📣 Help Shape the Future of UKRI's Gateway to Research (GtR)

We're improving UKRI's Gateway to Research and are seeking your input! If you would be interested in being interviewed about the improvements we're making and to have your say about how we can make GtR more user-friendly, impactful, and effective for the Research and Innovation community, please email gateway@ukri.org.

Black Hole Superradiance in Rotating Fluids

Lead Research Organisation: University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Mathematical Sciences

Abstract

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description We have now completed several experimental studies to verify (for the first time) the following analogue gravity processes:

- black hole superradiance (published in Nature Physics)
- black hole light bending (published in Journal of Fluid Dynamics)
- black hole ringdown (published in Physical Review Letters)
- black hole backaction (published in Physical Review Letters)
Exploitation Route 6. Outreach activities.

My theoretical and experimental studies are a natural vehicle to explain the mysteries of the late and early universe to the general public. Below I have listed the essential outreach activities carried out by my research group and I. The outreach activities have international dimensions, as the printed media and film coverage is shown in many different countries all over the world.

Public lectures

• 2016
100 years of black holes: 2016 is the centennial of the discovery of the Schwarzschild solution. Thomas Sotiriou, Jorma Louko and myself arranged a small outreach event, consisting of two presentations (by Thomas and Jorma) and after that my laboratory was opened for guided tours.
• 2016
A public lecture at the Pint of Science Festival on Black holes in the bathtub. As part of the advertisement the organizers filmed my laboratory, see list of video coverage of my laboratory.

• 2015
A public lecture at The University of Nottingham on General Relativity's legacy: black holes, strange stars and ripples in space-time fabric as part of the public lecture series to celebrate a 100 Years of General Relativity.
o The presentation was recorded and posted on youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqU5w2zRh4U

• 2014
A public lecture in the Cine-World Cham (Bavaria, Germany) with the title "Ein Blick ins Universum: Sind Schwarze Löcher wirklich schwarz?" (A glimpse of the universe: are black holes really black?). There were 250 people in the audience, the movie theatre was sold out and several local newspapers covered the event, see for example article on the 7 October 2014.




Presentation for science writers

27-29 August 2014
Invited speaker at the "Science writing workshop in Stockholm"
The goal of the workshop was: "Quantum physics is a notoriously challenging subject even for the experts. The goal of this workshop is to give science writers the opportunity to take a step back and gain a broader perspective on this field. At the same time, we want to give researchers in the field the possibility to interact with science writers and share experiences about the pitfalls of science communication."


Newspaper coverage of my work and/or expert opinion on others work



• DIE ZEIT / Spectrum.de
Schwarzes Loch in der Badewanne
By Robert Gast
2018
• PhysicsWorld
Studying impossible systems
By Matthew Francis
2018

• WIRED
TO UNDERSTAND THE UNIVERSE, PHYSICISTS ARE BUILDING THEIR OWN
By Katia Moskvitch
2018

• SCIENCE NEWS
Water circling a drain provides insight into black holes
By Emily Conover
2017

• PhysicsWorld
Rotational superradiance spotted as water swirls down a drain
bye Hamish Johnston
2017


• NAUTILUS
Benchtop Black Holes Help Physicists Glimpse the Quantum Universe
By Claudia Geib
2016

• PM
Physicist Creates Lab-Sized "Black Hole": The experiment's results may finally prove that Hawking radiation exists
By Sophie Weiner
2016

• THE VERGE
New evidence supports Stephen Hawking's theory of shrinking black holes
By James Vincent
2016

• NATURE | NEWS
Artificial black hole creates its own version of Hawking radiation
By Davide Castelvecchi
2016

• THE TIMES
Black hole born in the lab may win Hawking a Nobel
By Oliver Moody
2016

• DIE ZEIT / SPECTRUM.DE
Das Schwarze Loch in der Badewanne
By Fran Konitzer
2015

• NEW SCIENTIST
Feature article: A black hole in a bath: Big physics on a bench-top
By Sophie Hebden
2014


Video interviews

• Spiegel online -
http://www.spiegel.de/video/schwarzes-loch-in-der-badewanne-zeigt-penrose-prozess-video-1793194.html
2017

