Alicia M Sintes: "Gravitational Waves: A Decade of Exploring the Universe”

by Alicia M Sintes (Universitat de les Illes Balears)

Tuesday 2 Dec 2025, 15:00 → 16:00 Europe/Rome

In just ten years, gravitational-wave astronomy has evolved from a daring dream into a transformative way of observing the Universe. Since the landmark first detection of GW150914 in 2015, the LIGO and Virgo observatories—joined more recently by KAGRA—have opened a new window onto the most extreme cosmic events. I will recount this remarkable journey, from the technical breakthroughs that made these measurements possible—kilometer-scale interferometers, quantum-enhanced optics, and exquisitely isolated mirrors—to the scientific discoveries that followed: binary black hole mergers, the neutron star collision that launched multi-messenger astronomy, and intriguing detections that challenge our understanding of stellar evolution. Looking ahead, I will outline the roadmap for future observing runs and upgrades, and how they will dramatically expand our reach into the Universe. Finally, we will glimpse the next generation of observatories—Einstein Telescope, Cosmic Explorer, and LISA—that promise to reveal gravitational waves from the dawn of cosmic history, offering profound insights into black holes, neutron stars, and the early Universe itself.

• Zoom Meeting ID: 918 7825 0462
• Passcode: 738289