Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute)
The first binary black-hole merger observed by LIGO
Numerical-relativity simulations of the first binary black-hole merger observed by the Advanced LIGO detector on September 14, 2015.
In 2015 scientists have observed for the first time gravitational waves, arriving at the earth from a cataclysmic event in the distant universe. The gravitational waves were detected on September 14, 2015 at 5:51 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (9:51 a.m. UTC) by both of the twin Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors, located in Livingston, Louisiana, and Hanford, Washington, USA. The signal was observed for about 0.2 seconds during which it increased both in frequency and amplitude. Its frequency lay between 35 Hz and 250 Hz and it had a peak amplitude (gravitational-wave strain) of 10-21.
The signal matches the predictions of general relativity for those of an inspiral and merger of two black holes with masses of 36 and 29 solar masses, respectively. The black hole resulting from the merger has mass of about 62 solar masses. About 3 times the mass of the sun was converted into gravitational waves in a fraction of a second—with a peak power output about 50 times that of the whole visible Universe. From the observations a distance of about 410 Megaparsecs (1.3 billion light years) to the black hole system was inferred.
The numerical-relativity simulations below show inspiral und merger of the binary black hole system as observed by LIGO.
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The first binary black-hole merger observed by LIGO
This movie and the images show the gravitational waves emitted during inspiral and merger of the black hole binary detected by LIGO.
Copyright: Numerical relativity simulation: S. Ossokine, A. Buonanno (Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), Simulating eXtreme Spacetimes project Scientific Visualisation: W. Benger (Airborne Hydro Mapping GmbH)
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Simulation of GW150914
This movie shows the first gravitational-wave signal detected by LIGO on September 14, 2015. It's is a numerical simulation of two inspiralling black holes that merge to form a new black hole. Shown are the black hole horizons, the strong gravitational field surrounding the black holes, and the gravitational waves produced.
Numerical relativity simulation of two inspiralling black holes that merge to form a new black hole. Shown are the black hole horizons, the strong gravitational field surrounding the black holes, and the gravitational waves produced.
Copyright: Numerical relativity simulation: S. Ossokine, A. Buonanno (Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), Simulating eXtreme Spacetimes project Scientific Visualisation: W. Benger (Airborne Hydro Mapping GmbH)
A new general-relativistic viscous-radiation hydrodynamics simulation indicates that rotating stellar collapses of massive stars to a black hole surrounded by a massive torus can be a central engine for high-energy supernovae, so-called hypernovae.
Spin measurements from binary black hole mergers observed by gravitational-wave detectors carry valuable clues about how these binaries form in nature. Theorists have predicted that binaries could be attracted towards special configurations called spin-orbit resonances, where the spin and orbital angular momenta become locked into a resonant plane. The authors find first potential signs of these resonances in gravitational-wave data.
