Proceedings of the Ninth International Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation . . Jena, 14-19 July 1980.

SCHMUTZER, E. [Stephen Hawking].

$3,500.00

Item Number: 119378

Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1983.

First edition of this work on relativity and gravitation. Octavo, original cloth. From the library of Stephen Hawking with his name written on the front free endpaper. Stephen Hawking was a theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author who was director of research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge at the time of his death. Hawking’s scientific works included a collaboration with Roger Penrose on gravitational singularity theorems in the framework of general relativity and the theoretical prediction that black holes emit radiation, often called Hawking radiation. He was the first to set out a theory of cosmology explained by a union of the general theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. Hawking may be one of the most recognizable of theoretical physicists in part due to ALS, which gradually paralyzed him over the decades. After the loss of his speech, he was able to communicate through a speech-generating device—initially through use of a handheld switch, and eventually by using a single cheek muscle. He is also well known since he achieved commercial success with several works of popular science in which he discussed his theories and cosmology in general. His book, A Brief History of Time, appeared on the Sunday Times bestseller list for a record-breaking 237 weeks. An exceptional association from this giant in the world of theoretical physics.

The scientific material for the discussion groups of GR9 was handed out to the participants of the conference in 3 Abstracts Volumes (about 750 pages) at the beginning of the congress. This Proceedings Volume contains most of the GR9 plenary lectures. Unfortunately the publication of this volume had been delayed by nearly half a year, because some of the authors could not keep the mutually agreed term for handing in their manuscripts, which was the end of September 1980. Although Hawking did not lecture during this conference, he and his works are referenced over forty times in this book.