Ripples in Spacetime - Einstein, Gravitational Waves, and the Future of Astronomy, with a New Afterword

A spacetime appetizer -- Relatively speaking -- Einstein on trial -- Wave talk and bar fights -- The lives of stars -- Clockwork precision -- Laser quest -- The path to perfection -- Creation stories -- Cold case -- Gotcha -- Black magic -- Nanoscience -- Follow-up questions -- Space invaders -- Surf's up for Einstein wave astronomy.;It has already been called the scientific breakthrough of the century: the detection of gravitational waves. Einstein predicted these tiny ripples in the fabric of spacetime nearly a hundred years ago, but they were never perceived directly until now. Decades in the making, this momentous discovery has given scientists a new understanding of the cataclysmic events that shape the universe and a new confirmation of Einstein's theory of general relativity. Ripples in Spacetime is an engaging account of the international effort to complete Einstein's project, capture his elusive ripples, and launch an era of gravitational-wave astronomy that promises to explain, more vividly than ever before, our universe's structure and origin. The quest for gravitational waves involved years of risky research and many personal and professional struggles that threatened to derail one of the world's largest scientific endeavors. Govert Schilling takes readers to sites where these stories unfolded--including Japan's KAGRA detector, Chile's Atacama Cosmology Telescope, the South Pole's BICEP detectors, and the United States' LIGO labs. He explains the seeming impossibility of developing technologies sensitive enough to detect waves from two colliding black holes in the very distant universe, and describes the astounding precision of the LIGO detectors. Along the way Schilling clarifies concepts such as general relativity, neutron stars, and the big bang using language that readers with little scientific background can grasp.-- It Has Already Been Called The Scientific Breakthrough Of The Century: The Detection Of Gravitational Waves. Einstein Predicted These Tiny Ripples In The Fabric Of Spacetime Nearly A Hundred Years Ago, But They Were Never Perceived Directly Until Now. Decades In The Making, This Momentous Discovery Has Given Scientists A New Understanding Of The Cataclysmic Events That Shape The Universe And A New Confirmation Of Einstein's Theory Of General Relativity. Ripples In Spacetime Is An Engaging Account Of The International Effort To Complete Einstein's Project, Capture His Elusive Ripples, And Launch An Era Of Gravitational-wave Astronomy That Promises To Explain, More Vividly Than Ever Before, Our Universe's Structure And Origin. The Quest For Gravitational Waves Involved Years Of Risky Research And Many Personal And Professional Struggles That Threatened To Derail One Of The World's Largest Scientific Endeavors. Govert Schilling Takes Readers To Sites Where These Stories Unfolded--including Japan's Kagra Detector, Chile's Atacama Cosmology Telescope, The South Pole's Bicep Detectors, And The United States' Ligo Labs. He Explains The Seeming Impossibility Of Developing Technologies Sensitive Enough To Detect Waves From Two Colliding Black Holes In The Very Distant Universe, And Describes The Astounding Precision Of The Ligo Detectors. Along The Way Schilling Clarifies Concepts Such As General Relativity, Neutron Stars, And The Big Bang Using Language That Readers With Little Scientific Background Can Grasp.-- A Spacetime Appetizer -- Relatively Speaking -- Einstein On Trial -- Wave Talk And Bar Fights -- The Lives Of Stars -- Clockwork Precision -- Laser Quest -- The Path To Perfection -- Creation Stories -- Cold Case -- Gotcha -- Black Magic -- Nanoscience -- Follow-up Questions -- Space Invaders -- Surf's Up For Einstein Wave Astronomy. Govert Schilling. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 307-319) And Index. It has already been called the scientific breakthrough of the century: the detection of gravitational waves. Einstein predicted these tiny ripples in the fabric of spacetime nearly a hundred years ago, but they were never perceived directly until now. Decades in the making, this momentous discovery has given scientists a new understanding of the cataclysmic events that shape the universe and a new confirmation of Einstein's theory of general relativity. Ripples in Spacetime is an engaging account of the international effort to complete Einstein's project, capture his elusive ripples, and launch an era of gravitational-wave astronomy that promises to explain, more vividly than ever before, our universe's structure and origin.The quest for gravitational waves involved years of risky research and many personal and professional struggles that threatened to derail one of the world's largest scientific endeavors. Govert Schilling takes readers to sites where these stories unfolded—including Japan's KAGRA detector, Chile's Atacama Cosmology Telescope, the South Pole's BICEP detectors, and the United States'LIGO labs. He explains the seeming impossibility of developing technologies sensitive enough to detect waves from two colliding black holes in the very distant universe, and describes the astounding precision of the LIGO detectors. Along the way Schilling clarifies concepts such as general relativity, neutron stars, and the big bang using language that readers with little scientific background can grasp.Ripples in Spacetime provides a window into the next frontiers of astronomy, weaving far-reaching predictions and discoveries into a gripping story of human ambition and perseverance. It has already been called the scientific breakthrough of the century: the detection of gravitational waves. Einstein predicted these tiny ripples in the fabric of spacetime nearly a hundred years ago, but they were never perceived directly until now. Decades in the making, this momentous discovery has given scientists a new understanding of the cataclysmic events that shape the universe and a new confirmation of Einstein's theory of general relativity. Ripples in Spacetime is an engaging account of the international effort to complete Einstein's project, capture his elusive ripples, and launch an era of gravitational-wave astronomy that promises to explain, more vividly than ever before, our universe's structure and origin. The quest for gravitational waves involved years of risky research and many personal and professional struggles that threatened to derail one of the world's largest scientific endeavors. Govert Schilling takes readers to sites where these stories unfolded--including Japan's KAGRA detector, Chile's Atacama Cosmology Telescope, the South Pole's BICEP detectors, and the United States' LIGO labs. He explains the seeming impossibility of developing technologies sensitive enough to detect waves from two colliding black holes in the very distant universe, and describes the astounding precision of the LIGO detectors. Along the way Schilling clarifies concepts such as general relativity, neutron stars, and the big bang using language that readers with little scientific background can grasp.-- Provided by publisher The detection of gravitational waves has already been called the scientific breakthrough of the century. Einstein predicted these tiny ripples in the fabric of spacetime over a hundred years ago, but they were only recently perceived directly for the first time. Ripples in Spacetime is an engaging account of the international effort to complete Einstein's project, capture his elusive ripples, and launch an era of gravitational-wave astronomy that promises to explain, more vividly than ever before, our universe's structure and origin "The detection of gravitational waves - ripples in spacetime - by the Ligo-Virgo observatories has already been called the scientific coup of this century and lead to the scientists responsible being awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize for Physics. Govert Schilling recounts the struggles that threatened to derail the quest and describes the detector's astounding precision, weaving far-reaching discoveries about the universe into a gripping story of ambition and perseverance."