The Full Form of LIGO is Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory. It is a spectacle of engineering that is very precise. Moreover, LIGO is the world’s largest gravitational wave observatory. LIGO with its global network and collaborative efforts has not only confirmed a fundamental aspect of Einstein’s theory but has also paved the way for a new era of gravitational wave astronomy with the inclusion of projects like LIGO-India.
What is LIGO?
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LIGO is a groundbreaking scientific experiment designed to detect gravitational waves. Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of spacetime caused by the acceleration of massive objects, such as merging black holes or neutron stars. Furthermore, there are two observatories which are the LIGO Hanford Observatory and the LIGO Livingston Observatory. The observatory utilises highly sensitive interferometers to measure the minuscule changes in distance caused by these gravitational waves.
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What is the Purpose of LIGO?
In addition, the purpose of LIGO is as follows:
- Gravitational Wave Detection: To confirm the existence of gravitational waves predicted by Einstein’s general theory of relativity.
- New Astronomical Window: Moreover, it opens a new observational window in astronomy, further allowing the study of celestial events through gravitational waves.
- Astrophysical Insights: To gain insights into the dynamics of extreme astrophysical phenomena like black hole mergers and neutron star collisions.
- Cosmic Events Cataloging: Create a catalogue of gravitational wave events, thus aiding in the understanding of cosmic processes and their frequencies.
- Testing General Relativity: Test the predictions of general relativity under extreme conditions, further contributing to our understanding of the fundamental laws of physics.
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Where is the LIGO Project in India?
On the 7th of April, 2023, the Government of India approved the LIGO India project is also known as INDIGO. Furthermore, the LIGO will be located in Maharashtra’s Hingoli district and has a budget of Rs. 2600 crores. The project is a collaboration between the LIGO Laboratory and the Indian Initiative in Gravitational-wave Observations (IndIGO). The collaborative effort involves Indian institutions which include:
- The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune
- The Institute of Plasma Research, Gandhinagar
- The Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, Indore
FAQs
MIT and Caltech launched LIGO. They were also enouraged by the National Science Foundation as well.
The countries that have LIGO are the USA, Italy, Japan and India.
The most prominent members of LIGO-India are Prof. Bala Iyer from the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, TIFR, Prof. Sanjit Mitra from the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, IUCAA, Prof. Archana Pai from Indian Institute of Technology, IIT Bombay and Prof. Anil Prabhakar from Indian Institute of Technology, IIT Madras.
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