Detection of gravitation waves beginning of new realm of physics

Published on the 12th February 2016 by ANSTO Staff

ANSTO extends congratulations to the Australian and international researchers who have contributed to the first detection of gravitational waves, which was announced this morning by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO).

Australian physicists and astrophysicists were strongly involved in the development of gravitational wave detectors and the detection.

Researchers from six Australian universities and CSIRO have contributed their expertise, notably David Blair’s Group at the University of Western Australia and David McClelland’s team at the Australian National University.

CSIRO fabricated the mirrors for the LIGO interferometer that made the observation.

After spending the past century trying to prove that these waves exist, many scientists, including Einstein himself, had thought that the waves were too small to be detected.

It’s taken until now for us to have the technology to measure them and prove the final link in that puzzle.

Australian Institute of Physics (AIP) President Warrick Couch said that the LIGO detectors in Louisiana and Washington detected the waves simultaneously was extremely impressive. See image above.

“This discovery will also be the beginning of a whole new realm of physics - gravitational wave astrophysics.”

“The gravitational waves that have been detected are likely to have been produced by the merger of two black holes—and that is something we've not been able to see before.”

ANSTO physicists are celebrating with the scientific community around the world.

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Adapted from a media statement by the Australian Institute of Physics