EAS and Physics Joint Seminar
When: Thursday,
November 16, 2017
11:00 AM
-
1:00 PM
Where: Textiles Building 105
Description: EAS and Physics Joint Seminar
Title: From Nobel(s) to Neutron Stars: How gravitational waves are shaping 21st century astronomy
Speaker: Dr. Robert Coyne
University of Rhode Island
(UMass Dartmouth Alum)
Date: Thursday, November 16, 2017
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Textile Building, Room 105 - CSCVR
Abstract:
On September 14th 2015 the Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory (LIGO) made the first direct detection of gravitational waves (GWs) from the merger of two black holes. It was the culmination of a century of scientific effort, and it has been heralded as the beginning of a new era in observational astronomy. This discovery was so impactful that, just two years later, three of LIGO's founders were awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize in physics for decisive contributions to the project. And a mere two weeks after the Nobel announcement LIGO, in partnership with the Virgo GW detector and astronomers from some 70 astronomical observatories, announced another first: the detection of a merger of two neutron stars. But this discovery was unique as not only were GWs detected from the event, we saw light from it as well. These multi-messenger observations were the first of their kind, and with them we have begun to answer some of our most intriguing questions about the nature of our universe. In this talk, we will explore the events that have ushered us into this era of multi-messenger astronomy and discuss the exciting new insights into the cosmos that we have gleaned from them.
NOTE: All PHY graduate students are encouraged to attend.
All interested parties are invited to attend. Open to the public.
*For further information, please contact Dr. Gaurav Khanna, 508.910.6605 or by email, gkhanna@umassd.edu
Title: From Nobel(s) to Neutron Stars: How gravitational waves are shaping 21st century astronomy
Speaker: Dr. Robert Coyne
University of Rhode Island
(UMass Dartmouth Alum)
Date: Thursday, November 16, 2017
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Textile Building, Room 105 - CSCVR
Abstract:
On September 14th 2015 the Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory (LIGO) made the first direct detection of gravitational waves (GWs) from the merger of two black holes. It was the culmination of a century of scientific effort, and it has been heralded as the beginning of a new era in observational astronomy. This discovery was so impactful that, just two years later, three of LIGO's founders were awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize in physics for decisive contributions to the project. And a mere two weeks after the Nobel announcement LIGO, in partnership with the Virgo GW detector and astronomers from some 70 astronomical observatories, announced another first: the detection of a merger of two neutron stars. But this discovery was unique as not only were GWs detected from the event, we saw light from it as well. These multi-messenger observations were the first of their kind, and with them we have begun to answer some of our most intriguing questions about the nature of our universe. In this talk, we will explore the events that have ushered us into this era of multi-messenger astronomy and discuss the exciting new insights into the cosmos that we have gleaned from them.
NOTE: All PHY graduate students are encouraged to attend.
All interested parties are invited to attend. Open to the public.
*For further information, please contact Dr. Gaurav Khanna, 508.910.6605 or by email, gkhanna@umassd.edu
Contact: > See Description for contact information
Topical Areas: Faculty, Students, Graduate, Students, Undergraduate, Physics