Space-Time Ripples: How Scientists Could Detect Gravity Waves

For years, scientists have been trying — and failing — to detect theoretical ripples in space-time called gravitational waves. But new research suggests that building just one more detector might finally do the trick.

Four gravitational wave detectors are currently in operation. Proposals have been submitted to build three more, one each in Japan, Australia and India. Constructing just one of these would double the amount of sky being covered in current searches for gravitational waves and would drastically increase the chances of a detection, according to the study.

The study, by physicist Bernard Schutz of the Albert Einstein Institute in Germany, was published May 27 in the journal Classical and Quantum Gravity.

Gravitational waves: The basics

Gravitational waves, predicted by Einstein’s theory of general relativity, are thought to be created by some of the most violent events in the universe, such as the collision of two neutron stars.

 Neutron stars are extremely dense dead stars left over after supernova explosions. When two merge into each other, they are predicted to release strong gravitational waves that should be detectable on Earth. [6 Weird Facts About Gravity]

A proposed NASA/European Space Agency mission to send a system of satellites to space to hunt for these waves was cancelled this year for lack of funding. That project was called LISA.

Last year, another study estimated that by 2016 the four existing gravitational wave detectors would be able to detect, on average, 40 neutron-star merger events per year. This rate could be increased to 160 events per year with improved data analysis techniques, that research found. [Photos: Black Holes of the Universe]

The positioning of the current network actually makes such a large increase in detection rate unlikely, other scientists say; however, Schutz has shown that using any of the three proposed new locations would change things dramatically.

The addition of all three new detectors would enable the detection of around 370 events a year, which could increase to 500 events after a few years of operation, Schutz found.

These detectors are most likely to encounter “short bursts” of gravitational waves that arise from two stars or two black holes orbiting each other.

“The improvements brought about by new detectors are much bigger than the proportionate extra investment required,” Schutz said in a statement. “The new detector in Japan, approved last year, would add extra sensitivity and reliability and greatly improve sky coverage. Not only would we be more certain than ever of making detections, we would begin to be able to study neutron stars and gamma ray bursts with information obtainable in no other way.”

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