Collision of two neutron stars
Scientists detected gravitational waves from the collision of two neutron stars, about 130 million light years away. The international team detected the gravitational waves from the neutron star collision on 17 August this year.
The discovery promises to revolutionize humanity’s understanding of the Universe, opening a scientific field where gravitational wave scientists and astronomers work together.
Professor Susan Scott from ANU, said, this is the first time that the collision of two neutron stars has detected, and this is the closest and most precisely located gravitational wave signal we’ve received. It also the loudest gravitational wave signal we’ve detected.
Neutron stars are the densest stars in the Universe, with a radius of about 10 kilometers. Neutron star mergers likely to be the site where much of the Universe’s heavy metals, such as gold, platinum and uranium produced. Unlike black holes, neutron star collisions emit other signals, such as gamma rays, light and radio waves.
SkyMapper telescope
SkyMapper, the first telescope to report the color of the fireball, which indicates the temperature of the fireball about 6,000 degrees Celsius roughly the surface temperature of the Sun.
ANU astronomer Dr. Christian Wolf said, we saw the light from a fireball blasting out from the neutron star collision into space in the hours and days afterwards.
ANU play a leading role in Australia’s involvement with the gravitational wave discovery though the partnership in the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO).
Professor David McClelland from the ANU developing new components and techniques for the LIGO detectors. Using quantum mechanical techniques, we will make the largest optical sensors ever built even more powerful.
ANU played a key role in the ground-breaking work to detect gravitational waves for the first time of the collision of two black holes in space.
More Information: [ANU]
