Space Time Infinity

Traces the history of astronomy, looks at what we have learned about the Sun, Moon, stars and planets, and identifies key questions which face astronomers of the future.

Traces the history of astronomy, looks at what we have learned about the Sun, Moon, stars and planets, and identifies key questions which face astronomers of the future.

Einstein's General Theory of Relativity leads to two remarkable predictions: first, that the ultimate destiny of many massive stars is to undergo gravitational collapse and to disappear from view, leaving behind a 'black hole' in space; and secondly, that there will exist singularities in space-time itself. These singularities are places where space-time begins or ends, and the presently known laws of physics break down. They will occur inside black holes, and in the past are what might be construed as the beginning of the universe. To show how these predictions arise, the authors discuss the General Theory of Relativity in the large. Starting with a precise formulation of the theory and an account of the necessary background of differential geometry, the significance of space-time curvature is discussed and the global properties of a number of exact solutions of Einstein's field equations are examined. The theory of the causal structure of a general space-time is developed, and is used to study black holes and to prove a number of theorems establishing the inevitability of singualarities under certain conditions. A discussion of the Cauchy problem for General Relativity is also included in this 1973 book.

This is a book about science, religion, and being, yours and mine. The study of being is called Ontology. Our culture is dominated by a naturalist ontology. The question is: does ontology include a supernatural component? Or, is that idea a relic of our primeval past, sort of like appendix and adenoids, parts that can be excised from the body of our belief system? The author argues for the primacy of the transcendent (supernatural) ontology by means of two books: the book of nature, and the book of transcendency (the Bible), each containing its own portion of the evidence. Mr. Carlson argues for the following: The universe represents a small portion of Gods ontology, a small reality devoted to redemption. The signet of redemption is the number 7; its appearance within chronology is deliberate, instructive, and compelling. The Creation Week account reflects a two-fold metaphor: (1) space-time itself was created to support the redemptive act, and (2) mankinds history will unfold in a series of seven ages, later quantified as millennia. The interval between Adam and Abraham literally filled one redemptive bi-millennium, but the catastrophic effects of 3 realities, the Cainite civilization, Noah, and the break-up of Pangaea, contribute to the appearance of myth as viewed by the uniformitarian geologist for whom catastrophes appear invisible. The 2nd bi-millennium, Abraham- to-Messiah, was also fulfilled exactly in redemptive time. The termination of our age is imminent and dependent upon the chronology of Israel, mankinds chronograph. A detailed chronology of the history of Israel is flavored with the redemptive signet, especially 70 yrs or 70 heptads of yrs. By decoding Israels history in redemptive time and employing the single concept of the favor of God, the author derives a Biblical-based proof that modern Israel is the same and identical state founded by Samuel in 1096 BC. Three independent proofs of this foundational date are provided. These proofs show that the Monarchy existed for exactly 511 yrs, which period is exactly equal to 73 heptads: Israel is an heptadic state. The author concludes that the redemptive corollary to Israels ontology is also proven: we have actually entered the end-times and the events associated with the last days will soon unfold. Because the reality of Israel is visible to all, it is apparent that the redemptive offer made to mankind is also real and visible, such as that appearing in John 3:16, John 6:40, and Romans 10:9-13. There is much to learn about our world. Start now. Tomorrow may be too late!

'Science has never had an advocate quite like David Deutsch ... A computational physicist on a par with his touchstones Alan Turing and Richard Feynman, and a philosopher in the line of his greatest hero, Karl Popper. His arguments are so clear that to read him is to experience the thrill of the highest level of discourse available on this planet and to understand it' Peter Forbes, Independent In our search for truth, how far have we advanced? This uniquely human quest for good explanations has driven amazing improvements in everything from scientific understanding and technology to politics, moral values and human welfare. But will progress end, either in catastrophe or completion - or will it continue infinitely? In this profound and seminal book, David Deutsch explores the furthest reaches of our current understanding, taking in the Infinity Hotel, supernovae and the nature of optimism, to instill in all of us a wonder at what we have achieved - and the fact that this is only the beginning of humanity's infinite possibility. 'This is Deutsch at his most ambitious, seeking to understand the implications of our scientific explanations of the world ... I enthusiastically recommend this rich, wide-ranging and elegantly written exposition of the unique insights of one of our most original intellectuals' Michael Berry, Times Higher Education Supplement 'Bold ... profound ... provocative and persuasive' Economist 'David Deutsch may well go down in history as one of the great scientists of our age' Scotsman

Einstein's theory of general relativity is a theory of gravity and, as in the earlier Newtonian theory, much can be learnt about the character of gravitation and its effects by investigating particular idealised examples. This book describes the basic solutions of Einstein's equations with a particular emphasis on what they mean, both geometrically and physically. Concepts such as big bang and big crunch-types of singularities, different kinds of horizons and gravitational waves, are described in the context of the particular space-times in which they naturally arise. These notions are initially introduced using the most simple and symmetric cases. Various important coordinate forms of each solution are presented, thus enabling the global structure of the corresponding space-time and its other properties to be analysed. The book is an invaluable resource both for graduate students and academic researchers working in gravitational physics.

Mixing memoir and visionary science, a leading astrophysicist’s groundbreaking personal account of her life and ideas Is the universe infinite or just really big? With this question, cosmologist Janna Levin announces the central theme of this book, which established her as one of the most direct, unorthodox, and creative voices in contemporary science. As Levin sets out to determine how big “really big” may be, she offers a rare intimate look at the daily life of an innovative physicist, complete with jet lag and the tensions between personal relationships and the extreme demands of scientific exploration. Nimbly explaining geometry, topology, chaos, and string theory, Levin shows how the pattern of hot and cold spots left over from the big bang may one day reveal the size of the cosmos. The result is a thrilling story of cosmology by one of its leading thinkers.

This interdisciplinary study of infinity explores the concept through the prism of mathematics and then offers more expansive investigations in areas beyond mathematical boundaries to reflect the broader, deeper implications of infinity for human intellectual thought. More than a dozen world-renowned researchers in the fields of mathematics, physics, cosmology, philosophy and theology offer a rich intellectual exchange among various current viewpoints, rather than displaying a static picture of accepted views on infinity. The book starts with a historical examination of the transformation of infinity from a philosophical and theological study to one dominated by mathematics. It then offers technical discussions on the understanding of mathematical infinity. Following this, the book considers the perspectives of physics and cosmology: can infinity be found in the real universe? Finally, the book returns to questions of philosophical and theological aspects of infinity.