Investigations in Gravitational radiation
Lead Research Organisation:
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
Department Name: School of Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
Einstein's General Theory of Relativity (GR) predicts that dynamical systems in strong gravitational fields will release vast amounts of energy in the form of gravitational radiation. Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of spacetime and travel from their sources at the speed of light, carrying information about physical processes responsible for their emission, obtainable in no other way. They are among the most elusive signals from the deepest reaches in the Universe. Experiments aimed at detecting them have been in development for several decades, and are now reaching sensitivity levels where detection is expected within a few years.
The worldwide network of interferometric detectors includes the German-UK GEO600, the French-Italian Virgo, the American Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and is being enhanced with a new detector under construction - KAGRA in Japan. The former detectors have all reached sensitivities close to their design goals and have taken the most sensitive data to date. Cooperation amongst different projects enables continuous data acquisition, with sensitivity to a wide range of sources and phenomena, over most of the sky.
Data from GEO, LIGO and Virgo, have already increased our understanding of astronomical phenomena. Search for gravitational waves at the times of 154 gamma-ray bursts has allowed the best ever exclusion distances and provided evidence for extra-Galactic sources of soft-gamma repeaters. The distance reach for binary black holes in the most recent runs is 300 Mpc and the rate upper limits are now very close to that expected in some of the astrophysical models. The search for gravitational waves from the Vela pulsar has set an upper bound on the strength of radiation that is significantly below that expected from the observed spin down rate of the pulsar, corresponding to a limit on the star's ellipticity of a part in a thousand.
While recent and current observations may produce detections, there can be no guarantees. However, there is great confidence that the advanced detectors currently in construction will routinely observe gravitational waves. The advanced LIGO detectors are based on the quasi-monolithic silica suspension concept developed in the UK for GEO 600 and on the high power lasers developed by our German colleagues in GEO 600. The Advanced Virgo detector also uses a variant of the silica suspension technology. The Cardiff and Glasgow groups have initiated and led searches for astronomical sources, thanks to the algorithmic and analysis effort that has been supported since the first data taking runs began eight years ago.
We propose a programme that leads to full exploitation of data from Advanced LIGO (aLIGO), building on both continuing operation of GEO600 and analysis of data taken in the most recent LIGO/Virgo science runs. In particular, we will model binary black hole mergers and carry out deep searches for
* coalescing binary neutron stars, neutron star-black hole binaries, and black hole binaries
* bursts of gravitational waves that may originate from supernovae,
* continuous signals from pulsars and other rotating neutron stars,
* gravitational waves detected by cross-correlation methods, including a cosmological background.
In parallel, we propose detector research and development. Detector sensitivity is mainly limited by thermal noise associated with the substrates of the mirrors, their reflective coatings, and their suspension elements, as well as by noise resulting from the quantum nature of the light used in sensing. Our research is targeted towards making innovative improvements in these areas. We have major responsibilities for the silica suspensions in aLIGO, and in the development of enhancements and upgrades to the aLIGO detectors, in the areas of mirror coatings for low thermal noise, silicon substrates, cryogenic suspensions and improved interferometer topologies to combat quantum noise.
The worldwide network of interferometric detectors includes the German-UK GEO600, the French-Italian Virgo, the American Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and is being enhanced with a new detector under construction - KAGRA in Japan. The former detectors have all reached sensitivities close to their design goals and have taken the most sensitive data to date. Cooperation amongst different projects enables continuous data acquisition, with sensitivity to a wide range of sources and phenomena, over most of the sky.
Data from GEO, LIGO and Virgo, have already increased our understanding of astronomical phenomena. Search for gravitational waves at the times of 154 gamma-ray bursts has allowed the best ever exclusion distances and provided evidence for extra-Galactic sources of soft-gamma repeaters. The distance reach for binary black holes in the most recent runs is 300 Mpc and the rate upper limits are now very close to that expected in some of the astrophysical models. The search for gravitational waves from the Vela pulsar has set an upper bound on the strength of radiation that is significantly below that expected from the observed spin down rate of the pulsar, corresponding to a limit on the star's ellipticity of a part in a thousand.
While recent and current observations may produce detections, there can be no guarantees. However, there is great confidence that the advanced detectors currently in construction will routinely observe gravitational waves. The advanced LIGO detectors are based on the quasi-monolithic silica suspension concept developed in the UK for GEO 600 and on the high power lasers developed by our German colleagues in GEO 600. The Advanced Virgo detector also uses a variant of the silica suspension technology. The Cardiff and Glasgow groups have initiated and led searches for astronomical sources, thanks to the algorithmic and analysis effort that has been supported since the first data taking runs began eight years ago.
