Gravitational Waves! A Comprehensive Explanation of the Significance of Detecting GW170814
Introduction
On September 27th 2017, a group of Astronomers from both of the LIGO announced they have observed a fourth instance of gravitational waves. This time they also received a third confirmation from the Virgo detector in Italy. This detection known as GW170814 (for the date it was detected) is quite possibly the most important of the four confirmed detection since the original GW150914. As we will see, by recording the event from a third location astronomers are now capable of determining approximately where the gravitational-waves originated!
The above graph is from LIGO’s publication depicting where the origin of the gravitational-waves could be in light-hours.
Trilateration
One method used to find the location of a specific point is called trilateration. In trilateration you start with a series of equations for three circles in which their radius is the distance from their centers to a point A. Next you solve the series of equations to find their point of intersection (point A). This concept can be applied in higher dimensions by using n+1
n spheres.
Here is a graphical representation for trilateration:
Bayesian Parameter Estimation
Unfortunately, in practice we are unable to use trilateration because of the experimental error and the randomness associated with the experiment. Instead, the study relied on Bayesian parameter estimation. Bayesian parameter estimation uses a similar approach to trilateration except for that it calculates a range the point is likely be be within.
I do not claim to be an expert on Bayesian parameter estimation and found the following explanation in the report Bayesian Methods of Parameter Estimation by Aciel Eshky at the University of Edinburgh.
With the addition of a third detector the above form of Bayes Rule can be expanded to consider a third variable C which in turn will help us look for the source of the gravitational waves in a smaller region. Finally, by applying Bayes Rule on the data from each of the three detectors, the possible region can be decreased even further by looking at where they overlap.
Additional Information
Here is some more of the data collected for anyone who is interested:
If you have any questions or know anything you would like to add feel free to do so in the comments! Or if you have any suggestions on how I can improve I would love to hear them!
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Work Cited:
https://dcc.ligo.org/LIGO-P170814/public/main
http://homepages.inf.ed.ac.uk/rbf/CVonline/LOCAL_COPIES/AV0809/eshky.pdf
Resteemed. Totally more important than the media lets on. In essence this allows us to fine tune string theory equations and quantum interaction theories. As this is pretty much as close as we can get to seeing the fabric of reality hiccuping...and by triangulating it gives us a look at the basic shape of space-time in our region of the universe. Potentially that is... :)
The only way to get better data would be to gather data from 6 points surrounding the cause of the ripple or wave. Which we obviously can not do nor can anytime soon.
Lol thanks for your comment! I loved thinking about your idea to surround a black hole!
Could also be 6 different planets around different stars watching a big area in between them all. If they had fadt than light quantum communication that is...Wouldnt have to surround a black hole per say. This would allow watching for unknown phenomenon as causes too.
https://steemit.com/science/@nanocheeze/the-nobel-prize-in-physics-2017-just-announced-october-3rd-2017-gravitational-waves-research-takes-the-prize
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So.. where do gravitation waves are originated? :) very interesting
Great Question! Gravity has some strange and mysterious properties causing it to distort space time as it propagates. Everything with mass creates gravitational waves but for the vast majority of objects create waves to small to be noticeable. The gravitational waves we have been measuring are created when two black holes fall into each other. Before combining the two black holes (known as a binary black hole) will rapidly spin around each other creating some of the largest space-time disturbances we know of. Ironically, here on Earth we still require super sensitive equipment to detect these distortions.
thank you. So it is possible when 1 hole falls into another ? or it is hypothetic ?
Yep. If you look at the picture I replied with earlier it is depicting two black holes right before they collide/fall into each other.
thanks :)
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Groundbreaking observation! Thanks for keeping us informed.
No problem!
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