Gravitational-Wave Astronomy: Exploring the Dark Side of the Universe

This book is an introduction to gravitational waves and related astrophysics. It provides a bridge across the range of astronomy, physics and cosmology that comes into play when trying to understand the gravitational-wave sky. Starting with Einstein's theory of gravity, chapters develop the key ideas step by step, leading up to the technology that finally caught these faint whispers from the distant universe. The second part of the book makes a direct connection with current research, introducing the relevant language and making the involved concepts less "mysterious". The book is intended to work as a platform, low enough that anyone with an elementary understanding of gravitational waves can scramble onto it, but at the same time high enough to connect readers with active research - and the many exciting discoveries that are happening right now.

The first part of the book introduces the key ideas, following a general overview chapter and including a brief reminder of Einstein's theory. This part can be taught as a self-contained one semester course. The second part of the book is written to work as a collection of "set pieces" with core material that can be adapted to specific lectures and additional material that provide context and depth.

A range of readers may find this book useful, including graduate students, astronomers looking for basic understanding of the gravitational-wave window to the universe, researchers analysing data from gravitational-wave detectors, and nuclear and particle physicists.


Author: Nils Andersson
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 01/20/2020
Pages: 688
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 3.15lbs
Size: 9.80h x 7.00w x 1.50d
ISBN: 9780198568032

About the Author

Nils Andersson, Professor, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

Nils Andersson is a professor of mathematics and an expert on Einstein's theory of relativity and related astrophysics. His research mainly concerns black holes, neutron stars and gravitational waves. Over the last couple of decades, he has actively pursued many issued relevant to the emerging area of gravitational-wave astronomy. His current work focusses on the extreme physics that neutron stars represent, from the state and composition of matter to the dynamical role of the superfluid and superconducting components expected to be present in the core of a mature neutron star.