Topic
Join our IEEE Lafayette Section for a tour of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) in Livingston, LA!
The U.S. National Science Foundation Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (NSF LIGO), was designed to open the field of gravitational-wave astrophysics through the direct detection of gravitational waves predicted by Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. NSF LIGO's multi-kilometer-scale gravitational wave detectors use laser interferometry to measure the minute ripples in space-time caused by passing gravitational waves from cataclysmic cosmic events such as colliding neutron stars or black holes, or by supernovae. NSF LIGO comprises two widely-separated interferometers within the United States—one in Hanford, Washington and the other in Livingston, Louisiana—operated in unison to detect gravitational waves.
LIGO made its first detection of gravitational waves, generated by a pair of colliding black holes some 1.3 billion light years away. Since that historic day, LIGO's engineers have continued to improve the detectors' sensitivities. The success of these improvements is evidenced by the many more gravitational wave detections that have since been made. Ultimately, with continued refinement and upgrading, LIGO's detectors will achieve a sensitivity 10 times greater than Initial LIGO, bringing 1000 times more galaxies into our observational range.
Agenda
Tour will take place at LIGO in Livingston, LA on Saturday, October 5th. LIGO is located at 19100 Ligo Rd, Livingston, LA 70754 – searching "LIGO Livingston" in Google Maps will direct you to the parking lot area. We will meet in the parking lot as a group for 10:05 AM and the tour will start at 10:15 AM and will last 1.5 to 2 hours.
Please make sure you are there on time so we do not leave you behind!
Register by Wednesday, October 2nd, 2024 at 2:00 pm to let us know you will be attending so we can let LIGO know a head count.
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LIGO, LIGO Road, Livingston, Louisiana, United States, 70754