Ondas gravitacionales y objetos compactos (Gravitational waves and compact objects)

Abstract

It is presented a brief review on gravitational waves (GWs). It is shown how the wave equation is obtained from Einstein's equations and how many and how are the polarization modes of these waves. It is discussed the reasons why GWs sources should be of astrophysical or cosmological origin. Thus, it is discussed what would be the most likely sources of GWs to be detected by the detectors of GWs currently in operation and those that should be operational in the future, emphasizing in particular the sources involving compact objects. The compact objects such as neutron stars, black holes and binary systems involving compact stars can be important sources of GWs. Last but not least, it is discussed the GWs astrophysics that is already possible to do, in particular involving the compact objects.