The discovery of gravitational waves has opened a new window in our understanding of the Universe. Long predicted by Einstein's theory of General Relativity, their discovery by the LIGO-Virgo collaboration was announced in February 2016. The first two observing runs by the joint LIGO and Virgo collaborations, besides providing further confirmation to the theory of General Relativity, have already impacted several areas of astrophysics, from cosmology to high-energy astrophysics and nuclear physics.
This Research Topic will summarize several key topics connected to gravitational waves, both theoretically and observationally. In particular, the Topic Editors welcome submissions on the following themes:
* Review of detector technology
* Numerical relativity: codes and techniques to model sources of gravitational waves
* Computations of waveforms and key elements of data analysis
* Merging black hole populations and their origins:
- Origin in field binaries
- Dynamical origin
* Mergers of two neutron stars and of a neutron star with a black hole: astrophysics of the merger
* Equation of state constraints from mergers of neutron stars
* Electromagnetic counterparts to binary neutron star mergers: kilonova signatures
* Electromagnetic counterparts to binary neutron star mergers: jet production and the connection to short gamma-ray bursts
* The future of gravitational wave research:
- Main areas to be impacted from future LIGO-Virgo observing runs
- Next generation of detectors: LISA, Einstein Telescope
The discovery of gravitational waves has opened a new window in our understanding of the Universe. Long predicted by Einstein's theory of General Relativity, their discovery by the LIGO-Virgo collaboration was announced in February 2016. The first two observing runs by the joint LIGO and Virgo collaborations, besides providing further confirmation to the theory of General Relativity, have already impacted several areas of astrophysics, from cosmology to high-energy astrophysics and nuclear physics.
This Research Topic will summarize several key topics connected to gravitational waves, both theoretically and observationally. In particular, the Topic Editors welcome submissions on the following themes:
* Review of detector technology
* Numerical relativity: codes and techniques to model sources of gravitational waves
* Computations of waveforms and key elements of data analysis
* Merging black hole populations and their origins:
- Origin in field binaries
- Dynamical origin
* Mergers of two neutron stars and of a neutron star with a black hole: astrophysics of the merger
* Equation of state constraints from mergers of neutron stars
* Electromagnetic counterparts to binary neutron star mergers: kilonova signatures
* Electromagnetic counterparts to binary neutron star mergers: jet production and the connection to short gamma-ray bursts
* The future of gravitational wave research:
- Main areas to be impacted from future LIGO-Virgo observing runs
- Next generation of detectors: LISA, Einstein Telescope