Scientists hail detection of colliding black holes
EXPERTS have captured the shudders in space caused by the collision of black holes.
The monumental after-shocks were spied for the first time by a scientific team including members of the University of Birmingham’s Institute for Gravitational Wave Astronomy.
They have compiled the biggest ever catalogue of “gravitational wave events” ever assembled.
Using detecting equipment in America, the team from 12 UK universities found 35 such events. All but three were probably black holes merging.
Several of the black holes formed by the mergers are 100 times the mass of our Sun. This type of black hole has long been theorised by astrophysicists, and has now been proven to exist.
Two of the 35 events were likely to be neutron stars and black holes merging – a very rare event.
The masses of black holes and neutron stars are key clues to how massive stars live their lives and die in supernova explosions.
University of Birmingham researcher Dr Patricia Schmidt said: “After only three observing runs, we are just shy of 100 gravitational wave observations.
“This tremendous achievement in only five years is testament to the significant advancements in both technology and analysis techniques.
“The third observing run has brought us exciting new discoveries, including the first confirmed intermediate mass black hole and the strongest evidence to date for the mergers of neutron stars with black holes.”
Dr Denis Martynov, a researcher at the University of Birmingham, commented:
“After the first science run started in 2015, the detectors continue to improve and observe more signals.”