天体物理学观测：引力透镜效应与食双星现象——爱因斯坦的理论

Astrophysical observations: lensing and eclipsing Einstein's theories.

作者信息

Bennett Charles L

机构信息

Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.

出版信息

Science. 2005 Feb 11;307(5711):879-84. doi: 10.1126/science.1106444.

DOI:10.1126/science.1106444

PMID:15705841

Abstract

Albert Einstein postulated the equivalence of energy and mass, developed the theory of special relativity, explained the photoelectric effect, and described Brownian motion in five papers, all published in 1905, 100 years ago. With these papers, Einstein provided the framework for understanding modern astrophysical phenomena. Conversely, astrophysical observations provide one of the most effective means for testing Einstein's theories. Here, I review astrophysical advances precipitated by Einstein's insights, including gravitational redshifts, gravitational lensing, gravitational waves, the Lense-Thirring effect, and modern cosmology. A complete understanding of cosmology, from the earliest moments to the ultimate fate of the universe, will require developments in physics beyond Einstein, to a unified theory of gravity and quantum physics.

摘要

阿尔伯特·爱因斯坦提出了能量与质量等效的假设，发展了狭义相对论，解释了光电效应，并在100年前即1905年发表的五篇论文中描述了布朗运动。通过这些论文，爱因斯坦提供了理解现代天体物理现象的框架。相反，天体物理观测是检验爱因斯坦理论最有效的手段之一。在此，我回顾由爱因斯坦的见解所促成的天体物理进展，包括引力红移、引力透镜效应、引力波、伦施- Thirring效应和现代宇宙学。要全面理解宇宙学，从宇宙的最初时刻到最终命运，将需要超越爱因斯坦的物理学发展，直至引力与量子物理的统一理论。