Gravitational waves as a test of general relativity

Abstract

General relativity has been very successful as a model for space and gravity. It is supported from a range of experimental results. With the advent of the detection of gravitational waves, another platform exists to trumpet its triumph. The merger of black holes has provided evidence in support of the theory of Einstein. Furthermore, the one neutron star merger so far detected provides much more information because of the multi-messenger discovery of the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation in conjunction with gravitational waves. Key words: Gravitational waves, general relativity, black hole mergers, neutron star merger