Abstract

Among the classical field theories, general relativity theory occupies a somewhat peculiar place. Unlike those of most other field theories, the field equations in relativity theory are non-linear. This implies that many facts, well known in linear theories, have no analogues in general relativity theory, and conversely. The equations of motion of the sources of the gravitational field are contained in the field equations, a fact which does not apply for the motion of an electron in the electromagnetic field. Conversely, it is difficult to define the notion of a wave (familiar in electrodynamics) in relativity theory; for, the linear principle of superposition is crucial for the existence of waves (at least in the sense that the notion of a wave is normally used).

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