Gravitational Waves – Vol 2

The two-volume book Gravitational Waves provides a comprehensive and detailed account of the physics of gravitational waves. While Volume 1 is devoted to the theory and experiments, Volume 2 discusses what can be learned from gravitational waves in astrophysics and in cosmology, by systematizing a large body of theoretical developments that have taken place over the last decades. The second volume also includes a detailed discussion of the first direct detections of gravitational waves. In the author’s typical style, the theoretical results are generally derived afresh, clarifying or streamlining the existing derivations whenever possible, and providing a coherent and consistent picture of the field.

The first volume of Gravitational Waves , which appeared in 2007, has established itself as the standard reference in the field. The scientific community has eagerly awaited this second volume. The recent direct detection of gravitational waves makes the topics in this book particularly timely.

Part Ill: Astrophysical sources of gravitational waves

10 Stellar collapse

11 Neutron stars

12 Black-hole perturbation theory

13 Properties of dynamical space-times

14 GWs from compact binaries. Theory

15 GWs from compact binaries. Observations

16 Supermassive black holes

Part IV: Cosmology and gravitational waves

17 Basics of FRW cosmology

18 Helicity decomposition of metric perturbations

19 Evolution of cosmological perturbations

20 The imprint of GWs on the CMB

21 Inflation and primordial perturbations

22 Stochastic backgrounds of cosmological origin

23 Stochastic backgrounds and pulsar timing arrays

Review

“The book covers a staggering breadth of material and is extremely useful as a bird’s-eye overview of the field… From now on I will recommend it as the best entry point for students who want to join this blooming research field” — Emanuele Berti, Physics Today“Michele Maggiore’s textbook spends equal effort reviewing the astrophysical and cosmological theories behind the production of cosmic gravitational waves and discussing the observational constraints that could be gleaned from the handful of LIGO/Virgo detections, the pulsar timing arrays and upcoming facilities like LISA.” — Nature Astronomy

About the Author

Prof. Michele Maggiore

Department of Theoretical Physics, University of Geneva Born in 1963, Michele Maggiore has graduated from University of Pisa in 1986, and has got his PhD from Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, in 1989. After postdoctoral positions in Bern and at University of Minnesota he became researcher at INFN in Pisa in 1991. Since 2001 he is Professeur Ordinaire (Professor) at the Dept. of Theoretical Physics, University of Geneva.

His research interests cover a broad range of subjects, including quantum field theory, quantum gravity, cosmology, string theory, and the study of gravitational waves of astrophysical or cosmological origin. He is also involved in experimental effors for gravitational wave detection.