Gravitational waves - the new Astronomy? (2017 Ailsa Sparkes Memorial Seminar)

General interest seminar

Gravitational waves - the new Astronomy? (2017 Ailsa Sparkes Memorial Seminar)

  • Event time: 5:00pm
  • Event date: 2nd March 2017
  • Speaker: Professor Sheila Rowan (University of Glasgow)
  • Location: Swann Lecture Theatre, Michael Swann Building

Event details

The 2017 Ailsa Sparkes Memorial Lecture

In September 2015 the twin ‘Advanced LIGO’ observatories allowed the first direct detection of gravitational waves from astrophysical sources. The waves detected originated from the collision and merger of two black holes 1.3 billion light years from earth. This detection marked the start of new field of gravitational astrophysics, in the 100th anniversary year of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. This talk will discuss the discovery, the status of observations since then, plans for the global network of advanced gravitational wave detectors and what the future of the field might look like.

Professor Sheila Rowan is a prominent figure in Gravitational Wave Research, and is also the Chief Scientific Advisor to the Scottish Government.

Ailsa Sparkes studied for a PhD in the particle physics group at the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 2013. She sadly passed away in February 2016. This lecture is dedicated to her memory.

Tea and cakes will be served from 1630 outside Lecture Theatre A in the James Clerk Maxwell Building.

About General interest seminars

Our General Interest Seminars are an opportunity for distinguished speakers to present new research in physics and related areas. The material presented is suitable for undergraduate level upwards and all members of the School are welcome to attend..

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