Best post-grad textbooks on modified theories of gravity?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the search for suitable postgraduate textbooks on modified theories of gravity, with a focus on the background knowledge required and specific recommendations for literature in this area.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks recommendations for textbooks suitable for a student with an undergraduate background in general relativity.
  • Another participant questions the definition of "modified theories of gravity" and asks for clarification on what aspects of general relativity were learned.
  • A suggestion is made regarding Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) as a potential area of interest, although the participant expresses uncertainty about specific textbooks on the topic.
  • One participant challenges the validity of writing textbooks on modified theories of gravity, suggesting that such speculations may be ruled out by observations.
  • A recommendation is provided for "Beyond Einstein Gravity: A Survey of Gravitational Theories for Cosmology and Astrophysics" by Capozziello and Faraoni, which focuses on f(R) theories of gravity.
  • Another book, "Classical and Quantum Cosmology" by Calcagni, is mentioned as it includes a survey of various theories of gravity and approaches to quantum gravity.
  • Participants are encouraged to use Amazon's Look Inside feature to examine the Tables of Contents of the recommended books.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the definition and relevance of modified theories of gravity, with some uncertainty regarding the specific focus of the original inquiry. There is no consensus on the appropriateness of MOND or the validity of writing textbooks on the topic.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the definitions of modified theories of gravity and the assumptions underlying the validity of MOND, as well as the observational constraints mentioned.

binbagsss
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Suitable for a student who has a background in undergrad general relativity.

Many thanks
 
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What do you mean by „modified theories of gravity” exactly? What exactly out of GR did you learn in school?
 
You may be thinking of Modified Newtonian Dynamics also known as MOND, rather than "modified theory of gravity". I think the term MOND or modified Newtonian dynamics, is higher regarded than modified theory of gravity. I do not know any textbooks on MOND off-hand, but there may be a few
 
Why should one write one since this speculation is ruled out by observations, as far as I know?
 
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I, too, am unsure as to what binbags wants, but I don't think that it is MOND. A possibility is "Beyond Einstein Gravity: A Survey of Gravitational Theories for Cosmology and Astrophysics" by Capozziello and Faraoni, which emphasizes f(R) theories of gravity,
https://www.amazon.com/dp/9400701640/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Also there is "Classical and Quantum Cosmology" by Calcagni,
https://www.amazon.com/dp/331941125X/?tag=pfamazon01-20

This book has a brief survey of various theories of gravity in the last few sections of chapter 7, and then devotes a number of chapters to approaches to quantum gravity and quantum cosmology.

Use Amazon's Look Inside feature to look at the Tables of Contents of these books.
 
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