La relativité générale au tournant des années soixante

Abstract

During fifty years Einstein’s theory of gravitation was limited to a backward neo-newtonian interpretation. Nevertheless it was sufficient to as­sure its predominance in regard to Newton’s theory. In the late sixties the studies on the structure of spacetime around a star as well as that concerning the cosmological field were essential for general relativity to get a coherent interpretation. What were the difficulties which explain such a delay to re­consider its interpretation? What were the elements, the concepts that will permit the experts the renewal of the sixties? Cosmology, cosmologists are at the very centre of this revolution.