• Facebook NOWTHIS - https://www.facebook.com/NowThisFuture/videos/vb.1010847105623136/1703728126335027
Views: 3,100,000
2017

• Facebook Techinside UK - https://www.facebook.com/TechInsiderUK/videos/vb.514840712056653/697541813786541/?type=2&theater
Views: 1,300,000
2017

• Sixty Symbols
The Black Hole Machine
This is a video coverage of my laboratory explaining the bizarre effects related to rotating black holes and how we can visualize them in my setup. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOnoYQchHFw
Views: 203,845
2016

• Science writer George Musser on
Leaders of physics wrestle with the riddles of their subjecthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJJg1P5bYeo
Views: 736
2015


Radio interview

2016
Skype interview with Max Sanders (The Guardian) to participate at the "award-winning show, which is usually headed up by our Head of Science Ian Sample, is regularly featured in the 'Top 3' Science and Medicine iTunes charts and so offers extensive coverage, both in listenership and geographic scope". The description on the website for particular episode I participated in is as follows:

"In 1916, Albert Einstein published his theory of general relativity. Evidence in support of his ideas on gravity is now streaming in from all corners of the universe. There's just one problem though. Although Einstein's theory works wonderfully on a cosmic scale, when we use it to look at things that are very small - on the quantum scale - everything goes wrong. So can we ever bring these two sides of physics together? And what will emerge as our unifying theory?
Joining Hannah Devlin in the studio this week to help unpick this cosmic puzzle is theoretical physicist, author, and loop quantum gravity advocate Professor Carlo Rovelli, and fellow theoretical physicist and string theory enthusiast Professor Bill Spence. We'll also hear from Dr Silke Weinfurtner about what analogue black holes - which are created in the lab - can reveal about the nature of quantum gravity.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/audio/2016/oct/11/the-quest-for-a-theory-of-everything-science-weekly-podcast


Participation in documentaries





• TV space series for Discovery called Strip The Cosmos
Producer: Dr Duncan Bulling
www.windfallfilms.com

• Filmed by Peter Galison for a documentary made for cinema
Joseph Pellegrino University Professor (Harvard University)
Galison is currently putting the material together for an epistemological film about black holes and how they raise questions about the limit of knowledge. In the past Galison used film to get at certain aspects of the history and philosophy of science-one film "Secrecy" (on national security and nuclear weapons) began at Sundance in 2008, a more recent film, Containment came out in 2015 (about how to secure nuclear waste for a legislative period of not less than 10,000 years).
Sectors Education

Other

URL https://www.nature.com/articles/nphys4151
 
Description Our findings have been covered by the media in more than 20 news articles (printed and online) and in videos that altogether obtained more than 3,000,000 views. The scientific community showed great interest in our work and has lead to numerous seminar invitations for the PI (Dr Silke Weinfurtner) and members of her research group. The PI gave more than 15 presentations on the topic since the starting date of the grant. During the funding period a patent application for a novel interface sensor for liquid interfaces had been developed. Since then, detection methods for fluid interfaces have been further developed, using off-axis holography techniques, resulting in a second patent application. Beyond that, the Black Hole Laboratory appeared in the Black Hole Documentary prepared for cinema: https://www.blackholefilm.com/watch and an interview with the PI appeared in Quanta Magazine https://www.quantamagazine.org/she-turns-fluids-into-black-holes-and-inflating-universes-20221212/
First Year Of Impact 2019
Sector Education,Other
Impact Types Societal

 
Description APEX Awards 2023 - Bringing the Cosmos to the Lab: Explaining via Analogue Gravity Quantum Simulators
Amount £90,895 (GBP)
Funding ID APX\R1\231030 
Organisation University of Nottingham 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2023 
End 11/2024
 
Description FQXI
Amount £7,500 (GBP)
Funding ID RK2221 
Organisation Foundational Questions Institute (FQXi) 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United States
Start 01/2018 
End 08/2018
 
Description Quantum Technology for Fundamental Physics
Amount £4,208,091 (GBP)
Funding ID ST/T006900/1 
Organisation University of Nottingham 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2021 
End 06/2024
 
Description Research Fellows Enhancement Award 2017
Amount £97,078 (GBP)
Funding ID RGF\EA\180286 
Organisation The Royal Society 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2017 
End 03/2021
 
