Thursday, February 11, 2016

Today we are told: Do gravitational waves detected? – New technique

       

The expectations of physicists the world are turned up to the max. Today at 16.15 Swedish time held the press conference in Washington that may come to feel that gravitational waves are detected by the Ligo (Laser Interferometer Graviational Wave Observatory). There is something researchers at the facility sought for more than ten years. Ligo was upgraded in September with a sensitive system that is also better able to filter out the noise.

Now, the results of the first 106 days of measurements announced. Leaks and rumors all say the same thing: Ligo have observed gravitational waves

– We do not know until the press conference is held, but they think that they should have played down rumors otherwise, says Ulf Danielsson, professor of theoretical physics at Uppsala University.

gravitational waves or gravitational radiation as it is known, predicted by Einstein’s general theory of gravity and form when large masses in motion. The radiation moves through space as a wave. But so far they have not been detected.

What would it mean if the observed gravitational waves?

– First, it would be the first time that direct able to detect gravitational radiation. It would also mean that you get a way to test general relativity in extreme conditions, ie in the vicinity of black holes collide with each other.

– But above all, this is a completely new way study the universe. One can liken it to when Galileo began to use the telescope in astronomy.

By detecting gravitational waves scientists would be able to study what happens when black holes collide, look further out into the universe and find weaker signals. In addition to the phenomenon can not predict today. And that can completely transform astronomy, says Ulf Danielsson.

According to the rumors, it also signals from the two colliding black holes, each with a mass 30 times that of the sun, which has been detected.

– the theory provides such a crash is very simple and clean signals. The frequency of gravitational waves, which occur when the black holes rotate around each other, increasing as they get closer to each other. When they collide may signal a peak, a kind of crescendo.

– Since there is obviously the possibility to see a signal from when the new larger hole vibrates before it comes to rest. Everything can be predicted by general relativity and gives a very specific signature.

So if you found the signature knows that it’s all about gravity waves?

– Well, then can be sure that it is about just that. But it assumes that the rumors are true, says Ulf Danielsson.

How it is with the things we learn at 16.15 today.

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