The detection of gravitational waves
Matteo Tacca
Researcher at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) - APC (AstroParticule et Cosmologie) Laboratory, Paris
DEIB - Seminar Room
May 31st, 2016
11.30 am
Contact:
Alberto Gatto
Research Line:
Information transmission
Researcher at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) - APC (AstroParticule et Cosmologie) Laboratory, Paris
DEIB - Seminar Room
May 31st, 2016
11.30 am
Contact:
Alberto Gatto
Research Line:
Information transmission
Abstract
How to measure a distance of one thousandth of the proton diameter? The detection of gravitational waves
In 1916, the year after the final formulation of the general relativity, Albert Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves.
On September 14, 2015, almost one hundred years after this prediction, the two detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) simultaneously observed for the first time a transient gravitational-wave signal. The peak of this gravitational wave signal strain, emitted by the inspiral and the merger of a pair of black holes resulting in a single black hole, is of 1.0 x 10-21. Beyond all the implications of this discovery in the future study of the universe, one interesting question is: how can it be possible to measure a so tiny displacement? A review of the main physical and technological challenges essential to built so sensitive detectors will be discussed.
In 1916, the year after the final formulation of the general relativity, Albert Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves.
On September 14, 2015, almost one hundred years after this prediction, the two detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) simultaneously observed for the first time a transient gravitational-wave signal. The peak of this gravitational wave signal strain, emitted by the inspiral and the merger of a pair of black holes resulting in a single black hole, is of 1.0 x 10-21. Beyond all the implications of this discovery in the future study of the universe, one interesting question is: how can it be possible to measure a so tiny displacement? A review of the main physical and technological challenges essential to built so sensitive detectors will be discussed.
Short Bio
Matteo Tacca is a researcher at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), based at the APC (AstroParticule et Cosmologie) Laboratory in Paris.
After earning a PhD in Information Technology (Optical Communications) at Politecnico di Milano, in 2009 he started to work in the Gravitational Waves research joining the Virgo Collaboration. He spent the first three years on the site of the project, a km-scale Michelson interferometer dedicated to the detection of gravitational waves. Since 2013 he is a member of the APC group and he is working both on the installation and commissioning of the current interferometer and on the R&D for future detectors.
After earning a PhD in Information Technology (Optical Communications) at Politecnico di Milano, in 2009 he started to work in the Gravitational Waves research joining the Virgo Collaboration. He spent the first three years on the site of the project, a km-scale Michelson interferometer dedicated to the detection of gravitational waves. Since 2013 he is a member of the APC group and he is working both on the installation and commissioning of the current interferometer and on the R&D for future detectors.