We propose a programme that leads to full exploitation of data from Advanced LIGO (aLIGO), building on both continuing operation of GEO600 and analysis of data taken in the most recent LIGO/Virgo science runs. In particular, we will model binary black hole mergers and carry out deep searches for
* coalescing binary neutron stars, neutron star-black hole binaries, and black hole binaries
* bursts of gravitational waves that may originate from supernovae,
* continuous signals from pulsars and other rotating neutron stars,
* gravitational waves detected by cross-correlation methods, including a cosmological background.
In parallel, we propose detector research and development. Detector sensitivity is mainly limited by thermal noise associated with the substrates of the mirrors, their reflective coatings, and their suspension elements, as well as by noise resulting from the quantum nature of the light used in sensing. Our research is targeted towards making innovative improvements in these areas. We have major responsibilities for the silica suspensions in aLIGO, and in the development of enhancements and upgrades to the aLIGO detectors, in the areas of mirror coatings for low thermal noise, silicon substrates, cryogenic suspensions and improved interferometer topologies to combat quantum noise.
Planned Impact
There are numerous beneficiaries from our proposed research in gravitational waves, including industry, other academic disciplines, schools, science centres, museums and the general public. Materials, techniques and computational software created during the design and manufacture of gravitational wave detectors and the analysis of their data, have found numerous uses and applications in industry and other fields of academic research. E.g. the Triana software package that we developed has been used on many industrial and interdisciplinary collaborative projects to date, including: BDWorld (UK); GridLab, CoreGRID and Provenance (EU); GriPhyN and Pegasus (USA). Further, our studies of mirror coating thermal noise have played a key role in the Stanford-Scotland Photonics Innovation Collaboration, designed to capitalise on leading research in the photonics sector.
Our novel oxide bonding technology is the subject of contract research studies with optics companies in the UK and Germany, and a KTP is funded in the UK to transfer the technology in detail to a UK company specialising in the construction of optical components. We are also implementing our planned extensive knowledge exchange activities ranging from optics and engineering to a study of cell behaviour and response to nano-mechanical stimulation, an area of importance for wound healing. The technology for the thin, strong fused silica fibres supporting the 40kg aLIGO mirrors masses has led to partnerships with industry on novel all-silica gravimeters for the oil industry. To achieve our goals we are working closely with local Research & Enterprise and Business Development staff at Glasgow University, and the broader SUPA KT team, in establishing and maintaining collaborations with current and possible future beneficiaries and in the setting up and management of non-disclosure agreements and applications for patents. Thus we will ensure that future knowledge exchange opportunities are identified early and exploited fully.
Outreach to schools, science centres, museums and the general public is very strong in the field of Gravitational Wave research, driven by interest in viewing the Universe through the medium of gravity - probing black holes, the warping of space-time and the big bang itself. We have successfully engaged the wider community through numerous efforts. For example we presented the exhibit "Can you hear Black Holes" at the 2008 Royal Society Summer exhibition with related exhibits still on show in the Science Museum in London, following which we undertook a key role in the design and construction of the NSF-funded US exhibit "Astronomy's New Messengers" which featured at the World Science Festivals in 2009 and 2010 and then as a touring exhibit. With funding from STFC we developed "Gravity Beyond the Apple", an interactive secondary school science show delivered in conjunction with the award-winning "Science Made Simple" public outreach company based in Cardiff University. We also made a key contribution to the "100 Hours of Astronomy" IYA2009 cornerstone project, which featured live webcasts from all the ground-based gravitational wave observatories, and more recently have been very active in Star-Gazing Live.
In the future we will maintain and extend our programme of public engagement, through our existing network of relationships with key outreach stakeholders, which includes: science centres and museums, national education authorities, the amateur astronomical community, the media and professional science communicators - particularly Wendy Sadler, director of "Science Made Simple" and the science team at the Glasgow Science Centre. Among our specific plans we will deliver across the UK numerous interactive lectures to schools, astronomical societies and the general public, in the areas of gravitational wave detection, cosmology and multi-messenger astronomy, drawing upon the suite of themed lectures which we have already developed.
