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Last updated July 27, 2025

Einstein's Universe: Physical Foundations of the Theory of Relativistic Gravitation

Artistic representation of the disappearance of the Sun

From Newton's Universal Gravitation to Einstein's Geometry

Gravitation, as understood before Einstein, was described by Newton's law of universal gravitation, a force acting instantaneously at a distance. The revolution introduced by Albert Einstein in the early 20th century radically transformed our physical understanding of gravitation, linking it not to a classical force but to the very geometry of spacetime.

Before Gravitation: Theoretical Foundations of Special Relativity

In 1905, Einstein published the theory of special relativity, which challenged the classical notions of absolute space and time. It is based on two postulates:

In this framework, spatial and temporal coordinates merge into a four-dimensional continuum called Minkowski spacetime, equipped with a pseudo-Euclidean metric defined by:

$$ds^2 = -c^2 dt^2 + dx^2 + dy^2 + dz^2$$

This metric preserves the invariant interval \(ds\) between two events, thus structuring the reference framework in which particles and fields evolve.

N.B.: The four-dimensional continuum called Minkowski spacetime is a fundamental concept introduced by Albert Einstein's special relativity and formalized by the mathematician Hermann Minkowski in 1908. It corresponds to a geometric framework unifying space and time into a single mathematical structure with four dimensions: three of space \((x, y, z)\) and one of time \(t\).

N.B.: A pseudo-Euclidean metric is a distance measurement law where certain dimensions (such as time) have an opposite sign to others (the spatial dimensions). This reflects the intrinsic nature of the relativistic spacetime continuum, where distances can be negative, zero, or positive, depending on their physical meaning.

Comparison of Gravitation Models: Newton vs Einstein
AspectNewtonian GravitationEinstein's General Relativity
Physical NatureAttractive force acting at a distanceDynamic curvature of spacetime
Mathematical FrameworkVector calculus in Euclidean spaceTensor calculus in pseudo-Riemannian geometry
PropagationInstantaneous (classical model)Limited to the speed of light
Predicted EffectsOrbital trajectories (approximation)Light deflection, perihelion precession, gravitational waves
Application DomainsWeak conditions, low velocitiesStrong fields, relativistic regimes

Source: Einstein Online - Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics, Living Reviews in Relativity, 2016

The Limits of Special Relativity in the Face of Gravitation

Special relativity only deals with inertial frames of reference, thus excluding accelerations and gravitational effects. However, gravitation acts precisely on the trajectory of bodies and can be interpreted as an acceleration. To integrate gravitation, Einstein formulates the principle of equivalence:

A uniformly accelerated reference frame is locally equivalent to a reference frame at rest in a gravitational field.

This fundamental idea paves the way for a geometric description of gravitation, distinct from the Newtonian concept of a force acting at a distance.

N.B.: The principle of equivalence states that gravitation and acceleration are locally indistinguishable. It underpins the idea that a gravitational field is equivalent to a geometric deformation of spacetime, laying the foundations for general relativity.

General Relativity: Gravitation as the Curvature of Spacetime

General relativity, published in 1915, extends special relativity to non-inertial frames of reference and proposes a theory of gravitation based on differential geometry. Spacetime becomes a dynamic object, whose metric \(g_{\mu\nu}\) depends on the distribution of matter and energy. The fundamental law is given by Einstein's equations, a system of nonlinear partial differential equations:

$$G_{\mu\nu} = \frac{8 \pi G}{c^4} T_{\mu\nu}$$

These equations thus express that matter-energy dictates the curvature of spacetime, and this curvature guides the motion of bodies; gravitation is no longer a force but a geometric manifestation.

Physical Implications and Applications

The physical consequences of general relativity are numerous and have been rigorously tested experimentally:

Physical Implications of General Relativity
PhenomenonPrinciple or EquationExperimental Confirmation
Deflection of lightAngle θ = 4GM / (c²b)1919 Eclipse (Eddington), gravitational lenses
Precession of Mercury's perihelionΔω = (6πGM) / [a(1 - e²)c²]~43″/century observed vs Einstein's prediction
Gravitational time dilationΔt′ = Δt √(1 - 2GM / rc²)Atomic clocks, GPS satellites
Gravitational wavesSolutions of the type hμν ≈ A cos(ωt - kx)LIGO Detection (2015), Virgo, KAGRA
Gravitational lensesDeflection of light geodesicsMultiple images, gravitational arcs, Einstein Cross
Gravitational redshiftz = Δλ/λ = GM / rc²Pound-Rebka Experiment (1960), stellar spectra
Relativistic GPSCombined relativistic correction (SR + GR)Nanosecond precision
Relativistic cosmologyFriedmann equations, FLRWMeasured expansion (Hubble, Planck, SNe Ia)
Black holesSchwarzschild metric: ds² = ...Accretion, stellar dynamics, EHT image (M87*)
Lense-Thirring effectPrecession ∝ J / r³Gravity Probe B (2011)

From Concept to Calculation

The complete physical understanding of Einstein's theory of gravitation is very complex, as it relies on a sophisticated and highly geometric mathematical structure that requires mastery of the following concepts:

Understanding Gravitation According to Einstein: Key Concepts

Conclusion: General relativity is a geometric theory of gravitation, mathematically sophisticated but extraordinarily predictive.

This is why its complete understanding remains today reserved for a small circle of physicists trained in these tools, although its consequences (GPS, black holes, cosmology) are observable and experimentally confirmed.

Summary of the Physical Foundations of the Theory of Relativistic Gravitation

Einstein's theory of gravitation is based on a profound reformulation of the structure of the Universe, founded on several essential physical principles:

These foundations imply a dynamic universe where spacetime evolves according to the distribution of matter-energy, paving the way for a relativistic cosmology capable of explaining the expansion of the Universe, the Big Bang, and black holes as natural solutions to Einstein's equations.

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