Physics of Relativistic Objects in Compact Binaries: from Birth to Coalescence

This review of the astrophysical approach to investigating gravity theories pays particular attention to strong-field tests of general relativity and alternative theories of gravity, performed using collapsed objects in relativistic binaries as laboratories.

A very attractive feature of the theory of general relativity is that it is a perfectexampleofafalsi?abletheory:notunableparameterispresentinthe theory and therefore even a single experiment incompatible with a prediction of the theory would immediately lead to its inevitable rejection, at least in the physical regime of application of the aforementioned experiment. This fact provides additional scienti?c value to one of the boldest and most fascinating achievements of the human intellect ever, and motivates a wealth of e?orts in designing and implementing tests aimed at the falsi?cation of the theory. The ?rst historical test on the theory has been the de?ection of light gr- ing the solar surface (Eddington 1919): the compatibility of the theory with this ?rst experiment together with its ability to explain the magnitude of the perihelion advance of Mercury contributed strongly to boost acceptance and worldwideknowledge.However,technologicallimitations preventedphysicists from setting up more constraining tests for several decades after the formu- tion of the theory. In fact, a relevant problem with experimental general r- ativity is that the predicted deviations from the Newtonian theory of gravity areverysmallwhentheexperimentsarecarriedoutinterrestriallaboratories.

Explores the channels of formation of double pulsar/neutron star systems in the Galactic field Reviews from an observational and theoretical perspective the status of research on stellar binary evolution across its complex stages Explores the formation of double pulsar/neutron star systems and black hole neutron star binaries in globular clusters through dynamical interactions Examines relativistic effects in accreting X-ray Binaries

Autorentext

Monica Colpi is professor in stellar astronomy and relativistic astrophysics at the Department of Physics of the University of Milano Bicocca, Italy. Born in 1957 in Rovereto (TN), she graduated in physics in 1982 and earned her Ph.D. degree in 1987 at the University of Milano. She has been a visiting scientist at Cornell University and postdoctoral fellow at the International School for Advanced Study (ISAS/SISSA) in Trieste. Since 1991 she has been a permanent staff member at the University of Milano. Monica Colpi is author of numerous scientific papers published in international journals, mainly in the fields of high energy astrophysics and compact objects. She has contributed relevant studies on the theory of accretion; the secular/dynamical/internal evolution of neutron stars in the Milky Way, from magnetars to pulsars and x-ray sources; the structure and stability of neutron stars; on boson stars; on black holes and neutron stars natal kicks ; and on the dynamics of massive black holes in merging galaxies and dense stellar systems, in the context of models for the formation of galactic structures.

Monica Colpi is a member of the board of the Italian Society of General Relativity and Gravitational Physics and co-chairperson of the Society's Graduate School in Contemporary Relativity and Gravitational Physics which takes place biannually at the Alessandro Volta Center for Scientific Culture in Villa Olmo, Como, Italy.

Klappentext

This book provides a comprehensive, authoritative and timely review of the astrophysical approach to the investigation of gravity theories. Particular attention is paid to strong-field tests of general relativity and alternative theories of gravity, performed using collapsed objects (neutron stars, black holes and white dwarfs) in relativistic binaries as laboratories. The book starts with an introduction which gives the background linking experimental gravity in cosmic laboratories to astrophysics and fundamental physics. Subsequent chapters cover observational and theoretical aspects of the following topics: from binaries as test-beds of gravity theories to binary pulsars as cosmic laboratories; from binary star evolution to the formation of relativistic binaries; from short gamma-ray bursts to low mass X-ray binaries; from stellar-mass black hole binaries to coalescing super-massive black holes in galaxy mergers.

The book will be useful to researchers, PhD and graduate students in Astrophysics, Cosmology, Physics and Mathematics, who are interested in relativistic astrophysics, experimental gravity and general relativity.

Inhalt
Binary Systems as Test-Beds of Gravity Theories.- Exploiting Binary Pulsars as Laboratories of Gravity Theories.- Perspective in the Search for Relativistic Pulsars.- The Formation and Evolution of Relativistic Binaries.- Dynamical Formation and Evolution of Neutron Star and Black Hole Binaries in Globular Clusters.- Short Gamma Ray Bursts: Marking the Birth of Black Holes from Coalescing Compact Binaries.- Strong Gravitational Field Diagnostics in Binary Systems Containing a Compact Object.- White Dwarfs in Ultrashort Binary Systems.- Binary Black Hole Coalescence.