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The general theory of relativity is our most accurate description of gravitation

The general theory of relativity is our most accurate description of gravitation. Published by Einstein in 1915, this is a theory of gravity A massive object causes space to curve and time to slow down These effects manifest themselves as a gravitational force

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The general theory of relativity is our most accurate description of gravitation

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  1. The general theory of relativity is our most accurate description of gravitation • Published by Einstein in 1915, this is a theory of gravity • A massive object causes space to curve and time to slow down • These effects manifest themselves as a gravitational force • These distortions of space and time are most noticeable in the vicinity of large masses or compact objects

  2. The general theory of relativity also predicts the existence of gravitational waves, which are ripples in the overall geometry of space and time produced by moving masses Gravitational waves have been detected indirectly, and specialized antennas are under construction to make direct measurement of the gravitational waves from cosmic cataclysms

  3. If a stellar corpse has a mass greater than about 2 to 3 M, gravitational compression will overwhelm any and all forms of internal pressure • The stellar corpse will collapse to such a high density that its escape speed exceeds the speed of light

  4. Supermassive black holes exist at the centersof most galaxies • These are detected by observing the motions of material around the black hole

  5. Falling into a black hole is an infinite voyage

  6. Could a black hole somehow be connected to another part of spacetime, or even some other universe? • General relativity predicts that such connections, called wormholes, can exist for rotating black holes

  7. Black holes evaporate

  8. Black Holes have no Hair Properties of a black hole: - Mass - Spin (angular momentum) - Charge (tends to be zero)

  9. Black Holes can have impact on their environments

  10. Do Black Holes Really Exist? Good Candidate: Cygnus X-1 - Binary system: 30 MSun star with unseen companion. - Binary orbit => companion > 7 MSun. - X-rays => million degree gas falling into black hole.

  11. An early gamma ray-burst Vela satellite

  12. A Gamma Ray Burst Sampler

  13. Great debate: 1967-1997

  14. Bepposax Satellite GRBM: 40-600 keV WFC: 2-30 keV NFI: 2-10 keV

  15. X-Ray Afterglow from GRB 971214 t=6.5 hrs t=12.5 hrs t=54 hrs

  16. Optical Afterglow from GRB 971214 Keck Images 2 days 2 months Host HST Image

  17. Optical Afterglow from GRB 080319b Swift Image Light Curve Naked-eye visible for ~30 sec. Distance = 7.5 billion ly

  18. Uh-oh

  19. GRB Host Galaxies Bloom et al. 2002

  20. Radio Light Curves from long GRBs

  21. GRB 970508 • First VLBI detection of a GRB Afterglow • absolute position to < 1 mas • Size < 10^19 cm (3 lt years) • Distance > 10000 lt years Taylor et al 1997

  22. GRB Expansion Relativistic Expansion v ~ 0.96c E ~ 10^53 ergs (isotropic equivalent) R ~ (E/n)^1/8 Taylor et al 2004 Pihlstrom et al 2007

  23. Peak toward low end of gamma-ray, complex gamma-ray light curves Often have bright afterglows Evidence for a relativistic explosion Energy required of ~ 1053 ergs (isotropic) Associated with regions of star formation in distant galaxies (out to edge of observable universe) Sometimes obscured by dust Plus … The Evidence (long GRBs)

  24. Example Supernova: 1998bw

  25. Long GRBs clearly connected to Supernovae Hjorth et al 2003

  26. Final States of a Star 1. White Dwarf If initial star mass < 8 MSun or so 2. Neutron Star If initial mass > 8 MSun and < 25 MSun 3. Black Hole If initial mass > 25 MSun No Event + PN Supernova + ejecta GRB + Supernova + ejecta

  27. Clicker Question: What is the remnant left over from a GRB? A: a white dwarf + expanding shell B: a neutron star + expanding shell C: a black hole + expanding shell D: no remnant, just the expanding shell

  28. Clicker Question: Where do most GRBs occur: A: in globular clusters B: in star forming regions C: in old open clusters D: in the Oort cloud

  29. Clicker Question: What was the subject of the great debate about GRBs that went on for ~30 years? A: If they were produced by Supernovae or colliding stars. B: If they were galactic or extragalactic in origin. C: If they were of terrestrial or extraterrestrial in origin? D: If a nearby GRB killed off the dinosaurs.

  30. NS-NS binary Massive star Coalescence versus Collapse

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