Scientists have reason to celebrate! On Thursday they announced to the world that was first observed gravitational waves. International studies – including Poles – have shown that in September, the Earth passed wrinkles space, trace cosmic catastrophe.
The results of the experiment were announced at conferences held simultaneously in the USA and Italy. Its also he organized in Warsaw, Polish Academy of Sciences. In the study they participated scientists from a dozen countries – including Polish. It researchers affiliated with experiments at the LIGO detectors in the US and Virgo in Italy – a total of more than 1,300 people (including 15 Poles).
September 14 last year Two American Observatory LIGO detectors spaced 3 thousand. km (one in Washington and one in Louisiana) registered almost the same time the signal of gravitational waves coming from the two colliding black holes. “This is the first direct registration signal gravity on Earth,” – he said in an interview with PAP prof. Andrew Królak from the Institute of Mathematical Sciences in Warsaw and the National Center for Nuclear Research. Prof. Królak is the leader of a group of Polish scientists involved in the project.
EVENT: THE GREAT CRASH
This is what scientists have observed, is evidence of a cosmic catastrophe. “These were two black holes – one with a mass of 29 solar masses, and the other with a mass of 36 solar masses. These black holes merged into a black hole with a mass of 62 solar masses. The remaining 3 solar masses have been radiated as gravitational waves. And the signal was observed on Earth, “- said prof. Królak. He noted that although the same collision of black holes in less than the twinkling of an eye, and there was more than 1 billion years ago, it was really powerful. The speed at which black holes reached just before the collision is half the speed of light (150 thous. Km / sec.). Resulting from this cosmic catastrophe gravitational wave traveling at the speed of light through the universe and it was only last year reached the Earth.
“The signal that we recorded, lasted only 0.12 seconds, but it was extremely clear and agreed a exactly the models provided by Einstein’s general theory of relativity “- said Prof. PAP. Królak. He added that the existence of gravitational waves predicted Einstein’s general theory of relativity. So far found only indirect evidence that gravitational waves exist and that Einstein also in this point of his famous theory was right.
“We have two discoveries in one. Even the direct detection of gravitational waves is fundamental. But in addition, we have also discovered the binary black hole, which has never yet been observed, “- commented Królak. He added that such a system probably does not generates no light or radio waves, and the only wave of gravity.
“opens before us a new field of astronomy – astronomy of gravitational waves. We are at a turning point,” – noted the researcher. He explained that further research on gravity waves may shed light on what goes on behind the event horizon of the black hole and will advise what may be occurring in a black hole singularity. It’s fascinating for physicists question that does not have a clear answer.
OUTSMART frowning spacetime
The American detectors which detected the “ripples” in space-time, is a monumental laser interferometers. Their tunnels are L-shaped, and each of the arms is the 4 km long. In the interior of the arms extends the laser light. In simple terms checking with great precision (thousandths the diameter of a proton), the length of one arm system varies in relation to the length of the second arm. It would seem that the results are always the same. And it turns out that they do not. Passing through the Earth gravitational wave – which is hard to detect, because at the moment deforms the entire space-time around us – can tell just by the results of measurements in the interferometer. It is observed on September 14.
“Wave of gravity causes some abnormal curvature of space-time. This makes the optical paths in the two arms are a bit different. Because when spacetime is changing – light can travel one arm a little longer, and the second – a little less “- told Andrew Królak.
the problem is not only that these signals with sufficient precision to register, but also bring out the noise. Useful in the methods of data analysis – including statistical methods had been working prof. Królak.
GOOD WORK OF POLES
The American LIGO interferometers work – shoulder to shoulder – with a little less interferometer Virgo in Italy (his arms have a length of 3 km). Virgo, however, not observed in September gravitational waves. Then just walked renovation. The work will resume at the end of this year. Working together three devices can explore more opportunities next gravitational waves – including more accurately determine from which place in the cosmos signals come from.
The fact that Virgo has not registered yet gravitational waves are not recognized, but the splendor of the researchers who worked on this project. In those Poles who worked at Virgo within the team Polgraw. Already long ago, teams from Europe and America agreed that the research signing will be together – regardless of where the interferometer make discoveries.
“The Poles in this project not only wore the bill, but played a more important role “- he commented in an interview with PAP vice president of Academy of Sciences prof. Paul Rowiński. As mentioned, tasks of Poles in the project was to analyze the data obtained from the American detectors LIGO, research astrophysical sources of gravitational waves, the construction of models of signals of gravitational waves, and participation in the development of the detector Virgo.
He said the project involved researchers from Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Center for Astronomical them. Nicolaus Copernicus Academy of Sciences, National Center for Nuclear Research, and Universities: Bialystok, Nicolaus Copernicus, Warsaw, Wroclaw and Zielona Gora.
FUTURE RESEARCH
“I expect that by the end of the gravitational waves we observe a dozen or so, and maybe even dozens of times, “- said the professor. Królak. Scientists hope that the interferometers at LIGO and Virgo will gave detect gravitational waves caused not only by successive collisions of black holes, but the collision of stars, rotating neutron stars and supernova explosions. Prof. Królak noted that gravitational waves produced everywhere – even on Earth. But there are so slight that it may never be able to observe them.
false start? NOT THIS TIME!
In March of 2014. Another team of scientists studying gravitational waves scored a significant setback and announced the discovery of gravitational waves based on erroneous interpretations. Then the results came from a completely different type of research – observation of the microwave background radiation with a telescope BICEP2. Over time, it turned out that in these studies is a mistake (not taken into account some relevant factors). A year ago, the publication of the public were canceled. “This time – in our study – a mistake is basically impossible,” – said prof. Królak. Researchers would have to be pretty good luck – chance to observe such a strong signal in two interferometers at the same time, it is an event that may occur once in 200 thousand. years.
PAP – Science in Poland, Ludwika Tomala
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