaxies

10.16. Other cosmological models. The Mixmaster Universe

Literature

Appendix: Some Constants Used in Astrophysics

Subject index

List of other Titles in the Series