“Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Black Hole Merger” Dr. Patrick Brady

Abstract: On September 14, 2015 at 09:50:45 UTC the two detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory simultaneously observed a transient gravitational-wave signal. The signal sweeps upwards in frequency from 35 to 250 Hz and matches the waveform predicted by general relativity for the inspiral and merger of a pair of black holes and the ringdown of the resulting single black hole. I will discuss the LIGO detectors, the implications of this observation, and prospects for the new field of gravitational-wave astronomy.

Speaker:  Dr. Patrick Brady, Director of the Leonard E. Parker Center for Gravitation, Cosmology, and Astrophysics at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

Gravitational waves flyer

Video of the presentation