First Detection of Gravitational Waves
For the first time, scientists have observed ripples in the fabric of spacetime called gravitational waves, arriving at the earth from a cataclysmic event in the distant universe. This confirms a major prediction of Albert Einstein's 1915 general theory of relativity and opens an unprecedented new window onto the cosmos.
Collide
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On October 3, 2017, 11:45 am, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics to Rainer Weiss, Barry C. Barish and Kip S. Thorne "for decisive contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves".
Nobel Prize Awarded for Direct Gravitational Wave Detection with Advanced LIGO
Laureates:
Rainer Weiss, Barry C. Barish, Kip S. Thorne
The University of Florida was the first institution beyond CalTech and MIT which joined the LIGO collaboration. It took responsibility of the Input Optics and developed a suite of data analysis tools. This work ultimately culminated in the first detection of gravitational waves.
University of Florida Contributes Key Technologies and Data Analysis Tools to LIGO Detectors
Input Optics, optical configuration
Detection algorithms
Signal | Date | Detectors | Event | Mass (M☉) | Distance (light-years) | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GW170814 | 2017-08-14 | LIGO-L, LIGO-H, Virgo | Binary black hole merger | 31 + 25 ⇒ 53 | 1.8 × 109 | confirmed |
GW170104 | 2017-01-04 | LIGO-L, LIGO-H | Binary black hole merger | 31 + 19 ⇒ 49 | 2.9 × 109 | confirmed |
GW151226 | 2015-12-26 | LIGO-L, LIGO-H | Binary black hole merger | 14 + 8 ⇒ 21 | 1.4 × 109 | confirmed |
LVT151012 | 2015-10-12 | LIGO-L, LIGO-H | Binary black hole merger | 23 + 13 ⇒ 35 | 3.3 × 109 | candidate (2σ) |
GW150914 | 2015-09-14 | LIGO-L, LIGO-H | Binary black hole merger | 36 + 29 ⇒ 62 | 1.3 × 109 | confirmed |
Advanced LIGO Detectors
LIGO are two multi-kilometer-scale gravitational wave detectors that use laser interferometry to measure tiny ripples in space-time caused by passing gravitational waves. LIGO consists of two widely separated interferometers within the United States, one in Hanford, Washington and the other in Livingston, Louisiana.