First detections of gravitational waves from merging binary black holes
In short: During the first observing run of the Advanced LIGO detectors, astronomers detected gravitational waves originating from the merger of two black holes. By searching for signals based on general-relativistic models, the team unambiguously identified two distinct events, known as GW150914 and GW151226, which occurred with high statistical significance.
These observations provided a rare opportunity to study how compact objects move in highly nonlinear, high-velocity environments. The data also allowed researchers to set new empirical bounds on post-Newtonian coefficients and confirmed that the signals did not deviate from the predictions of general relativity.
The study used data from a specific observing period between September 2015 and January 2016. While the results provide initial estimates for merger rates, the study is limited by the fact that it represents an early observing run and only identified a few specific events.
Why it matters: These detections opened a new window into observing the most extreme gravitational events in the universe.
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Sources
- Source: Research: Abbott et al. (2016). Binary Black Hole Mergers in the First Advanced LIGO Observing Run. Physical Review X. · cc-by
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