The Laser Interferometric Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) has been reactivated after three years of upgrades, significantly enhancing its ability to detect gravitational waves—ripples in spacetime caused by the merging of massive objects like black holes and neutron stars. Since its inception, LIGO has detected approximately 90 gravitational waves, but the recent upgrades are poised to increase its sensitivity to more distant and fainter events. This upgraded technology allows scientists to apply multi-messenger astronomy by capturing both gravitational waves and electromagnetic signals from the same cosmic events, offering a more comprehensive understanding of astrophysical phenomena.
The latest observation run, initiated in May 2023, focuses on real-time detection and localization of gravitational waves. This enables astronomers to quickly alert other observatories to follow up with additional data collection, enhancing the study of events like mergers that significantly impact our comprehension of the universe’s evolution. LIGO, along with the Italian Virgo observatory and Japan’s KAGRA, aims to achieve unprecedented insights into cosmic events. The collaboration hopes to expand knowledge on topics such as gamma-ray bursts and the universe’s expansion, paving the way for groundbreaking discoveries in modern astrophysics.
