Gravitational Waves from Compact Sources

We review sources of high-frequency gravitational waves, summarizing our current understanding of emission mechanisms, expected amplitudes and event rates. The most promising sources are gravitational collapse (formation of black holes or neutron stars) and subsequent ringing of the compact star, secular or dynamical rotational instabilities and high-mass compact objects formed through the merger of binary neutron stars. Significant and unique information for the various stages of the collapse, the structure of protoneutron stars and the high density equation of state of compact objects can be drawn from careful study of gravitational wave signals.