Gravitational waves Gideon Koekoek January 9 th 2008 Research done at Nikhef.
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Transcript of Gravitational waves Gideon Koekoek January 9 th 2008 Research done at Nikhef.
Gravitational wavesGravitational waves
Gideon KoekoekGideon KoekoekJanuary 9January 9thth 2008 2008
Research done at NikhefResearch done at Nikhef
Overview of the talkOverview of the talk Graviational waves: a revolutionGraviational waves: a revolution
What are gravitational waves?What are gravitational waves?
Measuring gravitational wavesMeasuring gravitational waves
What we @ Nikhef / Vu are doingWhat we @ Nikhef / Vu are doing
ConclusionsConclusions
Why gravitational Why gravitational waves?waves?
Why gravitational waves?Why gravitational waves?What is so interesting about them?What is so interesting about them?We already have telescopes, neutrino We already have telescopes, neutrino
detectors and stuff like that to study the detectors and stuff like that to study the Universe, right? Universe, right?
So why do we want to measure So why do we want to measure gravitational waves as well?gravitational waves as well?
Why gravitational waves?Why gravitational waves?
Theory: Theory: how correct is General Relativity?how correct is General Relativity?
Astronomy: Astronomy: what processes occur in exotic what processes occur in exotic objects?objects?
Cosmology: Cosmology: what happened after the Big what happened after the Big Bang?Bang?
Astronomy: Astronomy: what is the nature of Dark Matter what is the nature of Dark Matter and/or Dark Energy?and/or Dark Energy?
We need gravitational waves!!We need gravitational waves!!There are questions we cannot answer There are questions we cannot answer
without GWs:without GWs:
Why gravitational waves?Why gravitational waves?What is the nature of Dark Matter/Dark Energy? What is the nature of Dark Matter/Dark Energy?
Most of the Universe, we Most of the Universe, we don’t know anything don’t know anything about!about!
We need gravitational waves!We need gravitational waves!
This is usThis is us
Why gravitational waves?Why gravitational waves?How about the Big Bang? How about the Big Bang?
Light can only Light can only see up to heresee up to here
..but gravitational ..but gravitational waves can see up waves can see up to here!to here!
We need gravitational waves!We need gravitational waves!
..neutrino’s can only ..neutrino’s can only see up to here..see up to here..
What are What are gravitational waves?gravitational waves?
What are gravitational waves?What are gravitational waves?Wait, what is Wait, what is gravitygravity in the first place? in the first place?
Earth’s path is not straight, but bent by a Earth’s path is not straight, but bent by a forceforce
1st Law: motion in straight lines if there is no force.
FF
vv
2rmMGF
Gravity is a force!
What are gravitational waves?What are gravitational waves?Einstein disagreed..Einstein disagreed..
Still a straight line, but in Still a straight line, but in curvedcurved spacetime! spacetime!
Gravity is not a force; it’s the curvature of space (and time)
Newton does not agree Newton does not agree with Relativity,with Relativity,
All matter All matter behaves the behaves the samesame under gravity under gravity
What are gravitational waves?What are gravitational waves?Q:Q: What curves spacetime? What curves spacetime? A:A: energy does! energy does!
TcGRgR 4
821
Ok, good. Now about those gravitational Ok, good. Now about those gravitational waves..waves..
You need a lot of energy to curve You need a lot of energy to curve spacetime;spacetime; gravity is weak! gravity is weak!
This is a very small number! ~ This is a very small number! ~ 1010-45-45 (!!) (!!)
What are gravitational waves?What are gravitational waves?
hg
Flat spacetime, plus a little curvatureFlat spacetime, plus a little curvature
021
RgR
A wave equation: A wave equation: a curvature a curvature hhμμυυ oscillates oscillates through space! through space!
012
2
22
2
hdtd
ch
dxd
Curvature in the vacuum?Curvature in the vacuum?
What are gravitational waves?What are gravitational waves?An example:An example: gravitational waves gravitational waves
produced by a binary star systemproduced by a binary star system
We want to measure these
waves!
UsUsBinary stars: source of GW’sBinary stars: source of GW’s
Measuring Measuring gravitational wavesgravitational waves
Measuring gravitational wavesMeasuring gravitational wavesA blessing and a curse: GW’s interact A blessing and a curse: GW’s interact
veryvery weakly weakly
TcGRgR 4
821
1010-45-45 (!!) (!!)
Blessing:Blessing: once produced, they can’t be disturbed once produced, they can’t be disturbed Curse:Curse: very difficult to measure them ourselves! very difficult to measure them ourselves!
2110~
LL
Measuring gravitational wavesMeasuring gravitational waves
Amplitude and frequency of gravitational waves emitted by a binary system of masses M1 and M2 at separation r
Note: a million times smaller than a proton!
Measuring gravitational wavesMeasuring gravitational wavesQ:Q: How to measure gravitational waves? How to measure gravitational waves? A: A: with an interferometer! with an interferometer!
Idea:Idea:
if a GW comes by, the if a GW comes by, the length of the arms is length of the arms is disturbed: phase disturbed: phase difference between the difference between the arms arms →→interference patterninterference pattern
Fabry-Perot cavities: increase the arm length Fabry-Perot cavities: increase the arm length
Measuring gravitational wavesMeasuring gravitational wavesThese things actually exist! These things actually exist!
LIGO LIGO (US)(US)
VIRGO VIRGO (EU)(EU)
4 km arms4 km arms
3 km arms3 km arms
LISALISA (US + EU)(US + EU)
Launch: Launch: ~2015(?)~2015(?)
5 105 1066 km arms km arms
What we @ What we @ Nikhef/Vu are doingNikhef/Vu are doing
What we @ Nikhef/Vu are doingWhat we @ Nikhef/Vu are doing Nikhef has taken and carried out the initiative to start a Nikhef has taken and carried out the initiative to start a
research group focusing on gravitational waves research group focusing on gravitational waves
ManagementManagement
Hardware, data Hardware, data analysis,.…analysis,.…
Theory of Theory of gravitational gravitational waveswaves
You?You?
ConclusionsConclusions
ConclusionsConclusions
Gravitational waves are ripples in spacetime that travel with velocity Gravitational waves are ripples in spacetime that travel with velocity c;c;
They can teach us a lot about binary star systems, Dark They can teach us a lot about binary star systems, Dark Matter/Dark Energy, the Big Bang.. etc etc;Matter/Dark Energy, the Big Bang.. etc etc;
Measuring GW’s is difficult; it can be done by using interferometers;Measuring GW’s is difficult; it can be done by using interferometers; Nikhef is working (both experimentally and theoretically) on Virgo Nikhef is working (both experimentally and theoretically) on Virgo
and LISAand LISA
ConclusionsConclusionsInterested to do a Masters?Interested to do a Masters?
Contact Contact
Tjeerd KetelTjeerd Ketel ( ( [email protected]@few.vu.nl ) ) or or
Jo van den BrandJo van den Brand ( ( [email protected]@nat.vu.nl ))
The endThe end