B4085 - GRAVITATIONAL WAVES

Conoscenze e abilità da conseguire

The aim of the course is to provide the student with basic knowledge of the physics of gravitational waves and of the importance of gravitational radiation in astrophysics. The student will be able to describe qualitatively how gravitational waves emerge from the theory of general relativity and to what are the main astrophysical sources of gravitational radiation. The student will understand the principles of gravitational wave detection, with reference to current and forthcoming observatories.

Programma/Contenuti

Content

- Fundamentals of general relativity
- Linearized general relativity
- Linearized field equations: weak gravitational waves (GWs)
- Effect of GWs on free particles
- Astrophysical sources of GWs
- Generation of gravitational waves from binary sources
- Spin-up and coalescence of compact binary systems due to GW emission
- Chirp GW signal from inspiralling binary systems
- Detection of gravitational waves
- Current and future GW observatories

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of mechanics and electromagnetism. Basic knowlegde of calculus (integrals and derivatives).

Testi/Bibliografia

- M. Guidry Modern General Relativity. Black Holes, Gravitational Waves, and Cosmology, 2020, Cambridge University Press
- B. Schutz, A First Course in General Relativity, 2022, Cambridge University Press

- Slides

Metodi didattici

Lectures

Modalità di verifica dell'apprendimento

The students (individually or in group) will have to prepare a critical discussion of some specific topic addressed in the course, in the form of either a written essay (1000 words) or a presentation (4 slides), to be discussed in a meeting with the teacher.

Strumenti a supporto della didattica

Blackboard and projector

Orario di ricevimento

Consulta il sito web di Carlo Nipoti