Introduction to Einstein’s Theory of Relativity From Newton’s Attractive Gravity to the Repulsive Gravity of Vacuum Energy

Updated throughout, the book contains more detailed explanations and extended discussions of several conceptual points, and strengthened mathematical deductions where required. It includes examples of work conducted in the ten years since the first edition of the book was published, for example the pedagogically helpful concept of a "river of space" and a more detailed discussion of how far the principle of relativity is contained in the general theory of relativity. Also presented is a discussion of the concept of the 'gravitational field' in Einstein's theory, and some new material concerning the 'twin paradox' in the theory of relativity.

Finally, the book contains a new section about gravitational waves, exploring the dramatic progress in this field following the LIGO observations.

Øyvind Grøn is a Norwegian physicist, who took the cand. real. degree at the University of Oslo in 1973, majoring in meteorology, and went on to obtain the PhD degree in 1990 with a thesis on repulsive gravitation. He was appointed as a professor at Oslo University College in 1994, having been an associate professor since 1985, and has also been professor at the University of Oslo since 1994. Grøn has conducted research within the areas of general relativity, cosmology and classical electromagnetism. He has thrown new light on themes like the twin paradox, physics in a rotating reference system (Ehrenfest paradox) and repulsive gravitation associated with vacuum energy. He has written several books including Introduction to General Relativity and its Mathematics (Springer 1998, with Arne Næss), Einstein's General Theory of Relativity: With Modern Applications in Cosmology (Springer 2007, with Sigbjørn Hervik) and Einstein's Theory: A Rigorous Introduction for the Mathematically Untrained (Springer 2011, with Arne Næss)