Publisher's Synopsis
The first model for general relativistic collapse was developed in the 1930s, and has become the backbone for our understanding of how black holes form. Since then, many more models have been proposed mostly with the aim of investigating the limits of the singularity theorems and/or general relativity itself. Overall, several techniques have been developed to study the properties of solutions of the field equations and obtain some insights into the behaviour of gravity in the last stages of collapse. This book aims to be a step-by-step guide for graduate students and young researchers that intend to take the first steps into this field of work as well as a point of reference for researchers already working in the field. The book will offer a detailed and exhaustive survey of analytical models for gravitational collapse and their properties. These are solutions (exact or approximate) of Einstein's equations that describe the complete gravitational collapse of a matter source.
Key Features:
- A comprehensive collection of known solutions grouped in a coherent manner that can be used as a guide for researchers
- A step by step exposition of all the mathematical formalism needed to study collapse in GR that can benefit newcomers
- An assessment of the state of the art of the field after almost 100 years since the first model was developed
- Filling the hole of a comprehensive resource that is until now missing in the literature
