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| LIGO and Gravitational Waves & Detection |
| Dr. Peter Fritschel |
| Thursday, Oct 9, 2014 at 8:00 PM |
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| Gravitational waves are among the most interesting predictions of Einstein's theory of general relativity. These ripples in the curvature of space-time are emitted by various types of astrophysical bodies, particularly compact objects moving at high velocities. Almost a century after Einstein first predicted gravitational waves, we are on the brink of directly detecting them for the first time.
Gravitational-wave astrophysics promises to become a radically new way of exploring the universe. Dr. Fritschel will discuss the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO), the world's leading project to build and operate gravitational wave detectors. He'll describe LIGO's principles of operation, design, current status and plans for observation.
Speaker Bio
Dr. Fritschel is a physicist and a Senior Research Scientist at M.I.T., in the Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research. He has spent much of his career working on a project aimed at building new instruments to detect gravitational waves that are emitted by astrophysical objects in the nearby universe. He studied physics and engineering in college, then worked for a couple of years doing laser development in an industrial R&D lab before going to graduate school in physics. After gaining a PhD he did a postdoctoral stint in France, then returned to M.I.T.
Please join us for a pre-meeting dinner discussion at Changsho, 1712 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA at 6:00pm before the meeting. |
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