Department of Physics & Astronomy
University of New Mexico

Physics and Astronomy Colloquium

Gravitational wave physics

Presented by Aaron Zimmerman, University of Texas at Austin

The detection of gravitational waves has revealed an invisible side of the Universe. Observations of orbiting and merging black holes allow us to test our understanding of these exotic objects, their violent merger, and the theory of general relativity. Meanwhile, observations of binary neutron stars inform us about matter at densities and temperatures out of reach of terrestrial experiments. Merging systems containing neutron stars may also emit in the electromagnetic spectrum, providing further opportunities to learn about these extreme events. I will give an overview of what we have learned so far from the detection of gravitational waves. I will also discuss the most recent results from the LIGO and Virgo collaborations: the observation of GW190425, likely the most massive binary neutron star system ever detected.

3:30 pm, Friday, February 7, 2020
PAIS-1100, PAIS

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A schedule of talks within the Department of Physics and Astronomy is available on the P&A web site at http://physics.unm.edu/pandaweb/events/index.php