Feb 13, 2016: Discovery
of Gravitational waves
General Studies: Daily Capsule
Curtain Raiser –News Update (Feb 13, 2016)
Discovery of
Gravitational waves:
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LIGO
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Laser Interferometric Gravitational-wave Observatory
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The Advanced LIGO laboratories in the US states of Washington and
Louisiana have traced the warping of space from the merger of two black holes
about 1.3 billion light-years from Earth.
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The signals of gravitational waves were detected on September 14,
2015 by twin Laser Interferometric Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO)
detectors located about 3,000 km apart at Washington and Louisiana in the US
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Einstein predicted that if the gravity in an area was changed
suddenly - by an exploding star, say –
waves of gravitational energy would ripple across the Universe at light-speed,
stretching and squeezing space as they travelled.
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Einstein’s theory of General Relativity suggests that objects such as
stars and planets can warp space around them – in the same way that a billiard
ball creates a dip when placed on a thin, stretched, rubber sheet.
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“I think it’s phenomenal to be able to build an instrument capable of
measuring gravitational waves,” said Prof Rowan
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Source: BBC and The Hindu, Editorial, Feb 13, 2016
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