BMBF-Joint project – Gravitational-wave detection

Astrophysical events such as the merger of two black holes generate oscillations of space-time, so-called gravitational waves. They can be detected with special detectors called gravitational wave observatories. Gravitational waves were predicted by Albert Einstein about 100 years ago, but the first experimental detection was not achieved until 2015. In the meantime, researchers are already working on third-generation observatories. Among them is the planned Einstein telescope. This telescope is expected to provide more precise measurements of the post-big bang vibration and more detailed insights into merging processes in the universe. This will be made possible by the telescope's greater sensitivity in frequency ranges below ten hertz and above 500 hertz. This is where previous gravitational wave observatories have reached their limits.

At the Institute of Geophysics, the sensitivity in the low-frequency range is to be improved. A method is being developed to predict the gravitational coupling of seismic waves to the position of the mirrors, and then to correct this effect afterwards. The so-called gravitational gradient noise, in which the attractive forces on the pendulums change as the environment moves, can be predicted using a network of seismometers. The challenge is to predict the actual disturbance from the many signals. Machine learning methods are being developed and applied for this purpose.

The BMBF is funding the joint project headed by RWTH Aachen University with around three million euros for three years. A good half million euros of this will go to three subprojects at the University of Hamburg, one of them at the Institute of Geophysics.

---

Duration: 2020-2023
 Head of subproject: Prof. Dr. Dirk Gajewski, Prof. Dr. Celinie Hadziioannou (UHH)
 Third party funding: BMBF

More Information (only in german)