Physics Seminar
Date: Thursday, 8 August 2024
Time: 11:45 AM
Venue Seminar Hall
Gravitational waves as a probe for fundamental physics and astronomy
Ajit Kumar Mehta
University of California, Santa Barbara.
08-08-24

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Abstract

Since the first detection of gravitational waves (GWs) in 2015, GW astronomy has rapidly evolved into a unique tool for probing a range of astrophysical phenomena and fundamental physics. In this talk, I will provide an overview of GW astronomy using LIGO and Virgo detectors. Specifically, in the first half of my talk, I will discuss how GW signals are modeled, detected, and analyzed. Each of these topics requires sophisticated techniques and represents active fields of research. In the second half, I will explore how GWs can be used to probe extreme gravity and the properties of highly compact objects like black holes and their binaries, including their formation and evolution in different astrophysical scenarios. Answers to these questions will have vital consequences in astronomy.