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SUMMARY:Gravitational wave science - observations and a forward look - She
 ila Rowan (Glasgow).
DTSTART:20181115T160000Z
DTEND:20181115T170000Z
UID:TALK113038@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Richard McMahon
DESCRIPTION:In September 2015 the twin ‘Advanced LIGO’ observatories a
 llowed the first direct detection of gravitational waves from astrophysica
 l sources. The waves detected originated from the collision and merger of 
 two black holes 1.3 billion light years from earth. This detection marked 
 the start of new field of gravitational astrophysics\, in the 100th annive
 rsary year of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. This talk will di
 scuss the discovery\, cover the status of observations since then\, some o
 f the science emerging from gravitational wave studies to date and outline
  what the future of the field might look like.\n\nProfessor Rowan led one 
 of the teams who contributed to the international LIGO (Laser Interferomet
 er Gravitational-Wave Observatory:https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/) collabora
 tion. LIGO first detected gravitational waves in September 2015\, 100 year
 s after Einstein’s original prediction.\n\nShiela Rowan received her Bac
 helor of Science at the University of Glasgow and stayed on to complete he
 r PhD. After her PhD\, Rowan split her time between the University of Glas
 gow and the Edward Ginzton Laboratory at Stanford University. Since 2003\,
  she has been based solely in Glasgow\, and in 2006 was appointed Professo
 r of Experimental Physics. In June 2016\, Rowan was seconded (part-time) t
 o Chief Scientific Advisor to the Scottish Government.\n\nProfessor Rowan'
 s research is targeted at the development of innovative \nlow noise optica
 l mirrors used in novel 'gravitational' observatories which are targeted a
 t searching for gravitational signals from astrophysical systems in our Un
 iverse. This represents one of the most exciting challenges in experimenta
 l physics and astrophysics. It holds great potential for observing exotic 
 objects such as black holes and neutron stars in a way not possible with o
 ptical\, radio or other electromagnetic observations - through their pure 
 gravitational signals.\n\n\nSee also: https://stfc.ukri.org/news/gravitati
 onal-waves/
LOCATION:Sackler Lecture Theatre\, IoA (tea at 3.30 pm)
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