Gravitational Waves - LIGO Project

Gravitational Waves - LIGO Project

Presenter(s)

Aidan Augustus, Emma Tams, Ethan Tedder

Comments

1:15-2:30, Kennedy Union Ballroom

Description

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) project is an experiment designed to observe gravitational waves. Gravitational waves are a phenomenon that was first predicted by Albert Einstein in his general theory of relativity in 1916, and physicists have been attempting to detect and measure their existence since. Gravitational waves can be described as ripples in spacetime that are produced by large astronomical events such as collisions between black holes, neutron stars, and more. These waves travel through the fabric of spacetime at the speed of light and are able to “pass” through matter itself, including whole planets, such as Earth. These waves have a minuscule effect on spacetime itself. Thus, making them elusive and extremely hard to detect. LIGO utilizes two highly sensitive laser interferometers located 3000 kilometers apart that are capable of detecting small changes in the distance traveled by the lasers due to the presence of gravitational waves. The first successful detection occurred in 2015, and since then LIGO has continued to improve its technology and expand its collaborations to further our understanding of gravitational waves and events happening distances beyond our solar system. This foundational accomplishment in physics has confirmed this phenomenon predicted by Einstein and has made progress in both theoretical and experimental physics in very important ways.

Publication Date

4-23-2025

Project Designation

Course Project - PHY 321 01

Primary Advisor

Mo Ahoujja

Primary Advisor's Department

Physics

Keywords

Stander Symposium, College of Arts and Sciences

Institutional Learning Goals

Scholarship; Scholarship; Scholarship

Gravitational Waves - LIGO Project

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