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Nov 16
2009
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The existence of curved spacetime opens up the possibility that ripples or waves can exist in the spacetime continuum. These ripples are called gravitational waves. Gravity waves could be detected from colliding black holes, supernova explosions and the black hole at the core of our Galaxy.
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During the core collapse of the supernova, vast amounts of matter are moved about at enormous speeds. The dense mass is surrounded by a strong gravitational field. Vigorous changes in gravity will produce `ripples' in the geometry of space, and these ripples can propagate outward at the speed of light, i.e. gravity waves.
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Gravity waves can be detected by the effects they have on other masses. For example, two masses will vibrate when a gravity wave passes. Sensitive measurements of their motion with lasers will detect this motion. Currently our technology is unable to detect gravity waves, but a new laser system (called LIGO) is under construction for use in the 21st century.
Gravitational wave astronomy could expand our knowledge of the cosmos dramatically. For starters, gravitational waves, though weakening with distance, are thought to be unchanged by any material they pass through and, therefore, should carry signals unaltered across the vast reaches of space. By comparison, electromagnetic radiation tends to be absorbed or modified by intervening matter. |
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