Any good references of Petrov Classification?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding good references for Petrov Classification, a topic within the context of general relativity and related theories. Participants share various sources and personal experiences with different texts.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests searching for the two volumes of Penrose and Rindler's book on spinors and twistors as a potential resource.
  • Another participant mentions "Introduction to General Relativity" by Ryder as a readable account of Petrov Classification.
  • A different source, "Relativity: An Introduction to Special and General Relativity" by Stephani, is noted as helpful by a participant.
  • One participant expresses difficulty in understanding the topic despite trying several sources, ultimately recommending "Survey of gravitational radiation theory" by F.A.E. Pirani for its concrete approach and connections to electromagnetism.
  • A link to a Google Books entry for Stephani's work is provided for further reference.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus on a single best reference, as multiple sources are suggested and personal experiences vary.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express ongoing challenges in understanding Petrov Classification, indicating that the effectiveness of the suggested references may depend on individual backgrounds and familiarity with the subject.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students or researchers looking for literature on Petrov Classification in the context of general relativity.

yicong2011
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Is there any good references of Petrov Classification?

Thank you.
 
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If I were to go to the nearest college library, I'd search for the 2 volumes of Penrose and Rindler's book on spinors and twistors. If I didn't find the desired treatment, then I would look in all the books Moshe Carmeli wrote.
 
A readable account appears in "Introduction to General Relativity" from Ryder. Personally, I learned it from Relativity: An Introduction to Special and General Relativity by Stephani.
 
I tried several sources to learn about this, and I still don't understand it thoroughly at all. The source that worked best for me was "Survey of gravitational radiation theory," F.A.E. Pirani, in Recent Developments in General Relativity, Pergamon, 1962, p. 89. You can presumably find it if you have access to a large university library. It's very concrete and down to earth, and it relates the ideas to their counterparts in E&M.
 

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