Description Research Fellows Enhancement Awards 2018
Amount £189,387 (GBP)
Funding ID RGF\EA\181015 
Organisation The Royal Society 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2018 
End 03/2021
 
Description Research Leadership Awards
Amount £982,358 (GBP)
Funding ID RL-2019-020 
Organisation The Leverhulme Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2020 
End 12/2021
 
Description Univ of Nottingham
Amount £7,000 (GBP)
Funding ID RA22FR 
Organisation University of Nottingham 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2017 
End 07/2019
 
Description University Research Fellowships Renewals
Amount £322,150 (GBP)
Funding ID URF\R\180038 
Organisation The Royal Society 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2018 
End 09/2021
 
Description Bringing the Cosmos to the Lab: Explaining Via Analogue Gravity Quantum Simulators 
Organisation University of Nottingham
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Royal Society APEX Award to
Collaborator Contribution Lina Janson will work full-time for one year on the joint project, while Marco Iglesias Hernandez will dedicate one day per week to the project for the same duration.
Impact This is a multi-disciplinary collaboration between the Philosopher Lina Jansson (Nottingham), Mathematician Marco Iglesias Hernandez (Nottingham) and Silke Weinfurtner (Nottingham).
Start Year 2023
 
Description Quantum Simulators for Fundamental Physics 
Organisation King's College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution I am leading the Quantum Simulator for Fundamental Physics (qSimFP) consortium, which includs 13 investigators from 7 UK ROs. The consortium was formed in 2018-2020.
Collaborator Contribution UK R&D: UK experimental facilities funded by qSimFP consortium The initial funding will be used to set up a versatile early universe simulator (Cambridge) and two types of versatile quantum black hole simulators (Nottingham, RHUL and St. Andrews). UK theory and modelling support The experimental facilities will be supported by the qSimFP Fundamental Physics consortium at KCL, Nottingham, UCL, RHUL and Newcastle. International partners: International experimental partner facilities Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology, Atominstitut, TU-Wien: 10% of Prof. Schmiedmayer's and Dr. Erne's FEC, and 10% of the time on quantum gas experiment (valued 1M€). To conduct the relevant experiments 20% of 1 postdoc and 2 PhD students will be committed. International theory and modelling support Our theoretical efforts will be supported by 4 external partners from Canada and Germany. The external partners are Jonathan Braden (contribution in kind 13k CAD, Canada), Matthew Johnson (153k CAD contribution in kind, Canada), Ralf Schützhold (110k € contribution in kind, Germany) and W.G. Unruh (90k CAD contribution in kind, Canada).
Impact Funding through the Quantum Technology for Fundamental Physics initiative started in November 2020 with the project duration of 3 years and 5 months. The total budget of qSimFP is 4.2M GBP. The consortium included world-leading scientists from the STFC and EPSRC communities: Cosmology & black holes • Ruth Gregory • Jorma Louko • Ian Moss • Hiranya Peiris • Andrew Pontzen Ultracold atoms • Thomas Billam • Zoran Hadzibabic Superfluids & optomechanics • Carlo Barenghi • John Owers-Bradley • Xavier Rojas • Pierre Verlot Quantum circuits • Gregoire Ithier Quantum optics • Friedrich Koenig
Start Year 2020
 
