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Initial Tests Fail To Find Gravitational Waves

Posted by timothy on from the check-my-belly dept.

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."

2 of 553 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Just because they failed to detect any by raymansean · · Score: 1, Redundant

    I was just thinking the same thing. I can not see it != it does not exist.

    --
    insert inflammatory comment here!
  2. Re:How the experiment works...? by legerde · · Score: 0, Redundant

    So from what I can tell, they have two apparatus separated by a distance. The orientation of the apparatus with the universe seems to be unimportant unless they are trying to detect waves from some particular source. The orientation of the two apparatus to each other seems critical. They both need to be oriented identically with the each other.

    So, some of the issues I imagine they had to deal with are:
    * Localized disturbances (plate tectonics)
    * Temperature variation between the two locations
    * Tidal forces as the earth bulges?
    * ???

    This must be a really difficult experiment.

    They have to be extremely confident that everything has been taken into account to claim that no findings are a result.

    It reminds me of the Simpsons quote (which is the only reason I wrote this comment :) ) :

    "Dear Lord: The gods have been good to me. For the first time in my life, everything is absolutely perfect just the way it is. So here's the deal: You freeze everything the way it is, and I won't ask for anything more. If that is OK, please give me absolutely no sign. OK, deal. In gratitude, I present you this offering of cookies and milk. If you want me to eat them for you, give me no sign. Thy will be done." - Homer Simpson

    -- Legerde