Gravitation : foundations and frontiers / T. Padmanabhan.

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Special relativity -- Scalar and electromagnetic fields in special relativity -- Gravity and spacetime geometry: the inescapable connection -- Metric tensor, geodesics and covariant derivative -- Curvature of spacetime -- Einstein's field equations and gravitational dynamics -- Spherically symmetric geometry -- Black holes -- Gravitational waves -- Relativistic cosmology -- Differential forms and exterior calculus -- Hamitonian structure of general relativity -- Evolution of cosmological perturbations -- Quantum field theory in curved spacetime -- Gravity in higher and lower dimensions -- Gravity as an emergent phenomenon.

Covering all aspects of gravitation in a contemporary style, this advanced textbook is ideal for graduate students and researchers in all areas of theoretical physics. The 'Foundation' section develops the formalism in six chapters, and uses it in the next four chapters to discuss four key applications - spherical spacetimes, black holes, gravitational waves and cosmology. The six chapters in the 'Frontier' section describe cosmological perturbation theory, quantum fields in curved spacetime, and the Hamiltonian structure of general relativity, among several other advanced topics, some of which are covered in-depth for the first time in a textbook. The modular structure of the book allows different sections to be combined to suit a variety of courses. Over 200 exercises are included to test and develop the reader's understanding. There are also over 30 projects, which help readers make the transition from the book to their own original research.