The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is back in action after a three-year upgrade, and scientists are eager to see what it can detect. LIGO is the world’s most sensitive gravitational wave detector, and it has already made a number of groundbreaking discoveries, including the first direct detection of gravitational waves from the merger of two black holes.
The new LIGO is even more sensitive than the old one, and it is expected to detect a wider range of gravitational wave events. This includes the merger of neutron stars, which are even more massive than black holes. Neutron star mergers are thought to be the source of short gamma-ray bursts, which are the most powerful explosions in the universe.
LIGO is also expected to detect gravitational waves from the collision of supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies. These events are thought to be responsible for the formation of quasars, which are extremely bright objects that emit enormous amounts of energy.
In addition to detecting gravitational waves from these extreme events, LIGO is also expected to detect gravitational waves from a wider range of astronomical objects, such as binary stars, supernovae, and even the Big Bang itself.
What is LIGO?
LIGO is a pair of large laser interferometers located in Hanford, Washington, and Livingston, Louisiana. The interferometers are used to detect gravitational waves, which are ripples in the fabric of spacetime that are created by massive objects, such as black holes and neutron stars.
When a gravitational wave passes through an interferometer, it causes the arms of the interferometer to stretch and contract. This change in length is very small, but LIGO is sensitive enough to detect it.
What has LIGO detected?
LIGO has detected a number of gravitational wave events, including:
- The merger of two black holes with masses of 36 and 29 times the mass of the Sun. This event was the first direct detection of gravitational waves.
- The merger of two neutron stars with masses of 1.44 and 1.38 times the mass of the Sun. This event was the first direct detection of gravitational waves from a neutron star merger.
- The collision of two supermassive black holes with masses of 65 and 85 million times the mass of the Sun. This event was the most massive gravitational wave event ever detected.
What is LIGO expected to detect in the future?
LIGO is expected to detect a wide range of gravitational wave events in the future, including:
- More mergers of black holes and neutron stars
- Collisions of supermassive black holes
- Gravitational waves from the Big Bang
LIGO is also expected to detect gravitational waves from a wider range of astronomical objects, such as binary stars, supernovae, and even the Big Bang itself.
The importance of LIGO
LIGO is a groundbreaking observatory that has revolutionized our understanding of the universe. LIGO’s discoveries have shown that gravitational waves are a real phenomenon, and they have opened up a new window into the universe.