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Gravitational Waves - A New Era of Astronomy Begins

World Science Festival via YouTube

Overview

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Delve into the groundbreaking discovery of gravitational waves in this captivating 1 hour 39 minute panel discussion from the World Science Festival. Explore the century-old prediction by Albert Einstein that was finally confirmed in 2015, marking a new era in astronomy. Learn about the advanced laser-based detectors that captured this cosmic event and understand its significance in exploring the universe. Gain insights from leading scientists involved in this monumental discovery as they discuss the challenges, breakthroughs, and future implications of gravitational wave detection. Discover the inner workings of LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory), the technology behind the detectors, and the potential for space-based interferometers. Uncover the fascinating world of black holes, neutron stars, and numerical relativity while exploring how gravitational waves are revolutionizing our understanding of the cosmos.

Syllabus

Brian Greene's Introduction -
Einsteins prediction of bending light -
Participant Introductions -
Chapter one: The Discovery -
The rumors of a gravitational wave -
How LIGO almost missed the gravitational wave -
BICEP2 and getting it right -
Could we have recreated this experiment without a gravitational wave? -
Chapter two: The Numerical Relativity -
So you detect a gravitational wave, what does that mean? -
Black holes vs Neutron stars -
Chapter three: Detection -
How LIGO Laboratory works -
How do you shield the laser from the other waves in the world? -
The move from LIGO to Advanced LIGO
Giving credit to Barry Barish -
Chapter four: The Future of LIGO
eLISA and a space interferometer -
Mathematically solving the future of colliding black holes

Taught by

World Science Festival

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