25.01.2010
The Wave Hunters
Does the universe wobble? Following the theoretical prediction of Albert Einstein, researchers are trying to measure gravitational waves. They occur as a result of tiny distortions in spatial geometry. With their research, the wave hunters hope to expand our understanding of space and time. With their experiments, the physicists from Hanover are working at the quantum limit. The problem: the measurements require extremely powerful and precise technologies in order to keep the gravitational waves from disappearing into the background noise of the light particles. To meet this challenge, a new technology is being used: squeezed light. Will they be successful in directly verifying gravitational waves for the first time? To project page
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The Wave Hunters: Episode 10, 25/01/2010
Needles in Space
The first proof of gravitational waves is within reach, but gravitational wave astronomy first and foremost requires us to look to the future. Even now, researchers are contemplating what third and fourth generation gravitational wave detectors may be like. They have set their sights high, because the deep sounds – in other words the gravitational waves generated by really big black holes – can only be heard in space. With this goal in their sights, they are already planning to launch an important international satellite mission in 2020, but even now they are already looking for the minute signals produced by gravitational waves in the noisy data collected by the detectors. Who will be the first to find the needle in the haystack of space?
18.01.2010
A World Record
The decisive day has arrived for Henning and Alexander. Will they manage to reduce the light’s random quantum noise further than anyone has ever managed before?
11.01.2010
High Tech in the Cornfield
A world first at GEO600: The wave hunters will soon become the very first people ever to install squeezed light in a gravity wave detector.
14.12.2009
Tailor-Made and Remote-Controlled
The researchers design and build a lot of the components for their experiments using the GEO600 themselves – and they are even developing a remote control system!
26.10.2009
Clean Optics
The lenses need to be cleaned to make sure that not a single grain of dust disrupts the laser beam…
23.09.2009
New York, New York
Out of the lab, over to the USA: A conference in New York brings the wave hunters of the world together. What is accomplished on the trip?
07.09.2009
Squeezed Light
Against the quantum nature of light: What do squeezed light and loaded dice have in common? Manipulation in the interest of science...
06.08.2009
Extremely Sensitive
Maximum sensitivity: GEO600. How exactly does the detector work, what challenges does it face, and what are its limits?
13.07.2009
Stretched and compressed
According to Albert Einstein, the fabric of time and space behaves like an elasticated mesh. Heavy masses stretch the mesh, and if they move, the space-time mesh vibrates.
30.06.2009
Expanded and Squeezed
According to Albert Einstein, space-time behaves like an elastic mesh structure. The distortion of this mesh by massive objects, such as stars or planets, is what we refer to as gravitation.
The Projects
Everything about wave hunters, discrete optimisers and love à la Darwin—here, you'll experience what lies behind the individual projects as you follow the research diaries and get to know the scientists.
Function through Diversity
Pioneering work in China: The largest ever forest experiment on biodiversity
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