A New Window to the Universe: Gravitational Waves

Időpont: 
2020. 10. 27. 14:30
Hely: 
BME building F, 2nd floor, lecture hall 13
Előadó: 
Péter Raffai (ELTE)

According to Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity, gravitational waves (GWs) are wavelike distortions in the fabric of space-time created by accelerating masses, and propagating at the speed of light. Although there had been several experimental attempts throughout the 20th century to detect GWs, the first direct detection was achieved in September 2015 by the LIGO-Virgo Collaboration (LVC) using the two LIGO detectors. As members of the LVC since 2007, the LIGO group at Eötvös University had the privilege of being involved in and contributing to this major scientific achievement. The ongoing common detections of GW signals have already started to revolutionize astronomy, astrophysics, and cosmology, by providing a new and previously unaccessible window to the universe. In my talk I will give an overview of the most recent results and developments in GW astronomy, and the contributions of Eötvös University's LIGO group to the international LIGO project and its discoveries.