Fundamentals Of Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors (Second Edition)
Peter R Saulson
- 336 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
Fundamentals Of Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors (Second Edition)
Peter R Saulson
About This Book
LIGO's recent discovery of gravitational waves was headline news around the world. Many people will want to understand more about what a gravitational wave is, how LIGO works, and how LIGO functions as a detector of gravitational waves.
This book aims to communicate the basic logic of interferometric gravitational wave detectors to students who are new to the field. It assumes that the reader has a basic knowledge of physics, but no special familiarity with gravitational waves, with general relativity, or with the special techniques of experimental physics. All of the necessary ideas are developed in the book.
The first edition was published in 1994. Since the book is aimed at explaining the physical ideas behind the design of LIGO, it stands the test of time. For the second edition, an Epilogue has been added; it brings the treatment of technical details up to date, and provides references that would allow a student to become proficient with today's designs.
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Table of contents
- Cover
- Halftitle
- Title
- Copyright
- Contents
- List of Figures
- Preface to the Second Edition
- Preface
- 1. The Search for Gravitational Waves
- 2. The Nature of Gravitational Waves
- 3. Sources of Gravitational Waves
- 4. Linear Systems, Signals and Noise
- 5. Optical Readout Noise
- 6. Folded Interferometer Arms
- 7. Thermal Noise
- 8. Seismic Noise and Vibration Isolation
- 9. Design Features of Large Interferometers
- 10. Null Instruments
- 11. Feedback Control Systems
- 12. An Interferometer as an Active Null Instrument
- 13. Resonant Mass Gravitational Wave Detectors
- 14. Detecting Gravitational Wave Signals
- 15. Gravitational Wave Astronomy
- 16. Prospects
- 17. Epilogue
- References