Oxford University Press Gravitational Waves: Volume 1: Theory and Experiments

Maggiore (physics, University of Geneva, Switzerland) presents a reference text for gravitational-wave physics, covering the theory of gravitational waves and describing experimental gravitational-wave physics. Focus in the experimental section is on resonant-mass detectors and interferometric detectors. The author seeks to re-derive all of the results presented, aiming to clarify or streamline the existing derivations whenever possible. More technical issues are collected into a Solved Problems section at the end of some chapters, where detailed calculations are presented. Since important conceptual problems are discussed from the vantage point of both the geometrical and field-theoretical traditions, the languages of general relativity, class theory, and quantum field theory are used. Although no previous knowledge of gravitational-wave physics is required, the reader is assumed to have an elementary knowledge of general relativity and some knowledge of field theory. A second volume, dedicated to astrophysical and cosmological sources, is planned. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) The aim of this book is to become THE reference text for gravitational-wave physics, covering in detail both the experimental and the theoretical aspects. It is he only existing book on gravitational waves, and it will likely remain unique for its broadeness and scope. It brings the reader to the forefront of present-day research, both theoretical and experimental, assuming no previous knowledge of gravitational-wave physics. Part I of this volume is devoted to the theory of gravitational waves. Here we have rederived - in a coherent way - most of the results that we present, clarifying or streamlining existing derivations. Part II is devoted to a description of experimental GW physics. We discuss in great detail exisiting and planned experiments, as well as data analysis techniques. Autorid: Michele Maggiore