Colliding Plane Waves in General Relativity (Oxford Mathematical Monographs) - Hardcover

Griffiths, J. B.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0198532091 ISBN 13: 9780198532095

Publisher: Clarendon Press, 1991

Synopsis

For many years after Einstein proposed his general theory of relativity, few exact solutions to the field equations were known. In particular, the theory of colliding plane wave space-times was thought to produce curvature singularities. In recent years, however, the rich structure of such colliding waves has been explored. This volume presents a survey of the current research in this topic, intended for graduate students and research workers involved with general relativity. The first eight chapters present the background to the subject, introduce the field equations and include a discussion of some qualitative aspects of their solution. An account is included of the Khan-Penrose solution since it exhibits the general character of most colliding plane wave solutions. The latter half of the book is devoted to considering further exact solutions, studying the collision and interaction of electromagnetic waves and summarizing more advanced topics of current research.

About this title

From the Back Cover

This monograph surveys recent research on the collision and interaction of gravitational and electromagnetic waves. "This is a particularly important topic in general relativity," the author notes, "since the theory predicts that there will be a nonlinear interaction between such waves." Geared toward graduate students and researchers in general relativity, the text offers a comprehensive and unified review of the vast literature on the subject.
The first eight chapters offer background, presenting the field equations and discussing some qualitative aspects of their solution. Subsequent chapters explore further exact solutions for colliding plane gravitational waves and the collision and interaction of electromagnetic waves. The final chapters summarize all related results for the collision of plane waves of different types and in non-flat backgrounds. A new postscript updates developments since the book's initial 1991 publication.
Dover (2016) republication of the edition originally published by the Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1991.
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About the Author

J. B. Griffiths is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, England.

Edition details

• Publisher: Clarendon Press
• Publication date: 1991
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0198532091
• ISBN 13: 9780198532095
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 246