Black Holes and Time Warps : Einstein's Outrageous Legacy
London: Picador, 1994. 1st Edition. 8vo. Near Fine / Near Fine. Item #17377
A beautiful 1st Edition signed by one of the world's foremost physicists.
Signed and inscribed by Nobel Prize and Einstein Medal winner at the top of the title page in black ink.
"Thorne's work has dealt with the prediction of gravitational wave strengths and their temporal signatures as observed on Earth. These "signatures" are of great relevance to LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory), a multi-institution gravitational wave experiment for which Thorne has been a leading proponent – in 1984, he cofounded the LIGO Project (the largest project ever funded by the NSF[20]) to discern and measure any fluctuations between two or more 'static' points; such fluctuations would be evidence of gravitational waves, as calculations describe.
"A significant aspect of his research is developing the mathematics necessary to analyze these objects.[21] Thorne also carries out engineering design analyses for features of the LIGO that cannot be developed on the basis of experiment and he gives advice on data analysis algorithms by which the waves will be sought. He has provided theoretical support for LIGO, including identifying gravitational wave sources that LIGO should target, designing the baffles to control scattered light in the LIGO beam tubes, and – in collaboration with Vladimir Braginsky's (Moscow, Russia) research group – inventing quantum nondemolition designs for advanced gravity-wave detectors and ways to reduce the most serious kind of noise in advanced detectors: thermoelastic noise.
"With Carlton M. Caves, Thorne invented the back-action-evasion approach to quantum nondemolition measurements of the harmonic oscillators – a technique applicable both in gravitational wave detection and quantum optics - wiki
Paper-covered boards. 619pp. Square tight binding. Clean interior. Some bumping to corners Dust jacket Near Fine, with a lightly sunned spine. Presents handsomely in archival mylar.
Overall a lovely Signed 1st Edition, and quite scarce as such.
Price: $350.00