Globular Cluster Binaries and Gravitational Wave Parameter Estimation - Challenges and Efficient Solutions

This thesis presents valuable contributions to several aspects of the rapidly growing field of gravitational wave astrophysics. The potential sources of gravitational waves in globular clusters are analyzed using sophisticated dynamics simulations involving intermediate mass black holes and including, for the first time, high-order post-Newtonian corrections to the equations of motion. The thesis further demonstrates our ability to accurately measure the parameters of the sources involved in intermediate-mass-ratio inspirals of stellar-mass compact objects into hundred-solar-mass black holes. Lastly, it proposes new techniques for the computationally efficient inference on gravitational waves.

On 14 September 2015, the LIGO observatory reported the first direct detection of gravitational waves from the merger of a pair of black holes. For a brief fraction of a second, the power emitted by this merger exceeded the combined output of all stars in the visible universe. This has since been followed by another confirmed detection and a third candidate binary black hole merger. These detections heralded the birth of an exciting new field: gravitational-wave astrophysics.

List of contents

Introduction.- N-body Dynamics of Intermediate Mass Ratio Inspirals.- Inference on Gravitational Waves from Coalescences of Stellar-mass Compact Objects and Intermediate-mass Black Holes.- Efficient Method for Measuring the Parameters Encoded in a Gravitational-wave Signal.- Conclusion.

Summary

Nominated as an outstanding PhD thesis by the University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
Explores diverse aspects of the new field of gravitational wave astrophysics

Discusses the interface between the astrophysical processes that form, and the analysis of, gravitational waves from compact binary coalescences

Product details

• Authors: Carl-Johan Haster
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.01.2018
• EAN: 9783319875569
• ISBN: 978-3-31-987556-9
• No. of pages: 92
• Dimensions: 155 mm x 6 mm x 235 mm
• Weight: 175 g
• Illustrations: XII, 92 p. 37 illus., 9 illus. in color.
• Series: Springer Theses
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Physics, astronomy > Astronomy; Gravitation, B, Astrophysics, Gravity, Physics, Theoretical, Mathematical and Computational Physics, Physics and Astronomy, Astrophysics and Astroparticles, Relativity physics, Mathematical physics, Numerical and Computational Physics, Simulation, Classical and Quantum Gravity, Classical and Quantum Gravitation, Relativity Theory