Physics, Mathematical Physics

These lecture notes are suitable for a one-semester course at the graduate level. Table of contents: Fundamentals; Geodesic congruences; hypersurfaces; Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of general relativity; Black holes.

Whether it is true or not that not more than twelve persons in all the world are able to understand Einstein's Theory, it is nevertheless a fact that there is a constant demand for information about this much-debated topic of relativity. The books published on the subject are so technical that only a person trained in pure physics and higher mathematics is able to fully understand them. In order to make a popular explanation of this far-reaching theory available, the present book is published.

The book is intended for all students of general relativity of any age and orientation who have a background including at least first courses in special and general relativity, differential geometry, and topology.