Description Quantum Simulators for Fundamental Physics 
Organisation Newcastle University
Country United Kingdom 
PI Contribution I am leading the Quantum Simulator for Fundamental Physics (qSimFP) consortium, which includs 13 investigators from 7 UK ROs. The consortium was formed in 2018-2020.
Collaborator Contribution UK R&D: UK experimental facilities funded by qSimFP consortium The initial funding will be used to set up a versatile early universe simulator (Cambridge) and two types of versatile quantum black hole simulators (Nottingham, RHUL and St. Andrews). UK theory and modelling support The experimental facilities will be supported by the qSimFP Fundamental Physics consortium at KCL, Nottingham, UCL, RHUL and Newcastle. International partners: International experimental partner facilities Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology, Atominstitut, TU-Wien: 10% of Prof. Schmiedmayer's and Dr. Erne's FEC, and 10% of the time on quantum gas experiment (valued 1M€). To conduct the relevant experiments 20% of 1 postdoc and 2 PhD students will be committed. International theory and modelling support Our theoretical efforts will be supported by 4 external partners from Canada and Germany. The external partners are Jonathan Braden (contribution in kind 13k CAD, Canada), Matthew Johnson (153k CAD contribution in kind, Canada), Ralf Schützhold (110k € contribution in kind, Germany) and W.G. Unruh (90k CAD contribution in kind, Canada).
Impact Funding through the Quantum Technology for Fundamental Physics initiative started in November 2020 with the project duration of 3 years and 5 months. The total budget of qSimFP is 4.2M GBP. The consortium included world-leading scientists from the STFC and EPSRC communities: Cosmology & black holes • Ruth Gregory • Jorma Louko • Ian Moss • Hiranya Peiris • Andrew Pontzen Ultracold atoms • Thomas Billam • Zoran Hadzibabic Superfluids & optomechanics • Carlo Barenghi • John Owers-Bradley • Xavier Rojas • Pierre Verlot Quantum circuits • Gregoire Ithier Quantum optics • Friedrich Koenig
Start Year 2020
 
Description Quantum Simulators for Fundamental Physics 
Organisation Royal Holloway, University of London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution I am leading the Quantum Simulator for Fundamental Physics (qSimFP) consortium, which includs 13 investigators from 7 UK ROs. The consortium was formed in 2018-2020.
Collaborator Contribution UK R&D: UK experimental facilities funded by qSimFP consortium The initial funding will be used to set up a versatile early universe simulator (Cambridge) and two types of versatile quantum black hole simulators (Nottingham, RHUL and St. Andrews). UK theory and modelling support The experimental facilities will be supported by the qSimFP Fundamental Physics consortium at KCL, Nottingham, UCL, RHUL and Newcastle. International partners: International experimental partner facilities Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology, Atominstitut, TU-Wien: 10% of Prof. Schmiedmayer's and Dr. Erne's FEC, and 10% of the time on quantum gas experiment (valued 1M€). To conduct the relevant experiments 20% of 1 postdoc and 2 PhD students will be committed. International theory and modelling support Our theoretical efforts will be supported by 4 external partners from Canada and Germany. The external partners are Jonathan Braden (contribution in kind 13k CAD, Canada), Matthew Johnson (153k CAD contribution in kind, Canada), Ralf Schützhold (110k € contribution in kind, Germany) and W.G. Unruh (90k CAD contribution in kind, Canada).
Impact Funding through the Quantum Technology for Fundamental Physics initiative started in November 2020 with the project duration of 3 years and 5 months. The total budget of qSimFP is 4.2M GBP. The consortium included world-leading scientists from the STFC and EPSRC communities: Cosmology & black holes • Ruth Gregory • Jorma Louko • Ian Moss • Hiranya Peiris • Andrew Pontzen Ultracold atoms • Thomas Billam • Zoran Hadzibabic Superfluids & optomechanics • Carlo Barenghi • John Owers-Bradley • Xavier Rojas • Pierre Verlot Quantum circuits • Gregoire Ithier Quantum optics • Friedrich Koenig
Start Year 2020
 
Description Quantum Simulators for Fundamental Physics 
Organisation St. Andrews University
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution I am leading the Quantum Simulator for Fundamental Physics (qSimFP) consortium, which includs 13 investigators from 7 UK ROs. The consortium was formed in 2018-2020.
Collaborator Contribution UK R&D: UK experimental facilities funded by qSimFP consortium The initial funding will be used to set up a versatile early universe simulator (Cambridge) and two types of versatile quantum black hole simulators (Nottingham, RHUL and St. Andrews). UK theory and modelling support The experimental facilities will be supported by the qSimFP Fundamental Physics consortium at KCL, Nottingham, UCL, RHUL and Newcastle. International partners: International experimental partner facilities Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology, Atominstitut, TU-Wien: 10% of Prof. Schmiedmayer's and Dr. Erne's FEC, and 10% of the time on quantum gas experiment (valued 1M€). To conduct the relevant experiments 20% of 1 postdoc and 2 PhD students will be committed. International theory and modelling support Our theoretical efforts will be supported by 4 external partners from Canada and Germany. The external partners are Jonathan Braden (contribution in kind 13k CAD, Canada), Matthew Johnson (153k CAD contribution in kind, Canada), Ralf Schützhold (110k € contribution in kind, Germany) and W.G. Unruh (90k CAD contribution in kind, Canada).
Impact Funding through the Quantum Technology for Fundamental Physics initiative started in November 2020 with the project duration of 3 years and 5 months. The total budget of qSimFP is 4.2M GBP. The consortium included world-leading scientists from the STFC and EPSRC communities: Cosmology & black holes • Ruth Gregory • Jorma Louko • Ian Moss • Hiranya Peiris • Andrew Pontzen Ultracold atoms • Thomas Billam • Zoran Hadzibabic Superfluids & optomechanics • Carlo Barenghi • John Owers-Bradley • Xavier Rojas • Pierre Verlot Quantum circuits • Gregoire Ithier Quantum optics • Friedrich Koenig
Start Year 2020
 
