Gravitational waves
Trinity College recently was accepted to the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) Scientific Collaboration, enabling Assistant Professor of Physics Eyal Schwartz to continue researching ways to optimize the detectors that track gravitational waves and new astrophysical phenomena.
Throughout history, humans have mainly relied on different forms of light to observe the universe. Today, scientists have a new frontier to explore the cosmos: gravitational wave astronomy. Gravitational waves carry information on the dynamics of objects in the universe.
“This emerging field of science offers a new way of exploring the fundamental physics of gravity as a tool for astronomical explorations,” Schwartz said. “Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of space-time, caused by the dynamics of massive objects with extreme acceleration, like colliding black holes or neutron stars.”
Early in the fall semester, Schwartz secured Trinity’s membership in the collaboration, joining 130 colleges and universities representing 20 countries. Trinity is the only LIGO institution in Connecticut and in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC).
Schwartz is the principal investigator of Trinity’s newly formed New Horizons Laboratory, with research focused on precision measurement techniques to optimize current and next generation gravitational wave detectors, dark matter exploration, new observational astrophysical and cosmological techniques, and education and public outreach.
The LIGO detectors are twin, 4-kilometer-long laser interferometers located in Hanford, Washington, and Livingston, Louisiana.
Early milestone observations of gravitational waves in 2015 and 2017, combined with contributions to the development of the LIGO detector, earned three key players in the LIGO Scientific Collaboration the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics. Since that time, more than 200 detections of gravitational waves have been identified, and the search for new astrophysical phenomena is ongoing as LIGO is in the midst of its fourth observation run.
The LIGO collaboration encompasses scholars from a range disciplines—including physics, engineering, chemistry, materials science, and math—dedicated to detecting the gravitational waves predicted by Albert Einstein’s 1915 general theory of relativity.
Trinity’s participation provides on-campus research and internship opportunities for students, including travel to the detector sites and hands-on experience on large experiments.
“This will allow all of us to actively contribute to one of the largest and famous collaborative scientific endeavors in the world,” said Schwartz.
