Mastodawn

🫨 This innovative combination of a mechanical glass resonator and a high-precision laser readout system enables precise measurement of even the slightest motion and helps to compensate for the effects of seismic vibrations.

🚀 Thanks to its small size, self-calibration, vacuum compatibility, and plug-and-play functionality, this sensor is ideal for future gravitational-wave detectors such as the Einstein Telescope or the Cosmic Explorer.

@Fraunhofer_IOF

Image: NIKHEF

#EinsteinTelescope #GravitationalWaves #Innovation #Research #Technology #Sensor

MPI for Gravitational Physics 21h ago

This technological breakthrough from gravitational-wave research is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and weighs about as much as a grapefruit. This newly developed, compact inertial sensor is just as precise as much bulkier, commercially available devices.

ℹ️ https://www.aei.mpg.de/1290501/glass-and-laser-sensor-innovation-for-future-gravitational-wave-detectors

🏋️ Researchers at the @mpi_grav and the @Fraunhofer_IOF have carefully designed the sensor to reduce its size and weight compared to state-of-the-art commercial devices without compromising performance.

#EinsteinTelescope #GravitationalWaves #Innovation #Research #Technology #Sensor

MPI for Gravitational Physics 23h ago

New @LIGO Magazine out now!

This special, extended edition celebrates ten years of gravitational-wave astronomy. It shares memories and reflections on the first detection, reports on the latest catalogue (GWTC-4.0) and the most massive black hole binary merger yet, and much more.

➡️ https://ligo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/LIGO-magazine-issue27.pdf [pdf]

➡️ https://ligo.org/magazine/

#LIGOMagazine #SciComm #GravitationalWaves #10YearsGW

Benjamin Carr, Ph.D. 👨🏻‍💻🧬1d ago

#Scientists Just Got an Unprecedented Glimpse into the Nature of Reality
#GravitationalWaves are ripples in #spacetime that are produced by energetic cosmic events, such as #supernovas or mergers between #blackholes. Einstein predicted their existence in 1916 general theory of relativity, though he was doubtful humans could ever develop technologies sensitive enough to detect them. These waves oscillate at tiny distances that are thousands of times smaller than a proton.
https://www.404media.co/scientists-just-got-an-unprecedented-glimpse-into-the-nature-of-reality/

Scientists Just Got an Unprecedented Glimpse into the Nature of Reality

“We had promised that gravitational waves would open a new window into the universe, and that has materialized,” one researcher said.”

404 Media

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MPI for Gravitational Physics 1d ago

If you want to read all the fun science in its full glory, this way please:

📄 “GW250114: Testing Hawking’s Area Law and the Kerr Nature of Black Holes”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 111403, https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/kw5g-d732 (Open Access)

📄 “Black Hole Spectroscopy and Tests of General Relativity with GW250114”, arXiv:2509.08099, https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.08099

#GW250114 #10YearsGW #GravitationalWaves #Astrophysics #BlackHoles #GeneralRelativity

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MPI for Gravitational Physics 1d ago

A gravitational-wave signal from merging black holes that is as clear as GW250114 can be used to do other exciting things.

From the gravitational waves emitted before the black holes merge one can measure their individual masses and how fast they rotate around their respective axes (their “spins”).

The mass and spin of the remaining black hole after the merger can be determined from the clearly measured individual gravitational-wave tones (https://academiccloud.social/@mpi_grav/115183786012350803).

According to general relativity the surface area of a black hole can be calculated from its mass and spin alone.

This allows a before-and-after comparison to be made and a prediction by Stephen Hawking to be tested. According to his “area law”, the surface area of black holes cannot decrease.

And lo and behold: the surface area of the black hole after the merger is indeed greater than the sum of the two individual surfaces before the merger.

#GW250114 #10YearsGW #GravitationalWaves #Astrophysics

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MPI for Gravitational Physics 1d ago

Because the newly discovered gravitational-wave signal GW250114 was observed so clearly, the wave can be studied in great detail.

This allowed the researchers to carry out some of the most rigorous tests of general relativity.

In addition, they succeeded in identifying or constraining at least three gravitational-wave tones emitted during the ringdown, which occurs shortly after the merger.

This film by our researchers shows the gravitational waves during the merger and the subsequent ringdown, as well as the individual tones of the gravitational-wave “sound”.

Film: H. Pfeiffer, A. Buonanno (@mpi_grav), K. Mitman (Cornell University)

#GW250114 #Ringdown #GravitationalWaves #10YearsGW

Daniel Fischer 1d ago

GW250114 - testing Hawking’s Area Law and the Kerr Nature of Black Holes: https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/kw5g-d732 -> Ten Years Later, LIGO is a Black-Hole Hunting Machine: https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/ten-years-later-ligo-is-a-black-hole-hunting-machine - LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA celebrate anniversary, announce verification of Stephen Hawking's Black Hole Area Theorem -> LIGO’s Sharpest Detection Yet Confirms Famous Stephen Hawking Theory: https://gizmodo.com/ligos-sharpest-detection-yet-confirms-famous-stephen-hawking-theory-2000656839 - ten years after LIGO’s historical detection of #GravitationalWaves, the project is cracking black hole mysteries at an astounding pace -> thread https://scicomm.xyz/@LIGO/115180908174298237

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MPI for Gravitational Physics 1d ago

If you remember the audio representation of the first gravitational-wave signal GW150914, you will surely think that there must be the same thing for the even clearer signal GW250114.

You are, of course, correct, and you will find what you are looking for on the YouTube channel of @LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA:

🎞️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XmZ8-XQ9jU

#GW250114 #GW150914 #GravitationalWaves #10YearsGW