Gravitational Wave Astronomy

Abstract This is an introduction to gravitational wave astronomy. The physical bases of gravitation and the generation and detection of gravitational waves are recalled and then kilometric detectors under construction are described. 

As a short course intended to give a first insight into gravitational wave astronomy, this lecture will try to answer the following questions ... 

Black holes. One great achievement of gravitational wave astronomy would be the first detection of a signal coming directly from a black hole. Just like with neutron stars, black holes can emit gw either alone or in binary systems. 

Binary Stars Chaos Cosmology Gravitational Wave Astronomy Mechanics, Classical Moon (Astronomy) Perturbation Theory Planetary Satellites (Natural) Relativity, General Solar Physics Solar System, General Stellar Structure and Evolution... 

Cosmic Radiation Gravitational Wave Astronomy Infrared Astronomy Neutrino Astronomy Pulsars Solar Physics Supernovae Ultraviolet Space Astronomy X-Ray Astronomy... 

TABLE I Gravitational Wave Astronomy Frequency Bands... 

Current knowledge of the physics of the early universe is highly speculative, as are the sources of the stochastic background described below. However, gravitational wave astronomy may provide the only method of directly observing the conditions in the universe as early as sec after the big bang (in the HF band) since... 

Efforts to directly observe gravitational waves have a history spanning at least 40 years Joseph Weber constructed the first resonant mass detectors in the early 1960s. At the start of the 21st century, a new generation of interferometric detectors will have sufficient sensitivity to detect many anticipated astrophysical sources. The commissioning and scientific operation of these instruments marks the birth of gravitational wave astronomy. 

Schutz, B. F. (1999). Gravitational wave astronomy. Classical Quantum Gravity 16, A131—A156. 

The direct detection of gravitational waves holds the potential of a rich physics and astronomy wealth It could open the field of gravitational wave astronomy to give a new picture of the universe that could be as surprising as the opening of the radio window after the optical one. 

Binary Stars Cosmology Gravitational Wave Astronomy Gravitational Wave Physics Neu-... 

Cosmic Radiation Dark Matter in the Universe Gamma-Ray Astronomy Gravitational Wave Astronomy Neutron Stars Nuclear Chemistry... 

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