Description Quantum Simulators for Fundamental Physics 
Organisation University College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution I am leading the Quantum Simulator for Fundamental Physics (qSimFP) consortium, which includs 13 investigators from 7 UK ROs. The consortium was formed in 2018-2020.
Collaborator Contribution UK R&D: UK experimental facilities funded by qSimFP consortium The initial funding will be used to set up a versatile early universe simulator (Cambridge) and two types of versatile quantum black hole simulators (Nottingham, RHUL and St. Andrews). UK theory and modelling support The experimental facilities will be supported by the qSimFP Fundamental Physics consortium at KCL, Nottingham, UCL, RHUL and Newcastle. International partners: International experimental partner facilities Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology, Atominstitut, TU-Wien: 10% of Prof. Schmiedmayer's and Dr. Erne's FEC, and 10% of the time on quantum gas experiment (valued 1M€). To conduct the relevant experiments 20% of 1 postdoc and 2 PhD students will be committed. International theory and modelling support Our theoretical efforts will be supported by 4 external partners from Canada and Germany. The external partners are Jonathan Braden (contribution in kind 13k CAD, Canada), Matthew Johnson (153k CAD contribution in kind, Canada), Ralf Schützhold (110k € contribution in kind, Germany) and W.G. Unruh (90k CAD contribution in kind, Canada).
Impact Funding through the Quantum Technology for Fundamental Physics initiative started in November 2020 with the project duration of 3 years and 5 months. The total budget of qSimFP is 4.2M GBP. The consortium included world-leading scientists from the STFC and EPSRC communities: Cosmology & black holes • Ruth Gregory • Jorma Louko • Ian Moss • Hiranya Peiris • Andrew Pontzen Ultracold atoms • Thomas Billam • Zoran Hadzibabic Superfluids & optomechanics • Carlo Barenghi • John Owers-Bradley • Xavier Rojas • Pierre Verlot Quantum circuits • Gregoire Ithier Quantum optics • Friedrich Koenig
Start Year 2020
 
Description Quantum Simulators for Fundamental Physics 
Organisation University of Cambridge
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution I am leading the Quantum Simulator for Fundamental Physics (qSimFP) consortium, which includs 13 investigators from 7 UK ROs. The consortium was formed in 2018-2020.
Collaborator Contribution UK R&D: UK experimental facilities funded by qSimFP consortium The initial funding will be used to set up a versatile early universe simulator (Cambridge) and two types of versatile quantum black hole simulators (Nottingham, RHUL and St. Andrews). UK theory and modelling support The experimental facilities will be supported by the qSimFP Fundamental Physics consortium at KCL, Nottingham, UCL, RHUL and Newcastle. International partners: International experimental partner facilities Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology, Atominstitut, TU-Wien: 10% of Prof. Schmiedmayer's and Dr. Erne's FEC, and 10% of the time on quantum gas experiment (valued 1M€). To conduct the relevant experiments 20% of 1 postdoc and 2 PhD students will be committed. International theory and modelling support Our theoretical efforts will be supported by 4 external partners from Canada and Germany. The external partners are Jonathan Braden (contribution in kind 13k CAD, Canada), Matthew Johnson (153k CAD contribution in kind, Canada), Ralf Schützhold (110k € contribution in kind, Germany) and W.G. Unruh (90k CAD contribution in kind, Canada).
Impact Funding through the Quantum Technology for Fundamental Physics initiative started in November 2020 with the project duration of 3 years and 5 months. The total budget of qSimFP is 4.2M GBP. The consortium included world-leading scientists from the STFC and EPSRC communities: Cosmology & black holes • Ruth Gregory • Jorma Louko • Ian Moss • Hiranya Peiris • Andrew Pontzen Ultracold atoms • Thomas Billam • Zoran Hadzibabic Superfluids & optomechanics • Carlo Barenghi • John Owers-Bradley • Xavier Rojas • Pierre Verlot Quantum circuits • Gregoire Ithier Quantum optics • Friedrich Koenig
Start Year 2020
 
