Initial Tests Fail To Find Gravitational Waves

eldavojohn writes that though gravitational waves are "predicted to exist by Einstein's Theory of General Relativity, the initial tests run by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory Scientific Collaboration (LIGO) failed to find anything. It doesn't disprove their existence although it does rule out a subset of string theory. From the article, 'For example, some models predict the existence of cosmic strings, which are loops in space-time that may have formed in the early universe and gotten stretched to large scales along with the expansion of the universe. These objects are thought to produce bursts of gravitational waves as they oscillate. Since no large-amplitude gravitational waves were found, cosmic strings, if they exist at all, must be smaller than some models predict.' The scientists working in Washington and Louisiana (in tandem to rule out flukes) will now move on to Advanced LIGO which will analyze a volume of space 1,000 times larger. If they don't find any gravitational waves in that experiment, the results will be more than unsettling to many theorists."

Comments

Re:Just because they failed to detect any

[drinkypoo]

when you fail to detect something that SHOULD have been detected using what you used, that means that things just actually aren't quite as you expected them to be.

This part is true.

Sure there still may be some be gravitational waves, but this proves that they're nothing like we thought/nowhere as strong, if they exist at all.

This part is false. In fact, it might indicate some flaw in the experiment, or its implementation. Or it might indicate the presence of another previously unaccounted-for force.

P.S. Not impressed with the implication that a "random slashdotter" has nothing new to add to a scientific discussion. If that is your attitude, you clearly have nothing to add. Since you're also wrong about the necessary implications of an experiment not producing the intended results, you're clearly talking from the wrong orifice. Or perhaps, typing with the wrong organ.