Neutron Stars, Black Holes and Gravitational Waves

Objectives

Neutron Stars and Black Holes are the leftovers of the explosion of very massive stars. Furthermore, these extreme objects are also the main emitters of Gravitational Waves. The curse is intended to provide a basic observational and theoretical introduction of Neutron Stars and Black Holes, their Gravitational Wave emission, and general multi-messenger physics of compact objects. Part of the course will also be dedicated to the detection techniques used to discover such extreme stars via their electromagnetic and gravitational wave emission.

Skills

  • Understand the bases of advanced topics selected at the frontier of high energy physics, astrophysics and cosmology and apply them consistently.

Learning outcomes

Understand the physical processes responsible for the multi-band emission of neutron stars of different classes, and black holes of various masses.

Content

Neutron stars theory and observations. Pulsar basic physics and applications. Black holestheory and observations. Multi-band observations: telescopes, satellites and data analysis basics. Neutron star Equation of State. Gravitational Waves theory and observations. Gravitational Wave detectors. Gravitational Wave simulations.

Prerequisites

No specific prerequisites are set for this course, but it is advisable to possess some basic knowledge of Astronomy and Physics.

Details

Semester 2
Itinerary HEP, ASTRO
Type Elective
ECTS 6
Hours 45

Teachers

Bibliography

  • S. L. Shapiro & S. A. Teukolsky “Black Holes, White Dwarfs, and Neutron Stars: The Physics of Compact Objects”, Wiley Ed., 1983
  • P. Haensel, A.Y. Potekhin & D.G. Yakovlev “Neutron Stars 1 - Equation of State and Structure”, Astrophysics and Space Sciences Library, Springer, 2006
  • “The Physics and Astrophysics of Neutron Stars”, Astrophysics and Space Sciences Library, Springer, (Editors: L. Rezzolla, P. Pizzocchero, D. I. Jones, N. Rea, I. Vidaña), 2018
  • “Astrophysical Black Holes”, Astrophysics and Space Sciences Library, Springer (Editors: Haardt, Gorini, Moschella, Treves, Colpi), 2016
  • S. Weinberg, “Gravitation and Cosmology: Principles and Applications of the General Theory of Relativity”, Wiley Ed., 1972 W. Misner, K. S. Thorne, J. A. Wheeler, “Gravitation”, W. H. Freeman and Company, 1973
  • M. Shibata, “100 Years of General Relativity: Volume 1 - Numerical Relativity”, World Scientific, 2015
  • “Gravitational Wave Astrophysics”, Astrophysics and Space Sciences Library, Springer (Editor: Sopuerta), 2016

More Information

Course Guide in PDF