Hints of extra dimensions in gravitational waves?
Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute/AEI) in Potsdam found that hidden dimensions – as predicted by string theory – could influence gravitational waves. In a recently published paper they study the consequences of extra dimensions on these ripples in space-time, and predict whether their effects could be detected.
LIGO's first detection of gravitational waves from a black-hole binary in September 2015 has opened a new window onto the universe. Now it looks like with this new observing tool physicists cannot only trace black holes and other exotic astrophysical objects but also understand gravity itself. "Compared to the other fundamental forces like, e.g. electromagnetism, gravity is extremely weak," explains Dr. David Andriot, one of the authors of the study. The reason for this weakness could be that gravity interacts with more than the three dimensions in space and one dimension in time that are part of our everyday experience.
Extra dimensions that are hidden because they are very small are an indispensable part of string theory – one of the promising candidates for a theory of quantum gravity. A theory of quantum gravity, unifying quantum mechanics and general relativity, is sought after in order to understand what happens when very large masses at very small distances are involved, e.g. inside a black hole or at the Big Bang.
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Credit: © Simulating eXtreme Spacetimes (SXS)
Merging black holes generate gravitational waves. These ripples in space-time might be used to unveil hidden dimensions.
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This visualization shows gravitational waves emitted by two black holes of nearly equal mass as they spiral together and merge.
Orange ripples represent distortions of space-time caused by the rapidly orbiting masses. These distortions spread out and weaken, ultimately becoming gravitational waves (purple).
Black spheres represent the black hole event horizons, surfaces beyond which nothing can escape. The merger timescale depends on the masses of the black holes. For a system containing black holes with about 30 times the sun’s mass, similar to the one detected by LIGO in 2015, the orbital period at the start of the movie is just 65 milliseconds, with the black holes moving at about one-tenth the speed of light.
Space-time distortions radiate away orbital energy and cause the binary to contract quickly. As the two black holes near each other, a new horizon forms around them, creating a single merged black hole that quickly settles into its "ringdown" phase and emits its final gravitational waves.
For the 2015 LIGO detection, these events played out in little more than a quarter of a second.
Owlscrying wrote: ↑Fri Jun 30, 2017 9:02 pm
Credit: © Simulating eXtreme Spacetimes (SXS)
Merging black holes generate gravitational waves. These ripples in space-time might be used to unveil hidden dimensions.
Source / Image Courtesy
Thanks for sharing Owl. Have been looking at a few of these posts last couple of days and have to say, the images alone are stunning.
Edit: I'm pretty sure there are other dimensions out there :o)
Interesting.