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A Concise Introduction
Brian P. Dolan
Published online:

15 June 2023

Print publication:

29 June 2023
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Einstein's general theory of relativity can be a notoriously difficult subject for students approaching it for the first time, with arcane mathematical concepts such as connection coefficients and tensors adorned with a forest of indices. This book is an elementary introduction to Einstein's theory and the physics of curved space-times that avoids these complications as much as possible. Its first half describes the physics of black holes, gravitational waves and the expanding Universe, without using tensors. Only in the second half are Einstein's field equations derived and used to explain the dynamical evolution of the early Universe and the creation of the first elements. Each chapter concludes with problem sets and technical mathematical details are given in the appendices. This short text is intended for undergraduate physics students who have taken courses in special relativity and advanced mechanics.

Chapter 17 - The Universe Observed
from Part II - The Curved Spacetimes of General Relativity
James B. Hartle, University of California, Santa Barbara
Book:

Gravity

Published online:

03 September 2021

Print publication:

24 June 2021, pp 347-365
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Summary

Cosmology is the part of science concerned with the structure and evolution of the universe on the largest scales of space and time. Gravity governs the structure of the universe on these scales and determines its evolution. General relativity is thus central to cosmology, and cosmology is one of the most important applications of general relativity. Our understanding of the universe on the largest scales of space and time has increased dramatically in recent years – both observationally and theoretically. This book concentrates on the role of relativistic gravity in cosmology, introducing only the most basic observational facts and working out the simplest theoretical models. This chapter sketches the three basic observational facts about our universe on the largest distance scales: the universe consists of stars and gas in gravitationally bound collections of matter called galaxies, diffuse radiation, dark matter of unknown character, and vacuum energy; the universe is expanding; averaged over large distance scales, the universe is isotropic and homogeneous.

Early dynamical world models: A historical review
Helge Kragh
Journal:

Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union / Volume 5 / Issue S260 / January 2009

Published online by Cambridge University Press:

29 June 2011, pp. 182-188

Print publication:

January 2009
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Models of the universe, in the sense of solutions to the cosmological field equations, took their start in 1917 with Einstein's closed universe. During the next two decades they were developed to comprise evolving models, some of them cyclic and some of them with a definite age. The history of this development, as it occurred up to the mid 1930s, is reviewed. It is argued that in 1930-31, cosmology experienced a kind of paradigm shift.