Title: Multimessenger Astronomy from Instruments to Open Questions

Speaker: Prof. Szabolcs Marka, Columbia University in the City of New York

Time and place: 12:30, October 22 ( Monday), 2012, Lecture Hall/INPAC

Abstract:

Gravitational-waves, frequently conceptualized as "ripples in the fabric of spacetime," carry information about crucial aspects of extremely energetic cosmic processes that are usually hidden from us, such as the birth and the death of black holes and neutron stars. While Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves, they have never been detected directly. Scientists expect that to change soon, and they hope that Nature will help us answer myriads of questions: Was Einstein right once again or will alternative theories of gravity prevail? Is there a hidden population of black holes in the core of galaxies? What happens deep down in the heart of a supernova at the moment of its explosion? New instruments being constructed might offer insight on some of these exciting puzzles as well as the possibility that the most exciting phenomenon discovered by gravitational-wave astrophysics may be completely unforeseen!