Calay News
A team of astronomers has succeeded in detecting the cosmic noise emitted by the whirlwind of giant black holes thanks to an unprecedented technique for detecting gravitational waves. After 25 years of searching, scientists have finally identified these space-time disturbances, predicted by Einstein in 1916 but not detected until 100 years ago. Using a network of telescopes around the world, researchers were able to capture this vibration of the Universe with exceptional precision.
The method used to detect these gravitational waves involved the use of pulsars in the Milky Way. These ultracompact stars spin rapidly on themselves and emit pulses of magnetic radiation, similar to a beam of light from a lighthouse. The scientists cataloged groups of pulsars to create a “celestial grid” in space-time and were able to measure extremely small perturbations in the ticking of these pulsars.
These gravitational waves are generated by violent cosmic events, such as the collision of supermassive black holes. It is believed that pairs of rotating supermassive black holes generate these waves, which have periods ranging from several months to several years.
This discovery provides a new window into the Universe and adds a new range of complementary information to the studies performed by the LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave detectors.In addition, this breakthrough is expected to shed light on the mystery of supermassive black hole formation.
Although more research is needed to robustly confirm these findings, definitive results are expected in about a year. The criterion for robust detection is that the chance of this occurring by chance is less than one in a million.
In summary, this discovery represents a significant milestone in the understanding of gravitational waves and their origin in extreme cosmic events such as the collision of supermassive black holes.
