Special Colloquium: Dr. Benjamin Owen | Texas Tech Univ.
In-Person PHYS 401
Location
Physics : 401
Date & Time
November 13, 2023, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Description
TITLE: Gravitational waves and multi-messenger astrophysics from LIGO to Cosmic Explorer
ABSTRACT: LIGO’s detections of gravitational waves from mergers of binary black holes and neutron stars made history and are opening a new window for observing extreme gravity and extreme matter. Cosmic Explorer, a next generation LIGO, will detect most of the neutron star and stellar mass black hole binary mergers in the universe, observing extreme gravity and extreme matter closely enough to answer fundamental questions about relativity and nuclear physics. What other gravitational wave signals will be detected, from LIGO to Cosmic Explorer? What physics and astrophysics will we learn from them, especially in tandem with new and planned electromagnetic astronomy facilities? I will summarize some highlights from detections of binary mergers in LIGO data and from current searches for other signals, and sketch the exciting frontiers of what could be learned with future searches ranging from this year to the era of Cosmic Explorer. I will conclude by highlighting how LISA will extend radio and gravitational wave studies to galactic mass black holes.
ABSTRACT: LIGO’s detections of gravitational waves from mergers of binary black holes and neutron stars made history and are opening a new window for observing extreme gravity and extreme matter. Cosmic Explorer, a next generation LIGO, will detect most of the neutron star and stellar mass black hole binary mergers in the universe, observing extreme gravity and extreme matter closely enough to answer fundamental questions about relativity and nuclear physics. What other gravitational wave signals will be detected, from LIGO to Cosmic Explorer? What physics and astrophysics will we learn from them, especially in tandem with new and planned electromagnetic astronomy facilities? I will summarize some highlights from detections of binary mergers in LIGO data and from current searches for other signals, and sketch the exciting frontiers of what could be learned with future searches ranging from this year to the era of Cosmic Explorer. I will conclude by highlighting how LISA will extend radio and gravitational wave studies to galactic mass black holes.
