TY - BOOK AU - Valiente Kroon,Juan A. TI - Conformal methods in general relativity T2 - Cambridge monographs on mathematical physics SN - 9781107033894 (hardback ; alk. paper) U1 - 530.11 23 PY - 2016/// CY - Cambridge : PB - Cambridge University Press, KW - General relativity (Physics) KW - Mathematics KW - Differential geometry KW - Conformal mapping KW - Conformal geometry KW - Einstein field equations KW - Numerical solutions KW - Space and time N1 - Includes bibliographical references and index; 1. Introduction -- 2. Differential geometry -- 3. Spacetime spinors -- 4. Space spinors -- 5. Conformal geometry -- 6. Conformal extensions of exact solutions -- 7. Asymptotic simplicity -- 8. The conformal Einstein field equations -- 9. Matter models -- 10. Asymptotics -- 11. The conformal constraint equations -- 12. Methods of the theory of hyperbolic differential equations -- 13. Hyperbolic reductions -- 14. Causality and the Cauchy problem in general relativity -- 15. De Sitter-like spacetimes -- 16. Minkowski-like spacetimes -- 17. Anti-de Sitter-like spacetimes -- 18. Characteristic problems for the conformal field equations -- 19. Static solutions -- 20. Spatial infinity -- 21. Perspectives N2 - This book offers a systematic exposition of conformal methods and how they can be used to study the global properties of solutions to the equations of Einstein's theory of gravity. It shows that combining these ideas with differential geometry can elucidate the existence and stability of the basic solutions of the theory. Introducing the differential geometric, spinorial and PDE background required to gain a deep understanding of conformal methods, this text provides an accessible account of key results in mathematical relativity over the last thirty years, including the stability of de Sitter and Minkowski spacetimes. For graduate students and researchers, this self-contained account includes useful visual models to help the reader grasp abstract concepts and a list of further reading, making this the perfect reference companion on the topic ER -