Gravitational Physics Group
A snapshot of the final moments in the merger of binary black holes and the gravitational radiation emitted in the process (Credit: Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute)/Zuse Institute Berlin/Center for Computation and Technology at Louisiana State University).
The Gravitational Physics Group is one of the largest research groups in the School. The Group co-founded the British-German GEO 600 detector, is a member of the LIGO-Virgo Scientific Collaboration, is involved in the space-based LISA mission, and in the design study of the 3rd generation Einstein gravitational-wave Telescope (ET).
The Group's search for gravitational waves is focused on transients such as supernovae and binary neutron stars and black holes, and stochastic gravitational waves. As a part of this research we have developed novel algorithms and software which have now become standard search tools. We also perform large-scale computer simulations of black-hole collisions, in order to produce theoretical models of the waves, which will help us to detect them. Cardiff is a data archival centre for GEO600 and hosts also the strain data from LIGO. The data is analyzed using in-house large computer clusters.
Our theoretical research is focused on quantum processes in the early Universe, cosmic microwave and gravitational wave backgrounds, the formation, evolution and nature of large-scale structure in the Universe, alternative formulations of general relativity, modeling binary black holes.
For a list of our current PhD projects, please click here.
Research News
Mapping a universe of black hole collisions
Monday 10th December 2012Cardiff scientists are about to undertake the world's most complete study to date of colliding black holes.