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Gravitational Wave Detection by Interferometry (Ground and Space)

REA Auditado

Significant progress has been made in recent years on the development of gravitational-wave detectors. Sources such as coalescing compact binary systems, neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries, stellar collapses and pulsars are all possible candidates for detection. The most promising design of gravitational-wave detector uses test masses a long distance apart and freely suspended as pendulums on Earth or in drag-free spacecraft.

Tema: general: 

• Ciencias›Física

Theorems on Existence and Global Dynamics for the Einstein Equations

REA Auditado

This article is a guide to theorems on existence and global dynamics of solutions of the Einstein equations. It draws attention to open questions in the field. The local-in-time Cauchy problem, which is relatively well understood, is surveyed. Global results for solutions with various types of symmetry are discussed. A selection of results from Newtonian theory and special relativity that offer useful comparisons is presented. Treatments of global results in the case of small data and results on constructing spacetimes with prescribed singularity structure or late-time asymptotics are given.

Tema: general: 

• Ciencias›Física

Low-Frequency Gravitational Wave Searches Using Spacecraft Doppler Tracking

REA Auditado

This paper discusses spacecraft Doppler tracking, the current-generation detector technology used in the low-frequency (~millihertz) gravitational wave band. In the Doppler method the earth and a distant spacecraft act as free test masses with a ground-based precision Doppler tracking system continuously monitoring the earth-spacecraft relative dimensionless velocity $2 \Delta v/c = \Delta \nu/\nu_0$, where $\Delta \nu$ is the Doppler shift and $\nu_0$ is the radio link carrier frequency.

Tema: general: 

• Ciencias›Física

Loop Quantum Cosmology

REA Auditado

Quantum gravity is expected to be necessary in order to understand situations in which classical general relativity breaks down. In particular in cosmology one has to deal with initial singularities, i.e., the fact that the backward evolution of a classical spacetime inevitably comes to an end after a finite amount of proper time. This presents a breakdown of the classical picture and requires an extended theory for a meaningful description. Since small length scales and high curvatures are involved, quantum effects must play a role.

Tema: general: 

• Ciencias›Física

Relativity in the Global Positioning System

REA Auditado

The Global Positioning System (GPS) uses accurate, stable atomic clocks in satellites and on the ground to provide world-wide position and time determination. These clocks have gravitational and motional frequency shifts which are so large that, without carefully accounting for numerous relativistic effects, the system would not work. This paper discusses the conceptual basis, founded on special and general relativity, for navigation using GPS.

Tema: general: 

• Ciencias›Física

The Motion of Point Particles in Curved Spacetime

REA Auditado

This review is concerned with the motion of a point scalar charge, a point electric charge, and a point mass in a specified background spacetime. In each of the three cases the particle produces a field that behaves as outgoing radiation in the wave zone, and therefore removes energy from the particle. In the near zone the field acts on the particle and gives rise to a self-force that prevents the particle from moving on a geodesic of the background spacetime. The self-force contains both conservative and dissipative terms, and the latter are responsible for the radiation reaction.

Tema: general: 

• Ciencias›Física

Binary Neutron Star Mergers

REA Auditado

We review the current status of studies of the coalescence of binary neutron star systems. We begin with a discussion of the formation channels of merging binaries and we discuss the most recent theoretical predictions for merger rates. Next, we turn to the quasi-equilibrium formalisms that are used to study binaries prior to the merger phase and to generate initial data for fully dynamical simulations.

Tema: general: 

• Ciencias›Física

Interferometer Techniques for Gravitational-Wave Detection

REA Auditado

Several km-scale gravitational-wave detectors have been constructed world wide. These instruments combine a number of advanced technologies to push the limits of precision length measurement. The core devices are laser interferometers of a new kind; developed from the classical Michelson topology these interferometers integrate additional optical elements, which significantly change the properties of the optical system.

Tema: general: 

• Ciencias›Física

Quasi-Normal Modes of Stars and Black Holes

REA Auditado

Perturbations of stars and black holes have been one of the main topics of relativistic astrophysics for the last few decades. They are of particular importance today, because of their relevance to gravitational wave astronomy. In this review we present the theory of quasi-normal modes of compact objects from both the mathematical and astrophysical points of view. The discussion includes perturbations of black holes (Schwarzschild, Reissner-Nordström, Kerr and Kerr-Newman) and relativistic stars (non-rotating and slowly-rotating).

Tema: general: 

• Ciencias›Física

Analytic Black Hole Perturbation Approach to Gravitational Radiation

REA Auditado

We review the analytic methods used to perform the post-Newtonian expansion of gravitational waves induced by a particle orbiting a massive, compact body, based on black hole perturbation theory. There exist two different methods of performing the post-Newtonian expansion. Both are based on the Teukolsky equation.

Tema: general: 

• Ciencias›Física