Bulletin of the American Physical Society
2005 Joint Spring Meeting Ohio Section of APS and the Southern Ohio Section of AAPT
Friday–Saturday, April 8–9, 2005; Dayton, OH
Session C: Invited Talk - World Year of Physics Public Lecture - LIGO |
Hide Abstracts |
Chair: Bob Brecha Room: Miriam Hall O'Leary Auditorium |
Friday, April 8, 2005 8:30PM - 9:30PM |
C.00001: The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory: Lasers at the Frontiers of Astrophysics Invited Speaker: The Laser Interferometric Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is poised to open a new window on the universe - the detection of gravitational waves from distant large-scale astrophysical sources. Gravitational waves were predicted by Einstein almost 90 years ago but never been observed directly despite a number of experiments over the last 40 years. While there exists strong \textit{indirect} evidence for gravitational waves, it is only with the construction of large-scale high precision interferometers that \textit{direct} detection of gravitational waves is possible. Gravitational waves are miniscule dynamic strains applied to space-time by motion of massive astrophysical objects. A passing gravitational wave will expand and contract the distance between two mirrors (`test masses') in the arms of an interferometer. Direct observation of gravitational waves presents a formidable challenge, because the magnitude of the dynamic strain is expected to be infinitesimal, less than one part in 10$^{-22}$. The astrophysical motivation for detecting gravitational waves is compelling. Unlike the visible sky, the gravitational wave `sky' is completely unexplored. The LIGO detectors and its partner GEO600 in Europe have the sensitivity to observe gravitational waves not only in our own galaxy, but in neighboring galaxies, thus opening an absolutely unique window into these phenomena. In the first part of the presentation, we will give an overview of gravitational waves - what they are and where they come from -- and describe in general terms the techniques that gravitational wave astrophysicists use to hunt for them. In the second part of the presentation, we describe the LIGO interferometers emphasizing the critical role that lasers and optics play in its operation. [Preview Abstract] |
Follow Us |
Engage
Become an APS Member |
My APS
Renew Membership |
Information for |
About APSThe American Physical Society (APS) is a non-profit membership organization working to advance the knowledge of physics. |
© 2024 American Physical Society
| All rights reserved | Terms of Use
| Contact Us
Headquarters
1 Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3844
(301) 209-3200
Editorial Office
100 Motor Pkwy, Suite 110, Hauppauge, NY 11788
(631) 591-4000
Office of Public Affairs
529 14th St NW, Suite 1050, Washington, D.C. 20045-2001
(202) 662-8700