Relativity by Robert M. Wald
Wald's book is suitable for graduate or advanced undergraduate students
in physics who are comfortable with vectors, advanced calculus and geometry.
Wald provides treatments of advanced black hole topics such as causality
breakdowns, spacetime singularities, black hole thermodynamics and Hawking
radiation that are clear and accessible without being simplified.
The Large Scale Structure of Space-Time by
Stephen Hawking, G. F. Ellis (Contributor)
This has to be the most difficult book in all of theoretical physics.
However, Hawking's insight into black holes and the issues involved
in their definition and existence is quite deep and it's worth grinding
through his derivations and proofs in order to understand the fine points
of black hole physics.
Holes and Relativistic Stars by Robert
M. Wald (Editor)
A comprehensive summary of progress made during the past decade on the
theory of black holes and relativistic stars, this collection includes
discussion of structure and oscillations of relativistic stars, the
use of gravitational radiation detectors, observational evidence for
black holes, cosmic censorship, numerical work related to black hole
collisions, the internal structure of black holes, black hole thermodynamics,
information loss and other issues related to the quantum properties
of black holes, and recent developments in the theory of black holes
in the context of string theory.
Quantum Field Theory in Curved Spacetime
and Black Hole Thermodynamics (Chicago Lectures in Physics) by by Robert
M. Wald (Editor)
In this book, Robert Wald provides a coherent, pedagogical introduction
to the formulation of quantum field theory in curved spacetime, the
most interesting facet of which is the predicted decay of black holes
through quantum Hawking radiation. This book will be accessible to students
and researchers who have had introductory courses in general relativity
and quantum field theory, and will be of interest to scientists in general
relativity and related fields.
Wormholes: From Einstein to Hawking by Matt Visser
The author draws on pivotal work by Einstein, Wheeler, Morris, Thorne,
Hawking, and others to explore the science behind the science fiction,
concluding that it is possible to deduce the physical properties of
such theoretical exotica as wormholes and time travel. Of interest to
physicists, students of general relativity, cosmology, quantum physics,
or any reader with a background in physics.
The Mathematical Theory of Black Holes (Oxford
Classic Texts in the Physical Sciences) by S. Chandrasekhar
This is a classic book by legendary Indian theoretical physicist Subramanyan
Chandrasekhar. Chandrasekhar was the first physicist to seriously proposed
that real stars could collapse to become black holes, and for delivering
this challenging wisdom to the heavyweights of his field, the young
physicist nearly paid with his career. This is a classic text, although
modern readers may find the old-fashioned notation ponderous.