Gravitational Waves and LIGO: Opening New "Eyes" on the Universe

Document #:

LIGO-T080232-v1

Document type:

T - Technical notes

Abstract:

Lecture notes to accompany seminar presented to the Westinghouse Science Honors Institute, Pittsburgh, PA.

OUTLINE:

Gravitational Waves
---Differences between Newtonian Gravity and General Relativity; prediction of GW
Sources of Gravitational Waves
---Production of GW
---Main types of GW:
------Continuous GW
------Inspiral GW
------Burst GW
------Stochastic GW
Detecting Gravitational Waves
---Effects of GW on space
---IFO introduction and LIGO
The Interferometer
---Basic IFO design
---Environmental noise
---IFO enhancements from basic design
------Vacuum
------Seismic isolation
The Potential of Gravitational Waves
---GW astronomy advantages over traditional EM astronomy
---Questions GW astronomy may answer
For Further Information
---Reading:
------"Einstein's Unfinished Symphony" by Marcia Bartusiak
------Einstein@Home website
---Viewing:
------"Einstein's Messengers" by the NSF
------"Gravity: Making Waves" by the American Museum of Natural History
---Contact
------Amber Stuver (amber.stuver@ligo.org)

Files in Document:

• PDF version of lecture notes (T080232-00-Z.pdf, 3.2 MB)

Other Files:

• Word version of lecture notes (T080232-00-Z.doc, 1.2 MB)

Topics:

• Education, Outreach

Authors:

• Amber Stuver

Keywords:

GW continuous inspiral CBC burst stochastic interferometer IFO astronomy

Notes and Changes:

v1 is equivalent to 00