Interferometer | animation
This animation illustrates how the twin observatories of LIGO work. One observatory is in Hanford, Washington, the other in Livingston, Louisiana. Each houses a large-scale interferometer, a device that uses the interference of two beams of laser light to make the most precise distance measurements in the world.The effects of the gravitational waves on the LIGO instrument have been vastly exaggerated in this video to demonstrate how it works. In reality, the changes in the lengths of the instrument's arms is only 1/1000th the size of a proton. Other characteristics of LIGO, such as the exquisite stability of its mirrors, also contribute to its ability to precisely measures distances. In fact, LIGO can be thought of as the most precise ruler in the world.Image credit: LIGO/T. Pyle
Numerical simulation of a black-hole merger with asymmetric masses and orbital precession (GW190412)
Numerical simulation of two black holes that inspiral and merge, emitting gravitational waves. One black hole is 3.5x more massive than the other and spins, which makes the orbit precess. The simulated gravitational wave signal is consistent with the observation made by the LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave detectors on April 12th, 2019 (GW190412).Credits: © N. Fischer, H. Pfeiffer, A. Buonanno (Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), Simulating eXtreme Spacetimes project
LISA at the 236th meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS 236)
LISA is a space mission led by ESA with contributions from NASA and many ESA member states. LISA will observe gravitational waves in space with three satellites connected by laser beams forming a constellation in a heliocentric orbit.LISA will launch in 2034. The three satellites will form a high precision interferometer that senses gravitational waves using lasersnby monitoringextremely small distance changes between free falling test masses inside the spacecraft. LISA needs many new key technologies to work including high-end optics, lasers and micro-thrusters. This technology was successfully tested with LISA Pathfinder. LISA Pathfinder performance exceeded all expectations!
Continuous gravitational waves
Join us on a journey into the depths of our Galaxy! Our Milky Way is home to hundreds of billions of stars. Roughly one star out of a few thousand is very special: It is a neutron star. Rapidly rotating neutron stars produce ripples in space-time: continuous gravitational waves. Detecting these waves will be a new tool for astrophysical observations. Don't forget to activate the subtitles!Credit: M.A. Papa, MPI for Gravitational Physics, Hannover
Lisa Pathfinder end of Mission
The LISA Pathfinder mission ends on 18 July 2017 after a successful demonstration of the technology needed to detect gravitational waves in space. These vibrations in spacetime, first predicted by Einstein over a hundred years ago, are produced by huge astronomical events - such as two black holes colliding - and will allow scientists to open new windows into our universe.The success of the LISA Pathfinder mission has paved the way for the newly selected LISA mission which, when built and launched, will detect gravitational waves from objects up to a million times larger than our Sun.The film features interview soundbites from Dr Paul McNamara, LISA Pathfinder Project Scientist, at the European Space Agency’s European Technology and Science facility (ESTEC) in The Netherlands.More about LISA Pathfinder:http://sci.esa.int/lisa-pathfinder/
LISA Pathfinder - Window on the Gravitational Universe
ISA Pathfinder’s name, Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, clearly indicates the role of precursor that this mission plays. Its goal is to validate the technology required to detect gravitational waves from space. Gravitational waves will open a new door in our understanding of the Universe, and at the same time help to verify Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. LISA Pathfinder will be launched early December 2015 on a Vega rocket from Kourou in French Guiana.Credits: © European Space Agency, ESA