Description Superfluid Holography 
Organisation Heidelberg University
Country Germany 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Carlo Ewerz and collaborators have developed a theoretical framework aimed at investigating vortex motion to quantify strong dissipation in a superfluid, with applications extending to generic holographic theories. We plan to implement their proposal in the Nottingham Quantum Black hole simulators.
Collaborator Contribution We will provide the experimental QSimFP facility in Nottingham to conduct experiments.
Impact We are currently in the process of preparing an EPSRC project grant aimed at developing the necessary technology to explore their framework.
Start Year 2023
 
Title VERFAHREN ZUR 3D-VERMESSUNG VON FLÜSSIGKEITEN UND GELEN 
Description Die optische 3D-Vermessung von Flüssigkeits- und Geloberflächen ist aufgrund der ungünstigen optischen Eigenschaften dieser Oberflächen bisher nur mit unbefriedigendem Ergebnis hinsichtlich zeitlicher und räumlicher Auflösung möglich. Das neue Verfahren soll die Oberflächenvermessung auch für Flüssigkeiten und Gele mit geringem Aufwand und mit hoher zeitlicher und räumlicher Auflösung ermöglichen. Zur Vermessung der Oberfläche von Flüssigkeiten und Gelen wird ein Mehrkamerasystem mit strukturierter Beleuchtung verwendet, wobei den zu untersuchenden Flüssigkeiten und Gelen ein an die strukturierte Beleuchtung angepasster fluoreszierender Farbstoff zugesetzt wird, welcher durch die strukturierte Beleuchtung zur Emission angeregt wird. Durch die Verwendung von spektralen Filtern vor den Kameras, welche das durch Anregung des fluoreszierenden Farbstoffes emittierte Licht der Oberfläche zur Kamera passieren lassen, können bekannte Verfahren zur Berechnung von korrespondierenden Punkten genutzt werden, ohne dass störende optische Effekte der projizierten strukturierten Beleuchtung oder von Fremdlicht (spekulare Reflexe, Volumeneffekte, Transparenz) die Qualität der Rekonstruktion schmälern. 3D-Vermessung von Flüssigkeits- und Geloberflächen mit hoher räumlicher und zeitlicher Auflösung. 
IP Reference DE102015001365 
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted 2016
Licensed Yes
Impact We have successfully applied the sensor to our experimental setup, leading to the world's first discovery of super radiant scattering due to rotation: https://www.nature.com/articles/nphys4151 .
 
Description Alpha Galileo 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Media coverage of our superradiance detection: Scientists make waves with Black hole research
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017,2018
URL https://www.alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=176403&CultureCode=en
 
Description Analog gravity in 2023: Summer School+ Workshop, Benasque, Spain 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Professor Silke Weinfurtner was the Co-Organiser of the event. The workshop aimed to support the training of the new generation of researchers. There was also a discussion of the state of the art of different research programs and experimental platforms related to analog gravity. The events were held in the 'Centro de Ciencias de Benasque Pedro Pascual'. The programme was designed to stimulate the exchange of ideas between junior and senior scientists, with both theoretical and experimental expertise.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://hyperspace.uni-frankfurt.de/2023/01/21/analog-gravity-in-2023-summer-school-workshop-benasqu...
 
