Gravitational Radiation from Post-Newtonian Sources and Inspiralling Compact Binaries

LISA, etc.), inspiralling compact binaries - binary star systems composed of neutron stars and/or black holes in their late stage of evolution - require high-accuracy templates predicted by general relativity theory. The gravitational waves emitted by these very relativistic systems can be accurately modelled using a high-order post-Newtonian gravitational wave generation formalism. In this article, we present the current state of the art on post-Newtonian methods as applied to the dynamics and gravitational radiation of general matter sources (including the radiation reaction back onto the source) and inspiralling compact binaries. We describe the post-Newtonian equations of motion of compact binaries and the…