Gravitational Wave
Ripples in spacetime caused by accelerating massive objects, predicted by general relativity.
Also: GW · spacetime ripples
Definition
Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of spacetime generated by accelerating massive objects, as predicted by Einstein's general theory of relativity in 1916. They travel at the speed of light and cause space itself to alternately stretch and compress as they pass. The first direct detection of gravitational waves was made by the LIGO detector in 2015 from the merger of two black holes, opening a new era of gravitational wave astronomy.
Example
“In 2017, LIGO and Virgo detected gravitational waves from the merger of two neutron stars simultaneously with a gamma-ray burst observed by satellites, confirming neutron star mergers as a source of heavy elements like gold and platinum.”
Synonyms
- spacetime ripples
- GW
- metric perturbations
Images
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Related Terms
- General Relativity
- Black Hole
- Neutron Star
- Pulsar