In February 2016, scientists detected gravitational waves for the first time, around 100 years after Einstein’s prediction. Now, Australian researchers have found a way to improve the sensitivity of gravitational wave detectors, allowing weaker waves from farther away in the universe to be detected.
The technology at the centre of this new discovery are tiny devices known as “cat-flap” pendulums. These components are less than a millimetre in size, and would be fitted to existing gravitational wave detectors to increase the sensitivity.
The current gravitational wave detectors utilise powerful lasers, measuring the vibration of mirrors suspended four kilometres apart at the ends of huge vacuum tubes. The University of Western Australia was part of the international project team involved in putting together the detection equipment.
The detection of gravitational waves helps researchers understand the universe better, as they carry unique information about the events that produced them. The gravitational waves detected in February, for example, was produced by the merger of two black holes — an event that has been predicted but never observed.
According to team leader Professor David Blair from the Australian International Gravitational Research Centre (AIGRC) at the UWA, the improvements in instrumentation engineering could eventually see hundreds of gravity wave ‘events’ being recorded every day.
“Currently the detectors can only detect huge tsunami-like waves, but with the new technology we would be able to extend that range about seven times,” Professor Blair said.
“One of our PhD students Jiayi Qin has tested the concept as part of her thesis with very good results and we will now look to test the technology further.”
Already, the first of these ‘cat-flap’ pendulums is being fabricated by the UWA’s Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis, using a new $1 million ion beam etching machine.
In addition, advances in gravitational wave detection technology could have implications for other areas, as similar systems are already being applied to mineral exploration, time standards, quantum computing, precision sensors, ultra-sensitive radars and pollution monitors.