LIGO tagged posts

A visualization of a supercomputer simulation of merging black holes sending out gravitational waves. Credit: NASA/C. Henze Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2017-05-uncover-gravitational-characteristics.html#jCp

Monash researchers have identified a new concept – ‘orphan memory’ – which changes the current thinking around gravitational waves. Einstein’s theory of general relativity predicts that cataclysmic cosmic explosions stretch the fabric of spacetime. The stretching of spacetime is called ‘gravitational waves.’ After such an event, spacetime does not return to its original state. It stays stretched out. This effect is called ‘memory.’ The term ‘orphan’ alludes to the fact that the parent wave is not directly detectable.

“These waves could open the way for studying physics currently...

Andromeda Galaxy (stock image). Credit: © passmil198216 / Fotolia

Quest to settle riddle over Einstein’s theory may soon be over. Tests using advanced technology could resolve a longstanding puzzle over what is driving the accelerated expansion of the Universe. Researchers have long sought to determine how the Universe’s accelerated expansion is being driven. Calculations in a new study could help to explain whether dark energy- as required by Einstein’s theory of general relativity – or a revised theory of gravity are responsible.

Einstein’s theory, which describes gravity as distortions of space and time, included a Cosmological Constant...

This simulation shows how two galaxies merge over a period of 15 millionen years. The red and the blue dots illustrate the two black holes (image: Astrophysical Journal).

If two galaxies collide, the merging of their central black holes triggers gravitational waves, which ripple throughout space. An international research team involving the University of Zurich has now calculated that this occurs around 10 million years after the two galaxies merge – much faster than previously assumed.

In his General Theory of Relativity, Albert Einstein predicted gravitational waves over a century ago; this year, they were detected directly for the first time: The American Gravitational Wave Observatory LIGO recorded such curvatures in space from Earth, which were caused by the merging of two massive b...

LIGO’s 1st detection of merging black holes ‘perfectly consistent’ with Northwestern model. In a new study, the scientists show their theoretical predictions last year were correct: The historic merger of 2 massive black holes detected Sept. 14, 2015, could easily have been formed through dynamic interactions in the star-dense core of an old globular cluster. These binary black holes are born in the chaotic “mosh pit” of a globular cluster, kicked out of the cluster and then eventually merge into one black hole. This theory, known as dynamical formation, is 1 of 2 main channels for forming binary black holes detected by Advanced LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory).

Colliding black holes do not emit light; however, they do release a phenomenal amount of energy as gr...