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About this class
This class is a graduate research seminar in gravitational wave
physics and astrophysics. The intended audience is graduate students
working in astrophysics and/or gravitational-wave experimentation.
Our focus will be primarily upon sources of gravitational radiation,
with an important but somewhat smaller focus on the measurement of
these waves.
Detailed knowledge of general relativity is not necessary. A brief
review of the most important relevant concepts in GR will be provided
early in the term (probably lecture 2 or 3).
Note, this class is not a course on gravity waves. Gravitational waves and
gravity waves are different!
Lectures
Staff
Relevant texts
There are no textbooks on gravitational-wave astrophysics per se, so
there is no required text for this class. Numerous readings will be
assigned from the relevant research literature; we will provide links
to those readings on arxiv.org.
A good general relativity textbook (or two or three ...) is something
every student of gravitational waves should own. Discussion of
various options can be found on the 8.962 information page.
A very nice and concise overview of the most important concepts in GR
is given in the first chapter of Poisson's textbook.
Homework and grades
The homework and grading policy will be announced soon after the first
week of class. As a graduate seminar, I am planning to dedicate a
portion of the class to student projects (each of which will require a
final presentation during lecture). I am waiting to see what the
course's enrollment turns out to be before I finalize exactly how I
plan to do this.
Several problem sets will be assigned over the semester, particularly
early in the course when practice with the formalism is important.
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