Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Rotating fluid bodies in equilibrium : fundamental notions and equations. The concept of an isolated body ; Fluid bodies in equilibrium ; The metric of an axisymmetric perfect fluid body in stationary rotation ; Einstein's field equations inside and outside the body ; Equations of state ; Physical properties ; Limiting cases ; Transition to black holes -- Analytical treatment of limiting cases. MacLaurin spheroids ; Schwarzschild spheres ; The rigidly rotating disc of dust ; The Kerr metric as the solution to a boundary value problem -- Numerical treatment of the general case. A multi-domain spectral method ; Coordinate mappings ; Equilibrium configurations of homogeneous fluids ; Configurations with other equations of state ; Fluid rings with a central black hole -- Remarks on stability and astrophysical relevance.

This book treats the classical problem of gravitational physics within Einstein's theory of general relativity. It presents basic principles and equations needed to describe rotating fluid bodies, as well as black holes in equilibrium. It then goes on to deal with a number of analytically tractable limiting cases, placing particular emphasis on the rigidly rotating disc of dust. The book concludes by considering the general case using powerful numerical methods that are applied to various models, including the classical example of equilibrium figures of constant density. Researchers in general relativity, mathematical physics, and astrophysics will find this a valuable reference book on the topic. A related website containing codes for calculating various figures of equilibrium is available at www.cambridge.org/9781107407350.