I Adler's New Book on Relativity: Misprint on Page 16?

Click For Summary
Adler's new book on relativity contains a potential misprint on page 16 regarding the Lorentz metric, which is presented as diag(-1,-1,-1,-1), raising questions about the correct representation of the Minkowski metric. The discussion highlights confusion over terminology, with some participants noting that the Minkowski metric is often referred to as the Lorentz metric, but they emphasize the importance of consistent index placement. Multiple users report additional misprints throughout the text, including an error in equation 4-16, where "contravariant" should be "covariant," leading to concerns about the book's proofreading quality. Suggestions include contacting the publisher for errata and the need for critical reading of textbooks due to potential errors. Overall, the conversation reflects frustration over the frequency of misprints and their impact on understanding the material.
  • #31
Thank you again for your clarification earlier where you copied the relevant sections from Adler, General Relativity and Cosmology, in your first post. in the future, I will be mindful of you, and the other reader's time, and effort and I will include specific titles, and characteristic information.

Cheers.
 
  • Like
Likes malawi_glenn
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #32
malawi_glenn said:
@mpresic3 I would also ask the publisher for a refund or something. It is free to ask.
Against this they legally protect themselves:
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this
publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from
the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.
The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this
book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the
authors or the editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the material contained
herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard
to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
 
  • Like
Likes malawi_glenn
  • #33
Here is a an interesting side note regarding the textbook, Introduction to General Relativity, by Adler, Bazin, and Schiffer. In Chaper 8, on page 235 of the 1965 edition the authors, write:
"It will be convenient in this chapter to use Minkowski coordinates ict, x, y, z, in place of the usual coordinates in special relativity. In this coordinate system, the Lorentz metric has the simple form"

( The matrix shown in equation 8.2 is diag(-1,-1,-1,-1) )

The equation 8.2 that follows give the metric as negative of the Kronecker delta, as the authors themselves state in the next sentence.

This time, of course, there is no misprint. The context of the presentation where they specify the coordinates is important.

The use of coordinate ict seems to be far less popular, nowadays.

I'm not trying to re-open the thread and generate further discussion. I think it has been discussed thoroughly.
 
  • Like
Likes vanhees71 and hutchphd

Similar threads

  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
1K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
2K