Description Black Holes Uncovered T005 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Fri 10 Jun 22 4:30pm - 5:30pm

During the last five years, black holes have started to reveal their long-hidden secrets. So massive that not even light can escape their clutches, black holes still leave tell-tale signs dotted around the universe that humanity has now discovered. The Event Horizon Telescope gave us a special glimpse into their power with its iconic 'doughnut' image in 2019. With scientists starting to recreate some of their mind-bending effects in bold experiments, Andrew Pontzen is joined by Event Horizon Telescope scientist Ziri Younsi, black hole physicist Silke Weinfurtner, and astronomer Imogen Whittam, to uncover what it all means.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Black Holes and the Dark Universe 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Much of the universe remains concealed from our direct observation. Light cannot escape from within black holes, and a significant portion, approximately 95%, of our universe comprises dark energy and dark matter, elusive substances that emit no light.

In this series of talks presented by three successive holders of Leverhulme Trust Research Leadership Awards at Nottingham, we will delve into the methods of studying these cosmological enigmas, despite their elusive nature.

Professor of Astronomy, Nina Hatch, will explore the study of dark energy and dark matter by observing 'orphaned stars' within dense clusters of galaxies.

Professor of Physics, Clare Burrage, will examine the nature of dark energy and discuss potential methods for its detection, including tabletop experiments conducted on Earth.

Professor of Mathematical Science, Silke Weinfurtner, will shed light on the study of black holes through the creation of laboratory analogues.

Following the lectures, an optional tour of the ARTLab, the University's experimental workspace for ArtScience research and practice, will be available.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/home/featureevents/2023/black-holes-and-the-dark-universe.aspx
 
Description Black holes - The edge of all we know 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The Black Laboratory was filmed by Peter Galison's film crew for a documentary on black holes prepared for cinema.
https://www.blackholefilm.com/
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.blackholefilm.com/
 
Description Business Insider UK 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Media coverage of our superradiance detection: Energy from black holes can be stolen, shows an elegant new physics experiment
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://uk.businessinsider.com/black-hole-energy-theft-superradiance-2017-6
 
Description DIE ZEIT / Spectrum.de 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Public science article on Weinfurtner's work on hydrodynamic rotating black holes.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.spektrum.de/news/schwarzes-loch-in-der-badewanne/1583782
 
Description DPG-Schule zu Schwarzen Löchern 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Professor Silke Weinfurtner was an invited Lecturer on School on Analogue Black Holes in Bad Honnef, Germany in September 2022.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Eurek Alert! 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Media coverage of our superradiance detection: Scientists make waves with black hole research
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-06/uon-smw061417.php
 
Description Feature article in Quanta Magazine 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Professor Silke Weinfurtner's analogue gravity experiments featured in an article in a leading industry magazine.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.quantamagazine.org/she-turns-fluids-into-black-holes-and-inflating-universes-20221212/
 
Description Featuring of Black Hole Laboratory in Netflix Documentary on 'Black Holes: The Edge of all we Know'. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact My team and I were filmed for Peter Galison's documentary on Black hole - the edge of all we know. The documentary was quite successful, won several prizes and is now available on Netflix (https://www.blackholefilm.com/). The documentary was in the top 10 movies on Netflix USA when it was initially released. There is some beautiful footage of our experiments starting around 46:00 min. Some of the feedback on our setup is very positive: https://www.americanscientist.org/blog/science-culture/seeing-the-unseeable
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.blackholefilm.com/
 
Description LIVE Science 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Media coverage of our superradiance detection: Edges of Black Holes Re-Created in a Bathtub of Water
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.livescience.com/59607-black-hole-effects-simulated-with-water.html
 
Description Measuring Temperatures and Harvesting with Unruh Detectors 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Organizers Jorma Louko, Silke Weinfurtner, and Cisco Gooding organised a one-day "Measuring Temperatures and Harvesting with Unruh Detectors in the Lab" workshop in Nottingham during Bill Unruh's visit. The event brought theorists and experimentalists together to discuss a joint way forward towards Unruh detection from an analogue gravity system, with the focus on both ultra-cold atoms and superfluid helium systems.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.gravitylaboratory.com/news/measuring-temperatures-and-harvesting-with-unruh-detectors-in...
 
