The discussion centers on the adequacy of the textbook "Gravitation" by Misner, Thorne, and Wheeler (MTW) for understanding tensors in the context of General Relativity (GR). While MTW is a comprehensive resource, participants recommend Sean Carroll's online lecture notes as a more accessible introduction to tensor calculus. Key challenges highlighted include the complexity of tensor notation and the importance of adhering to index conventions, particularly in Lorentz transformations. Participants emphasize the distinction between tensors and coordinate transformations, clarifying that the Lorentz transformation matrix is not a tensor under general coordinate transformations.
PREREQUISITESStudents of physics, particularly those studying General Relativity, mathematicians interested in tensor calculus, and anyone seeking to clarify the complexities of tensor notation and its applications in GR.