Our novel oxide bonding technology is the subject of contract research studies with optics companies in the UK and Germany, and a KTP is funded in the UK to transfer the technology in detail to a UK company specialising in the construction of optical components. We are also implementing our planned extensive knowledge exchange activities ranging from optics and engineering to a study of cell behaviour and response to nano-mechanical stimulation, an area of importance for wound healing. The technology for the thin, strong fused silica fibres supporting the 40kg aLIGO mirrors masses has led to partnerships with industry on novel all-silica gravimeters for the oil industry. To achieve our goals we are working closely with local Research & Enterprise and Business Development staff at Glasgow University, and the broader SUPA KT team, in establishing and maintaining collaborations with current and possible future beneficiaries and in the setting up and management of non-disclosure agreements and applications for patents. Thus we will ensure that future knowledge exchange opportunities are identified early and exploited fully.
Outreach to schools, science centres, museums and the general public is very strong in the field of Gravitational Wave research, driven by interest in viewing the Universe through the medium of gravity - probing black holes, the warping of space-time and the big bang itself. We have successfully engaged the wider community through numerous efforts. For example we presented the exhibit "Can you hear Black Holes" at the 2008 Royal Society Summer exhibition with related exhibits still on show in the Science Museum in London, following which we undertook a key role in the design and construction of the NSF-funded US exhibit "Astronomy's New Messengers" which featured at the World Science Festivals in 2009 and 2010 and then as a touring exhibit. With funding from STFC we developed "Gravity Beyond the Apple", an interactive secondary school science show delivered in conjunction with the award-winning "Science Made Simple" public outreach company based in Cardiff University. We also made a key contribution to the "100 Hours of Astronomy" IYA2009 cornerstone project, which featured live webcasts from all the ground-based gravitational wave observatories, and more recently have been very active in Star-Gazing Live.
In the future we will maintain and extend our programme of public engagement, through our existing network of relationships with key outreach stakeholders, which includes: science centres and museums, national education authorities, the amateur astronomical community, the media and professional science communicators - particularly Wendy Sadler, director of "Science Made Simple" and the science team at the Glasgow Science Centre. Among our specific plans we will deliver across the UK numerous interactive lectures to schools, astronomical societies and the general public, in the areas of gravitational wave detection, cosmology and multi-messenger astronomy, drawing upon the suite of themed lectures which we have already developed.
Publications
Aartsen M
(2014)
Multimessenger search for sources of gravitational waves and high-energy neutrinos: Initial results for LIGO-Virgo and IceCube
in Physical Review D
Aasi J
(2016)
Search of the Orion spur for continuous gravitational waves using a loosely coherent algorithm on data from LIGO interferometers
in Physical Review D
Aasi J
(2015)
Narrow-band search of continuous gravitational-wave signals from Crab and Vela pulsars in Virgo VSR4 data
in Physical Review D
Aasi J
(2014)
Implementation of an $\mathcal{F}$-statistic all-sky search for continuous gravitational waves in Virgo VSR1 data
in Classical and Quantum Gravity
Aasi J
(2013)
Parameter estimation for compact binary coalescence signals with the first generation gravitational-wave detector network
in Physical Review D
Aasi J
(2015)
Characterization of the LIGO detectors during their sixth science run
in Classical and Quantum Gravity
Aasi J
(2014)
First all-sky search for continuous gravitational waves from unknown sources in binary systems
in Physical Review D
Aasi J
(2013)
Directed search for continuous gravitational waves from the Galactic center
in Physical Review D
Aasi J
(2015)
Searching for stochastic gravitational waves using data from the two colocated LIGO Hanford detectors
in Physical Review D
Aasi J
(2015)
Directed search for gravitational waves from Scorpius X-1 with initial LIGO data
in Physical Review D
Aasi J
(2014)
Search for Gravitational Waves Associated with ? -ray Bursts Detected by the Interplanetary Network
in Physical Review Letters
Aasi J
(2014)
Improved upper limits on the stochastic gravitational-wave background from 2009-2010 LIGO and Virgo data.
