LIGO Talk on Wednesday

PRISMS students and faculty had the unique opportunity to speak with Mrs. Strunk from the LIGO Hanford Observatory this Wednesday (11/20) from 3-4PM in the Ballroom.

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) was designed to open the field of gravitational-wave astrophysics through the direct detection of gravitational waves predicted by Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. LIGO’s multi-kilometer-scale gravitational wave detectors use laser interferometry to measure the minute ripples in space-time caused by passing gravitational waves from cataclysmic cosmic events such as colliding neutron stars or black holes, or by supernovae. LIGO consists of two widely-separated interferometers within the United States—one in Hanford, Washington and the other in Livingston, Louisiana—operated in unison to detect gravitational waves. We will be hearing about the Hanford site and I highly recommend you take a minute to learn more about this incredible observatory. Follow the link below for more information, videos, and fancy pictures: More info about LIGO