The Search for Gravitational Waves Gravitational waves are ripples of space-time curvature predicted by Einsteins General Theory of Relativity. They are emitted by massive, rapidly accelerating sources such as binary neutron stars and/or black holes, core-collapse supernovae, millisecond pulsars, cosmic strings, and the Big Bang - some of the most energetic phenomena in the universe. Some of these sources, such as merging binary neutron stars, emit strong electromagnetic radiation, including Gamma Ray Bursts; but others, such as binary black holes, emit no light at all - they are the dark side of the universe. By the time they reach the earth, the gravitational waves are exceedingly weak, and have so far escaped detection. We expect this to change in the next few years, as the Advanced LIGO detectors come on line in the US, along with Advanced Virgo in Europe, KAGRA in Japan, and Advanced LIGO in India. This detector network will identify the sources; permit unique and powerful tests of General Relativity in the strong field, highly dynamical regime; and open up a new field of high energy astronomy and astrophysics. I will give a brief overview of gravitational wave physics and astrophysics, and a status report on the emerging detector network. youtu.be/HV4MBNCzoCw
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 07:11:04 +0000
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