Topics in Theoretical and Experimental Gravitation Physics

During the period March 13-25, 1975, the IV course of the International School of Cosmology and Gravitation was held at Erice, Sicily and devoted primarily to gravitational waves. A number of participants have prepared their lectures for publication here. These include topics in Gravitational Radiation , Gravitational Radiation Antennas and Data Analyses, Singularities in General Relativity Theory, the Bimetric Theory of Gravitation, Tachyons, and General Relativity and Quantum Theory. V. De Sabbata and J. Weber v Contents Opening ReII1arks, J. Weber. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix The Generation of Gravitational Waves: A Review of Computational Techniques, K. S. Thorne 1 Effects of Gravitational Radiation upon Electromagnetic Waves in a Dispersive Medium, B. Bertotti and R. Catenacci 63 Gravitational Waves and Their Interaction with Electromagnetic Field, V. De Sabbata . 69 Shock Waves in General Relativity, A. Papapetrou 83 Editorial Connnents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 The Detection of Gravitational Waves and Quantum Nondisturbtive Measurements, V. Braginsky 105 Onedimensional Analysis and Computer Simulation of a Weber Antenna, G. V. Pallottino 123 Comments on the Gravitational Radiation Experiments, J. Weber 135 Estimated Sensitivity of the Low Temperature Gravitational Wave Antenna in Rome, G. Pizzella 139 The L. S. U. Low Temperature Gravity Wave Experiment, W. O. Hamilton, T. P. Bernat, D. G. Blair, W. C. Oelfke 149 Optimal Detection of Signals through Linear Devices with Thermal Noise Sources and Application to the Munich Frascati Weber-Type Gravitational Wave Detectors, P. Kafka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 Synchrotron Radiation and Astrophysics, A. A.