Description Pesquisa FAPESP 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Our Brazilian collaborator funded by FAPESP gave an interview to the newsletter magazine for the FAPESP: CIÊNCIA Astrofísica na banheira
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://revistapesquisa.fapesp.br/2017/07/18/astrofisica-na-banheira/
 
Description Phys.org 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Media coverage of our superradiance detection: Scientists make waves with black hole research
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://phys.org/news/2017-06-scientists-black-hole.html
 
Description Physics World (IOP) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Media coverage of our superradiance detection: Rotational superradiance spotted as water swirls down a drain
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Physics.org 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Media coverage of our superradiance detection: Water circling drain experiments offer insight into black holes
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://phys.org/news/2017-06-circling-insight-black-holes.html
 
Description PhysicsWorld Studying impossible systems By Matthew Francis 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Public Science Article on Weinfurtner's work on hydrodynamic rotating black holes.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://physicsworld.com/a/studying-impossible-systems-with-analogues/
 
Description QSimFP Seminars Youtube channel 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact The QSimFP Seminars Youtube channel is set to become a powerful tool for reaching a larger audience and leaving a lasting legacy. Recognising the demand from individuals unable to attend the seminars in person, the channel aims to provide a valuable resource for them.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023,2024
URL https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHpjXpnMn9YzS_8Khldje3Q
 
Description Quantum Gravity 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Professor Silke Weinfurtner was part of Scientific Advisory Committee. The Quantum Gravity 2023 discussions were held at the Radboud University, Nijmegen in the Netherlands. The conference aims at bringing together researchers from all approaches to quantum gravity as well as scientists working on its conceptual aspects and potential phenomenological implications.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://indico.imapp.ru.nl/event/106/
 
Description Quantum Technologies for Fundamental Physics School 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Professor Silke Weinfurtner was part of Scientific Organising for the Quantum Technologies for Fundamental Physics winter school 2023. At this event there were lectures and tutorials on both experimental and theoretical aspects of the full QTFP research programme, and opportunities for early-career researchers and research students to meet each other, discuss and showcase their work.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://indico.cern.ch/event/1215570/
 
Description Science Daily 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Media coverage of our superradiance detection: Scientists make waves with black hole research: Water bath simulation
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170614112852.htm
 
Description Science News 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Media coverage of our superradiance detection: Scientists Make Waves with Black Hole Research
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.sciencenewsline.com/news/2017061415510087.html
 
Description Siencenews 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Media coverage of our superradiance detection: Water circling a drain provides insight into black holes: Energy boost from rotational superradiance detected for the first time
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.sciencenews.org/article/water-circling-drain-provides-insight-black-holes
 
Description Space Daily 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Media coverage of our superradiance detection: Scientists make waves with black hole research
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Scientists_make_waves_with_black_hole_research_999.html
 
Description TV space series for Discovery called Strip The Cosmos 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Silke Weinfurtner's Black Hole Laboratory was filmed for TV space series for Discovery called Strip The Cosmos.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Video Facebook Techinside UK 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact The video was about our experimental verification of the super radiant scattering (published in Nature Physics) and viewed by more than 1,300,000 people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.facebook.com/TechInsiderUK/videos/vb.514840712056653/697541813786541/?type=2&theater
 
Description Video Reuters 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Reuters filmed my experimental setup and this video was picked up by various other broadcasting agencies.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.reuters.com/video/2017/08/21/black-hole-in-a-bathtub-makes-waves-for?videoId=372360813
 
Description Video The Black Hole Machine by Sixty Symbols 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact This is a video coverage of my laboratory explaining the bizarre effects related to rotating black holes and how we can visualize them in my setup. The video was watched by more than 188,000 people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOnoYQchHFw
 
Description Video on Facebook NOWTHIS 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact The video was about our experimental verification of the super radiant scattering (published in Nature Physics) and viewed by more than 3,100,000 people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.facebook.com/NowThisFuture/videos/vb.1010847105623136/1703728126335027
 
Description http://healthmedicinet.com 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Media coverage of our superradiance detection: Scientists make waves with black hole research
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://healthmedicinet.com/i/scientists-make-waves-with-black-hole-research/
 
Description https://scitechdaily.com 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Media coverage of our superadiance detection: Researchers Simulate the Conditions Around Black Holes Using a Specially Designed Water Bath
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://scitechdaily.com/researchers-simulate-conditions-around-black-holes/
 
Description nanowerk.com 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Media coverage of our superradiance detection: Scientists make waves with black hole research (w/video)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.nanowerk.com/news2/space/newsid=47075.php