Ripples On A Cosmic Sea The Search For Gravitational Waves

by Blair, David; Mcnamara, Geoff

• ISBN13: 9780738201375
• ISBN10: 0738201375
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-04-07
• Publisher: Basic Books

Summary

The fascinating story of the race to detect gravitational waves--those magnificent ripples that will finally let us "listen" to the universe.

Author Biography

David Blair is associate professor of physics at the University of Western Australia and one of the leading international authorities on gravitational waves. Geoff McNamara is a science journalist. David Blair is associate professor of physics at the University of Western Australia and one of the leading international authorities on gravitational waves. Geoff McNamara is a science journalist.

Table of Contents

Series editor's foreword
Acknowledgements
Prologue: 'Space is curved, you know'
Introduction: Why search for gravitational waves?
Space, lies, and geometry	p. 1
Newton's space, Einstein's universe	p. 11
A theory of some gravity	p. 23
The cosmic looking-glass	p. 38
Making waves	p. 55
Stars that go bang in the night	p. 65
The coming of the pulsars	p. 79
Pulsars prove gravitational waves	p. 95
Black holes and the beginning of time	p. 104
The searchers	p. 116
Super detectors	p. 130
Shedding light on gravitational waves	p. 147
New developments, future trends	p. 163
The vision of gravitational wave astronomy	p. 174
Epilogue: 'A gift of wonder'	p. 177
Index	p. 181
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.