- Enseignant-e: Stefano Foffa
- Enseignant-e: Michele Maggiore
1. Definition and properties of Gravitational Waves (GWs).
GWs from linearization of General Relativity around flat space; TT gauge; interaction of GWs with test masses; response of a Michelson interferometer to GWs.
2. Energy-momentum tensor of GWs, energy flux.
3. Generation of GWs in linearized theory.
Weak-field regime; low-velocity expansion; mass quadrupole radiation, Einstein quadrupole formula.
4. GWs from coalescing compact binaries.
Inspiral waveform; radiated energy and backreaction; elliptic orbits; Peters-Mathews formula.
5. Observation of GWs from binary pulsars (Hulse-Taylor pulsar, double pulsar).
6. The LIGO/Virgo/Kagra detections. Impacts of these discoveries on astrophysics and fundamental physics.
7. Basic data analysis techniques.
8. Cosmology with GWs.
Brief reminder of FRW cosmology. Coalescing binaries as 'standard sirens'.
9. Inspiral-merger-ringdown waveforms; post-Newtonian expansion, black hole quasinormal modes. (advanced topic, if time allows).
10. Stochastic backgrounds of GWs. Definitions, two-detector correlation.
Cosmological stochastic backgrunds.
11. Observation of GWs at pulsar timing arrays.
Detection principles at PTA; the stochastic background from supermassive BHs; current observations.
12. The future generation of GW observatories:
Einstein Telescope and Cosmic Explorer. The LISA space interferometer.