in Physical review letters
Abbott B
(2016)
All-sky search for long-duration gravitational wave transients with initial LIGO
in Physical Review D
Abbott B
(2016)
SUPPLEMENT: "THE RATE OF BINARY BLACK HOLE MERGERS INFERRED FROM ADVANCED LIGO OBSERVATIONS SURROUNDING GW150914" (2016, ApJL, 833, L1)
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Abbott B
(2017)
Search for intermediate mass black hole binaries in the first observing run of Advanced LIGO
in Physical Review D
Abbott B
(2016)
UPPER LIMITS ON THE RATES OF BINARY NEUTRON STAR AND NEUTRON STAR-BLACK HOLE MERGERS FROM ADVANCED LIGO'S FIRST OBSERVING RUN
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Abbott B
(2016)
ASTROPHYSICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE BINARY BLACK HOLE MERGER GW150914
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Abbott B
(2017)
Multi-messenger Observations of a Binary Neutron Star Merger *
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Abbott B
(2016)
First targeted search for gravitational-wave bursts from core-collapse supernovae in data of first-generation laser interferometer detectors
in Physical Review D
Abbott B
(2017)
GW170608: Observation of a 19 Solar-mass Binary Black Hole Coalescence
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Abbott B
(2017)
Gravitational Waves and Gamma-Rays from a Binary Neutron Star Merger: GW170817 and GRB 170817A
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Abbott B
(2017)
All-sky search for short gravitational-wave bursts in the first Advanced LIGO run
in Physical Review D
Abbott B
(2017)
Exploring the sensitivity of next generation gravitational wave detectors
in Classical and Quantum Gravity
Abbott B
(2017)
GW170104: Observation of a 50-Solar-Mass Binary Black Hole Coalescence at Redshift 0.2
in Physical Review Letters
Abbott B
(2018)
First Search for Nontensorial Gravitational Waves from Known Pulsars
in Physical Review Letters
Abbott B
(2016)
Binary Black Hole Mergers in the First Advanced LIGO Observing Run
in Physical Review X
Abbott B
(2016)
Improved Analysis of GW150914 Using a Fully Spin-Precessing Waveform Model
in Physical Review X
Abbott BP
(2016)
Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Black Hole Merger.
in Physical review letters
Abbott BP
(2017)
GW170817: Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Neutron Star Inspiral.
in Physical review letters
Abbott BP
(2017)
Directional Limits on Persistent Gravitational Waves from Advanced LIGO's First Observing Run.
in Physical review letters
Abbott BP
(2018)
Prospects for observing and localizing gravitational-wave transients with Advanced LIGO, Advanced Virgo and KAGRA.
in Living reviews in relativity
Abbott BP
(2017)
GW170814: A Three-Detector Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Black Hole Coalescence.
in Physical review letters
Adams T
(2013)
Gravitational-wave detection using multivariate analysis
in Physical Review D
Adrián-MartÃnez S
(2013)
A first search for coincident gravitational waves and high energy neutrinos using LIGO, Virgo and ANTARES data from 2007
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Ajith P
(2013)
Addendum to 'The NINJA-2 catalog of hybrid post-Newtonian/numerical-relativity waveforms for non-precessing black-hole binaries'
in Classical and Quantum Gravity
Andersson N
(2013)
The transient gravitational-wave sky
in Classical and Quantum Gravity
Ascenzi S
(2019)
Constraining the Neutron Star Radius with Joint Gravitational-wave and Short Gamma-Ray Burst Observations of Neutron Star-Black Hole Coalescing Binaries
in The Astrophysical Journal
Astone P
(2015)
Gravitational waves: search results, data analysis and parameter estimation: Amaldi 10 Parallel session C2.
in General relativity and gravitation
Barausse E
(2015)
Massive Black Hole Science with eLISA
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Berti E
(2015)
Testing general relativity with present and future astrophysical observations
in Classical and Quantum Gravity
Bose S
(2018)
Neutron-Star Radius from a Population of Binary Neutron Star Mergers.
in Physical review letters
Bose S
(2018)
Neutron-Star Radius from a Population of Binary Neutron Star Mergers.
