Einstein, Gravitational Waves and Black Holes

Gabriela González, Louisiana State University
for the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and the Virgo Collaboration

More than hundred years ago, Einstein predicted that there were ripples in the fabric of space-time traveling at the speed of light: gravitational waves.

On September 14, 2015, the LIGO  detectors in Hanford, Washington and Livingston, Louisiana in the U.S. registered for the first time ever a loud gravitational wave signal traveling through Earth, created more than a billion years ago by the merger of two black holes. A few months later, in December 2015, another signal, also from black holes, was detected, and a third one was more recently found on January 4, 2017.

These observations mark the beginning of gravitational wave astronomy. Dr. González will describe the history and details of the observations, and the gravity-bright future of the field.

This free, public event is open to all as part of the Amaldi 12 conference. No tickets or reservations are required. Seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis; early arrival is recommended.