University mathematicians have linked with other scientists from 16 countries around the world to observe ripples in the fabric of space-time called gravitational waves, for the very first time. This confirms a major prediction of Albert Einstein’s 1915 general theory of relativity and opens an unprecedented new window onto the cosmos.
The Advanced LIGO project, which discovered the waves, involves nearly 1,000 scientists globally, including mathematicians from the University of Southampton, working with scientists from 8 other UK universities.
The waves originated from two black holes, each around 30 times the mass of the Sun and located more than 1.3 billion light years from Earth. Physicists have concluded that these waves were produced during the final fraction of a second of the merger of two black holes to produce a single, more massive spinning black hole. This collision of two black holes had been predicted but never observed.
Dr Ian Jones, a mathematician at the University, has spent 13 years working on the international gravitational wave detection project, providing colleagues with models for what the gravitational wave signals might look like. He comments:
“When I was first shown the black hole signal in the data I could barely believe what I was seeing. To actually be able to see, by eye, the signal in the data, with all its characteristic features, was amazing.”
The Minister for Universities and Science, Jo Johnson MP, comments:
“Einstein’s theories from over a century ago are still helping us to understand our universe. Now that we have the technological capability to test his theories with the LIGO detectors his scientific brilliance becomes all the more apparent. The Government is increasing support for international research collaborations, and these scientists from across the UK have played a vital part in this discovery.”
Gravitational waves carry unique information about the origins of our Universe and studying them is expected to provide important insights into the evolution of stars, supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, neutron stars and black holes.
More information is available on the University website.