Singular Null Hypersurfaces in General Relativity: Light-Like Signals from Violent Astrophysical Events

This book presents a comprehensive and self-contained exposition of the mathematical theory of impulsive light-like signals in general relativity. Applications are provided in relativistic astrophysics, cosmology and alternative theories of gravity deduced from string theory. Cataclysmic astrophysical events give rise to impulsive light-like signals which can generally be decomposed into a thin shell of null matter and an impulsive gravitational wave. Several examples are considered in black hole physics, wave collisions and light-like boosts of compact gravitating sources.

Graduate students and researchers in relativistic astrophysics, cosmology and string theory will find this book very useful.

.,." really useful both as an introduction to the field and as a reference for researchers ..."