in Physical review letters
Buonanno A
(2015)
General Relativity and Gravitation - A Centennial Perspective
Buonanno A
(2014)
Sources of Gravitational Waves: Theory and Observations
Chatziioannou K
(2019)
On the properties of the massive binary black hole merger GW170729
in Physical Review D
Clark J
(2015)
PROSPECTS FOR JOINT GRAVITATIONAL WAVE AND SHORT GAMMA-RAY BURST OBSERVATIONS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Title | Gravitational Wave Artwork Infinite LIGO Dreams |
Description | Painting inspired by first detection of gravitational waves. |
Type Of Art | Image |
Year Produced | 2016 |
Impact | The Institute of Physics Scotland will be awarding 5 special edition prints 'Infinite LIGO Dreams' to winners of a science award that will be presented in the summer of 2017. Featured by Physics World http://blog.physicsworld.com/2016/11/24/the-beauty-of-gravitational-waves/ Featured by CERN Courier http://cerncourier.com/cws/download/Jan-Feb17 |
Description | First direct detection of gravitational waves and first ever observation of a binary black holes. |
Exploitation Route | A new era in observational astronomy |
Sectors | Education |
Description | Astroparticle Physics European Consortium |
Geographic Reach | Europe |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | KAGRA Programme Advisory Board |
Geographic Reach | Asia |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC), Executive Committee |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | Member - ESA's Gravitational Observatory Advisory Team (GOAT) |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | SF - Member of STFC Computing Strategic Review |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
URL | http://www.stfc.ac.uk/about-us/how-we-are-governed/advisory-boards-panels-committees/computing-advis... |
Description | STFC Particle Astrophysics Advisory Panel |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | Virgo Science & Technology Advisory Committee |
Geographic Reach | Europe |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | Advanced LIGO Operations Grant |
Amount | £901,107 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/I006285/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2011 |
End | 07/2015 |
Description | Indo-UK collaboration |
Amount | £7,580 (GBP) |
Funding ID | None |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2013 |
End | 03/2013 |
Description | Long Term Attachment |
Amount | £4,882 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/N504002/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2016 |
End | 04/2019 |
Description | Long Term Attachment |
Amount | £9,702 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/K501931/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2014 |
End | 03/2017 |
Description | Royal Society University Research Fellowship |
Amount | £803,198 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 516002.K5869/R OG |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2007 |
End | 09/2014 |
Description | STFC Advanced Fellowship |
Amount | £548,111 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/H008438/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2010 |
End | 09/2015 |
Description | ALUK |
Organisation | University of Glasgow |
Department | UK Advanced LIGO Project (ALUK) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Enabling computational infrastructure for analysing data from Advanced LIGO. |
Collaborator Contribution | Data analysis on the computational infrastructure provided by us. |
Impact | Research papers on the analysis of data from LIGO detectors. |
Description | GEO600 |
Organisation | University of Glasgow |
Department | Physics and Astronomy Department |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Detector characterisation and data analysis; strategic plans, scientific motivation for improving detector sensitivity. |
Collaborator Contribution | Building the detector, maintaining the detector, detector characterisation and data analysis. |
Impact | A working gravitational wave detector, development of advanced technology for advanced and third generation detectors. |
Description | LIGO Scientific Collaboration |
Organisation | LIGO |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Search algorithms and software, data analysis and astrophysical interpretation, scientific motivation for improvement in detector sensitivity |
Collaborator Contribution | Building and maintaining the LIGO detectors |
Impact | Publications, conference plenaries, conference contributions |
Title | Gravitational Wave Search Software |
Description | Software to perform searches for gravitational waves associated with astrophysical triggers. |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2010 |
Open Source License? | Yes |
Impact | Used for many observational results publications by LIGO. |
URL | https://trac.ligo.caltech.edu/xpipeline/ |
Title | Gravitational Wave Search Software |
Description | Software to perform searches for gravitational waves emitted by merging black holes and neutron stars. |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2015 |
Open Source License? | Yes |
Impact | This software was used in the detection of gravitational waves. |
URL | https://github.com/ligo-cbc/pycbc |
Description | "Star Attractions at the Museum" at National Museum Cardiff |
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 | Public talk on gravitational waves. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Al Jazeera TV coverage on the discovery of gravitational waves |
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 | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Live TV interview |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v9a0DS9u8k |
Description | Ascoltare le voci dell'Universo (Listening the voices of the Universe) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Ascoltare le voci dell'Universo (Listening the voices of the Universe), a two-hour invited outreach talk on gravitational waves and their first detection given at the liceo scientifico statale Nomentano (Nomentano high school), Rome, Italy [01/06/2016] |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | BBC Science Cafe radio show about gravitational-wave discovery |
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 | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | 30-minute episode of the BBC Radio Science Cafe devoted to the announcement of the detection of GWs. Participants were Chris North and Patrick Sutton. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b070nqz6 |
Description | BBC Wales news item of gravitational-waves discovery |
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 | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | News items on the announcement of the first gravitational-wave detection, with interviews with faculty, research staff and students at Cardiff. This was the lead item on the evening news on BBC Wales on February 11, 2016. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | BBC World Service programme: The Forum - The Rhythm |
