Neutron star dynamics and gravitational waves

As several large scale interferometers are beginning to take data at sensitivities where astrophysical sources are predicted, the direct detection of gravitational waves may well be imminent. This would open the gravitational-wave window to our Universe and should lead to a much improved understanding of the most violent processes imaginable; the formation of black holes and neutron stars following core collapse supernovae and the merger of compact objects at the end of binary inspiral. Among the best candidate sources for gravitational waves are the oscillations, but mainly the rotational instabilities of neutron stars which can emit quite strong gravitational wave signals via which one may reveal the details of their structure. Magnetars also are neutron stars with ultra strong magnetic field whose periodic flaring activity is associated with starquakes. They are also a potential source of gravitational waves while even the quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) observed in the electromagnetic spectrum can reveal the details of their structure.