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Illustration of the artist about two black holes that cause together, creating gravitational waves in the process. | Credit: NASA
Scientists have made the most accurate forecasts about rude space and time disorders that occur when two black holes pass closely through the other.
New conclusions, Published Wednesday (May 14) shows that abstract concepts of mathematical theoretical physics are practically used to model space and time vibrations, preparing the way to interpret more accurate models to interpret observation data.
Gravitational waves are distortions of space in the tissue caused by the movement of massive objects as Black holes or neutron stars. First predicted Albert Einstein Theory of general relativity 1915 directly detected For the first time a century later, 2015
This visualization shows the energy emitted by gravitational waves, spread when two black holes fly through each other. Scientists calculated this energy with unprecedented accuracy using advanced mathematical functions known as Calabi – Yau periods, forming the way for more accurate gravitational wave models. | Credit: Mathias DRIESE/HUMBOLDT UNIVIITät Zu Berlin
To understand the signals collected by sensitive detectors such as Ligo ) Space air; Until now, researchers relied on powerful supercomputers to simulate the interaction of black holes, which need to be improved by step -by -step black hole trajectories – a process that is effective but slow and expensive in terms of calculation.
Now, the team, led by Mathias Driesse from Humboldt University in Berlin, took a different approach. Instead of studying merger, researchers focused on “scattering events” – cases where two black holes rotate close to each other after mutual gravity pulling, and then continuing the individual roads without hugging. These meetings generate strong gravitational wave signals as black holes accelerate each other.
To accurately model these events, the team applied Quantum field theoryWhich is a branch of physics is commonly used to describe the interaction of elementary particles. Starting with simple approximations and systematic complexity of layout, the researchers calculated the main results of black hole flights: how much they are directed, how much energy radiates as gravitational waves and how much they retreat after the interaction.
Their work included five levels of complexity, reaching what the physicists call the fifth post-minekowskian order, the highest level of accuracy, ever achieved by modeling these interactions.
Reaching this level “is unplayedented, and repressents the most precise Solution to Einstein’s Equations Producted to Date,” Gustav Mogull, A Partical Physicist at Queen Mary University of London and A Co-AUTHOR Space.com;
The team’s reaction to achieve important accuracy was “usually just surprise that we were able to do the job,” Mogull recalled.
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– What are the gravitational waves?
– What is a string theory?
By calculating the energy radiating as gravitational waves, researchers found that the complicated six-dimensional shapes known as Calabi-yau collectors have emerged in the equations. These abstract geometric structures are visualized as higher dimension analogues similar String theorya system trying to unify quantum mechanics gravity; Until now, they were thought to be purely mathematical constructs that had no directly verified role associated with noticeable phenomena.
However, in a new study, these forms appeared in calculations, describing the energy radiating as gravitational waves, when two black holes traveled through each other. This marks the first time they appeared in a context that could essentially be tested for real -world experiments.
Mogull equates to their emergence from the transition of a magnifying glass to the microscope, revealing the features and patterns that have previously identified. “The appearance of such structures highlights a new type of mathematical objects from which nature is built,” he said.
These data are expected to significantly strengthen future theoretical models aimed at providing for gravitational wave signatures. Such improvements will be very important as the next generation of gravitational wave detectors-including planned An antenna of a laser interferometer space (Lisa) and Einstein Telescope in Europe – visit the Internet in the coming years.
“The improvement of accuracy is necessary to keep up with the expected higher precision of these detectors,” said Mogull.