Relativity in Fundamental Astronomy (IAU S261)
Relativity in Fundamental Astronomy (IAU S261)
P. Kenneth Seidelmann , University of Virginia
Michael H. Soffel , Technische Universität, Dresden
AUD$135.95
inc GSTGeneral relativity provides our best description of gravitation in modern physics - currently all observations and tests of gravitational theories have agreed with it. GR is applied in fields as diverse as fundamental astronomy, astrophysics, geodesy, physics, and space sciences, where high-accuracy observations and measurements are taken or modeled. IAU Symposium 261 summarizes the present state of applied relativity. It considers the applications of general relativity in a wide range of disciplines: geodesy, navigation, solar system ephemerides, space missions, pulsar timing, high-accuracy astrometry, gravity waves, gravitational lenses, and black hole astrophysics. The future tests of general relativity based on improved observational accuracies and higher order developments of the theory are discussed in general. Specific projects designed to test the theory in the near future are also covered. This volume is a useful resource for all those interested in general and special relativity, their current applications and future tests.
- Provides a fresh summary of the field of applied relativity in today's era of high-accuracy observations and modelling
- Discusses applications of relativity for a broad range of astronomical objects, from Earth to distant galaxies
- Describes future tests of relativity
Reviews & endorsements
'… a book that should be possessed by anyone who is engaged in research in precision astronomy or in General Relativity … It should certainly be in every physics and astronomy department library as an incomparable reference work…' Contemporary Physics
Product details
January 2010Hardback
9780521764810
450 pages
254 × 178 × 22 mm
0.94kg
160 b/w illus. 35 tables
Out of stock in print form with no current plan to reprint
Table of Contents
- Preface
- 1. Astronomical space-time reference frames
- 2. Astronomical constants, nomenclature and units of measurement
- 3. Time scales, clock and time transfer
- 4. Equations of motion of astronomical bodies and light rays
- 5. Motion of astronomical bodies
- 6. Experimental foundations of general relativity
- 7. Pulsar timing
- 8. Astrometric and timing signatures of gravitational lensing and gravity waves
- 9. Astrometric and timing signatures of galactic and extragalactic black holes
- 10. Astrometry and ground-based interferometry
- 11. Promises and challenges of Gaia
- 12. Future high-accuracy projects
- 13. Future prospects of testing general relativity
- Author index
- Subject index
- Object index.
