GRAVITATION IN 2+1 DIMENSIONS

We investigate gravitational field theories in 2+1-spacetime dimensions. The consequences of the lack of a Newtonian limit to general relatively are reviewed. Further insight into the implications of this fact is gained by considering a new, general class of exact hydrostatic solutions. We show that all self-gravitating polytropic structures have the same gravitational mass and produce matter-filled spaces of finite spatial volume. Other theories of gravitation are also considered and the behavior of one such theory with a Newtonian limit is studied. Cosmological solutions of these gravitational theories are also studied in detail.