The renaissance of general relativity and cosmology : a survey to celebrate the 65th birthday of Dennis Sciama

A special role in the study of general relativity and cosmology has been played by the influential research groups led by Dennis Sciama. In April 1992 many of his ex-students and collaborators assembled to review the developments that have taken place during his career to date. The topics covered include fundamental questions in general relativity and cosmology, black holes, active galactic nuclei, galactic structure, dark matter and large scale structure. The past forty years have been a time of spectacular development in the study of general relativity and cosmology. A special role in this has been played by the influential research groups led by Dennis Sciama in Cambridge, Oxford, and Trieste. In April 1992 many of his ex-students and collaborators came to Trieste (where he is currently Professor) for a review meeting to celebrate his 65th birthday. This book consists of written versions of the talks presented which, taken together, comprise an authoritative overview of developments which have taken place during his career to date. The topics covered include fundamental questions in general relativity and cosmology, black holes, active galactic nuclei, galactic structure, dark matter, and large scale structure There has been a tremendous growth in the understanding of General Relativity and of its relation to experiment in the past 30 years, resulting in its transformation from a subject in the doldrums on the periphery of theoretical physics, to a subject with a considerable experimental wing and and many recognised major theoretical achievements to its credit. This volume records the review meeting celebrating the 65th birthday of Dennis Sciama. The topics covered include fundamental questions in general relativity and cosmology, black holes, active galactic nuclei, galactic structure, dark matter, and large scale structure.