THE ASTROPHYSICS OF GRAVITATIONAL WAVE SOURCES

The Astrophysics of Gravitational Wave Sources

Joan M. Centrella, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics, Greenbelt, MD, USA

Conference Location and Date: College Park, Maryland, 24-26 April 2003

Subseries: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Published November 2003; ISBN 0-7354-0157-8, One Volume, Print; 343 pages; 6 3/8 X 9 1/4 inches; Hardcover; $155.00

Readership: Researchers, including graduate students, in gravitational wave physics and astrophysics; high energy astrophysics; and astronomy-fundamental physics.

As the 21st century begins, gravitational wave astronomy is poised to open a new observational window on the universe. Ground-based kilometer-scale interferometers, such as LIGO, VIRGO, and GEO600, will observe high frequency gravitational radiation, while the space-based LISA detector will probe the low frequency regime. Taken together, these gravitational wave detectors will provide an unprecedented look at astrophysical systems that have previously been viewed almost exclusively through electromagnetic "eyes." This workshop focused on the astrophysics of anticipated gravitational wave sources and the scenarios that surround them. The papers encompass theoretical studies as well as observations of associated electromagnetic or particle signatures and emphasize issues that need to be clarified for a better astrophysical understanding of these sources. Topics include: overview of gravitational wave astrophysics, astrophysical collapses and bursts, gamma ray bursts and neutron stars, gravitational captures, intermediate mass black holes, massive black holes, massive black hole binary mergers, gravitational waves and binary stars, gravitational wave detection, as well as conference summaries.

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