This chapter introduces the different classes of compact objects—white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes—that are relevant for gravitational-wave astronomy. The ideas are placed in the context of developing an understanding of the likely endpoint(s) of stellar evolution. Key ideas like Fermi gases and the Chandrasekhar mass are discussed, as is the emergence of general relativity as a cornerstone of astrophysics in the 1950s. Issues associated with different formation channels for, in particular, black holes are considered. The chapter ends with a discussion of the supermassive black holes that are found at the centre of galaxies.
Transformations in Superdense Matter: An Experience in the Modeling of White Dwarfs and Neutron Stars
