The lIGO experiment, which confirmed Albert Einstein’s prediction of ripples in spacetime, is one of the most significant scientific discoveries in history. It is to be hoped that India shall lead from the front in this extraordinary field of research in the years to come
last week, for the second time, scientists were able to directly detected gravitational waves — ripples through the space-time fabric that were created by extreme, cataclysmic events in the distant universe. The waves were detected using the laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (lIGO) interferometers, located in livingston, louisiana and Hanford, Washington. In 2015, the detectors had picked up gravitational wave signals for the first time.
The Theory of General Relativity, enunciated by Albert Einstein some 100 years ago, predicted the existence of gravitational waves in cosmos, though he himself was not entirely convinced whether these could be perceived. On February 11 this year, it was announced in Washington, DC that the first direct observation of gravitational waves was successfully completed, established and verified.
Gravitational waves are created when two gigantic Black Holes, 1.3 billion light years away, orbit each other closer and closer, suddenly spiral/collide, followed by their cataclysmic merger, accompanied by burst of immense energy.
New Black Hole thus created is equivalent to 62 suns coalesced together. When spacetime matrix is distorted by massive stars/planets, mysterious forces of gravity are emitted that accelerate objects lying in their domain, so elucidated Einstein in his theory. Putting it simply: Two massive Black Holes being balls of supremely intense gravity collide and merge causing tremendous disturbance in the entire gravitational matrix translating into waves that may be perceived/measured millions of light years away.
Spacetime matrix has always been regarded as a well-knit, infinite continuum of space (in length, breadth and width) and time in the manifest of a single identifiable entity, also known as Minkowski space after Eugène Minkowski (Albert Einstein was his student) added fourth dimension to the Euclidean Space Model. It is difficult for human intellect to visualise, infinite void undergoing contortion only to revolt into waves and ripples capable of shaking the consciousness. These waves travel with the velocity of light with diminishing amplitude as they move across infinite stretches of the infinite void.
When they arrive in close proximity of Planet Earth, they are almost imperceptible being thousand times subtler than the nuclear particle Proton. In 1970s, Russell Hulse and Joseph Taylor discovered gravitational waves indirectly while studying binary pulser PSR B1913+16 wherein orbits of two orbiting Neutron stars decayed gradually before colliding which is impossible to explain without energy depletion through emission of gravitational waves.
An improvised version of laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory whose construction started 22 years ago, could detect and measure these gravitational space-time contortions, rather cosmic stretches that bounce to shrink ultimately by splitting a laser beam into two perpendicular arms each four kms long. The machine is so sensitive that it can measure gravitational waves that stretches spacetime matrix even by ten thousandth fraction of the width of Proton. Gravitational waves can penetrate any and every object throughout cosmos and emerge from the other end unscathed.
Invocation of the Theory of Relativity or Quantum Mechanics may or may not be able to explain the cosmic phenomenon. However, if the wisdom of agama/samkhya darsana is juxtaposed to these observations, this writer finds it a lot easier to visualise the cosmic event. Albert Einstein had studied Sanatana scriptures and most of his discoveries had been inspired by the wisdom attained therefrom by his own admission.
Many of us have observed simplified version of the phenomenon in a container full of water wherein two or more floating air bubbles drift towards each other, suddenly coalesce raising subtle ripples on the surface of water! We have observed summer heat creating partial vacuum by diluting air density leading to rushing in of air from surroundings at a great speed causing wind storms. like air bubbles floating on the surface of water, these partial vacuums too have a tendency to move towards each other and coalesce leading to disturbance in atmosphere.
Entire spacetime entity is an infinite ocean, rather an expanding ocean of three guna-s of Prakrti ie Sattva, Raja and Tama. As a matter of fact, infinite void is not absolutely void lest it raises the question as to what may be the means/instrumentality with which such a cosmic void has been created. Three guna-s exist in the form of live/throbbing spandana ie wave particles, all in a state of well-poised equilibrium.
When cosmic stimulation dilutes density of guna-s, Black Hole or something similar to that is generated with intense forces of gravity within, caused by the dilution or cosmic vacuum whatever that may be, entirely bereft of guna-s. Thereafter, they behave like air bubbles floating on the surface of water as illustrated above. The way air bubbles coalesce to cause subtle ripples in water, Black Holes merge cataclysmically to emit tremendous waves of gravity in the infinite expanse of cosmos all around.
Wherever and whenever the equipoise is disrupted, process to restore the equipoise begins instantly. Disruptions and restorations continue alternately, ceaselessly and infinitely.
lIGO team was constituted as a sub-group and was mandated to create artificial gravitational waves so as to booby trap other scientists by faking gravitational waves to ensure, they remain on their alert not to lose right direction of research. Entire project also included 60 Indian scientists of Raman Research Institute and Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics. The machine so constructed happened to be the most sensitive one, never constructed before.
On September 14, 2015, at 11 am of Central European Time, Marco Drago, an Italian post-doctoral scholar and member of lIGO scientific collaboration, was the first to observe waves remotely at the Albert Einstein Institute, Germany.
It consumed months and mind-boggling efforts to assure whether the discovery passed the five sigma test, gold standard for declaring a new discovery in Physics. The detection was declared GW150914 corresponding to the date of discovery. The discovery confirmed, existence of Black Holes which is impossible to observe as the Holes do not reflect light to be perceived with.
The US has invited India to raise another such facility to verify observations from a distant location and the Government has already sanctioned funds for that. We hope, our country shall lead from the front in this extra-ordinary field of research in years to come.
(The writer is co-convener of Delhi BJP’s Intellectual Cell)