Gravitational Wave Astronomy

This lecture delves into the fascinating world of gravitational wave astronomy, exploring the impact of these waves on central questions in astronomy. From the detection of the first gravitational wave by LIGO in 2015 to the technology behind LISA for detecting massive black hole mergers, the lecture covers the theory, detection methods, and implications of gravitational waves. It also discusses the multi-messenger approach, international collaborations, and the significant advancements in the field over the past 50 years, culminating in the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2017. The lecture provides insights into the properties of gravitational waves, the challenges in their detection, and the future prospects for this cutting-edge field.