Astrophysique et technologie aérospatiale

Black Hole Mergers Observations from LIGO and Virgo Collaborations

Abstract

Bamberg Carmen*

Black hole mergers have become a cornerstone of modern astrophysics, revealing profound insights into the nature of gravity, spacetime, and the fundamental processes governing the universe. Observations from the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory and the Virgo collaboration have revolutionized our understanding of these cosmic events, providing direct evidence of gravitational waves and opening a new window into the cosmos. The groundbreaking detection of gravitational waves in by LIGO marked a pivotal moment in science. For the first time, ripples in spacetime caused by the collision of two massive black holes were observed, confirming a key prediction of Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity. This event, designated GW150914, occurred approximately 1.3 billion light-years away and involved the merger of two black holes with masses about 29 and 36 times that of the Sun. The energy released in the form of gravitational waves during this cataclysmic event was equivalent to three solar masses, briefly outshining the entire visible universe in gravitational wave luminosity.