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 | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | BBC World Service programme for 45 minutes |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02jlyff |
Description | BBC World interview |
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 | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview with Mark Hannam on BBC World, on the significance of the GW detection. Audience estimated at over 110 million. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://youtu.be/4bc6MkxH5sE |
Description | Black Hole Hunter |
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 | This is an on-line game that is on display at every major/minor outreach activity undertaken by members of the 1000-strong LIGO Scientific Collaboration. It has been translated to German, French and Spain and attracts of 1000's of unique hits every year. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008 |
Description | Black hole hunter |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Developed the Black Hole Hunter game to give the public insight into how gravitational wave searches are performed. The game was updated at the time of the first gravitational wave detection. It has had over 50000 page views since the detectio, and 14000 unique visitors since the detection. Tens of thousands of members of the public have played the game. It is widely used in outreach exhibits around the world and has been translated into French, Spanish and German |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017 |
URL | http://blackholehunter.org/ |
Description | Detailed follow-on Guardian interview on future prospects of the discovery |
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 | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview discussing the details about what can be expected next. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/feb/12/gravitational-waves-what-breakthroughs-can-we-expect... |
Description | GW150914 - London Press Conference |
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 | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A press release of the discovery of gravitational waves on Feb 11, 2016 at London |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/feb/11/gravitational-waves-discovery-hailed-as-breakthrough... |
Description | Gravitational Wave Discovery Video |
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 | A short podcast on the discovery of gravitational waves was made by Cardiff University and distributed via YouTube: More than 12,000 views as of March 7 2016. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lcxt097G4Ps |
Description | Hay Festival, 30 June 2016, Hay-on-Wye, UK |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Talk on gravitational wave discovery at Hay Festival, 30 June 2016, Hay-on-Wye, UK. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Interview - LIGO detects whispers of another black-hole merger, Nature, 15 June 2016 |
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 | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Quoted in Nature article. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Interview - The black-hole collision that reshaped physics, Nature, 23 March 2016 |
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 | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview for Nature article. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | LIGO-India announcement and coverage |
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 | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Report on the discovery and funding of LIGO India. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.rappler.com/science-nature/earth-space/122854-india-gravitational-waves-cardiff |
Description | Physics World Interview on revised quadrupole formula |
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 | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | An interview on the publication of modified quadrupole formula and its relevance to gravitational waves |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/2016/jan/21/are-gravitational-waves-being-redshifted-away-b... |
Description | Physics World interview |
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 | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Phone interview about the discovery |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/2016/feb/17/indian-gravitational-wave-observatory-wins-gove... |
Description | Physics World interview on the discovery |
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 | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Physics World interview on the discovery of gravitational waves on the day of the press release. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/2016/feb/11/ligo-detects-first-ever-gravitational-waves-fro... |
Description | Physics World interview on the relevance of atom interferometry for GW detection |
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 | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | An interview by Physics World on the feasibility of cold atom interferometers as gravitational wave detectors |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/2013/may/03/interfering-atoms-could-help-detect-gravitation... |
Description | Relativita, Festival Delle Scienze, 22 May 2016 Rome, Italy |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Participated in science festival. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Scienceface interview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | 2017.09.22 Einstein's former summer house, Caputh, Germany: Interviewed on film for a new episode of the Scienceface series; film presently being edited for publication later in 2017. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
Description | The First Ever Detection of Gravitational Waves |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Short video describing the first observation of gravitational waves. Posted on YouTube and viewed by over 10,000 people. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lcxt097G4Ps |
Description | The First Sounds of the Cosmic Symphony |
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 | The First Sounds of the Cosmic Symphony, a stand-up talk on gravitational-wave research activity for the general public, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff [14/10/2016] |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | The Guardian Newspaper interview |
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 | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview in the Guardian Newspaper about the discovery of gravitational waves |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/feb/11/gravitational-waves-discovery-hailed-as-breakthrough... |
Description | Video - LIGO: past, present and future |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | LIGO scientists at Cardiff talk about the historic first ever detection of gravitational waves. Looking to the future, they speak about the prospect of a new era of "gravitational wave astronomy". Viewed by more than 1200 people to date. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNhI57b9JOc |