Gravitational Waves - Lecture 1

Explore the fundamentals of gravitational waves in this first lecture delivered by Andrea Maselli at the Galileo Galilei Institute (GGI). Delve into the theoretical foundations, detection methods, and astrophysical implications of gravitational waves as predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity. Learn about the groundbreaking discoveries made by LIGO and other observatories, and understand how these ripples in spacetime provide unique insights into cosmic events like black hole mergers and neutron star collisions. This comprehensive 88-minute lecture serves as an excellent introduction to the rapidly evolving field of gravitational wave astronomy.