October 10 , 2007
3pm in Howey Physics Lecture Room 5

 

Pablo Laguna
Dept. of Astronomy & Astrophysics
Dept. of Physics
Penn State University

 

"Binary black hole simulations as tools to open a new window to the Universe"

A new era in astronomy will begin once gravitational wave interferometers such as LIGO detect first light.  These detectors will give us a revolutionary view of the Universe, complementary to the electromagnetic perspective.  In this new astronomy, the messengers are gravitational waves, produced during violent events such as the merger of two black holes. The detection of these waves or ripples in the fabric of spacetime is a formidable undertaking, requiring innovative engineering, powerful data analysis tools and careful theoretical modeling.  In support of this theoretical modeling, recent breakthroughs in numerical relativity have lead to the development of computational tools that allow us to explore where and how gravitational wave observations can constrain or inform our understanding of gravity and astrophysical phenomena.  I will review these latest developments, with focus on binary black hole simulations and the role of these simulations in a multi-messenger exploration of the Universe.