LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory)

Why in News?

The Department of Atomic Energy announced that construction of the LIGO-India observatory will begin in Maharashtra’s Hingoli district in late 2025, aiming for completion by April 2030. It will be India’s first gravitational wave detector, joining the global LIGO network.

Description:

• LIGO is an observatory that detects gravitational waves, which are ripples in spacetime caused by massive cosmic events.
• Mechanism: Uses a device called an interferometer, which measures the tiny distortions in spacetime as gravitational waves pass through.
• Based on Einstein’s Theory: Predicted in 1916 under General Theory of Relativity. Einstein believed these waves were too weak to be detected.
• Structure:
  • Two detectors in the USA:
    • Hanford, Washington
    • Livingston, Louisiana
  • Work in unison to confirm signals.
• Development Timeline:
  • 1990: Approved by NSF (USA)
  • 1999: Construction completed
  • 2010–2014: Major upgrades for sensitivity
  • 2015: First detection of gravitational waves from black hole merger
• First Detection (2015):
  • Collision of two black holes (29 and 36 solar masses)
  • Event occurred 1.3 billion years ago

LIGO-Virgo Collaboration

• Virgo Detector:
  • Located in Italy
  • Adds a third point of observation for better triangulation of wave sources
• Purpose:
   Helps confirm that the signal is not noise, by cross-checking among detectors.
• Important Discovery (2020): Detected a black hole–neutron star collision

LIGO-India

• Location: Hingoli, Maharashtra (approx. 450 km from Mumbai)
• Timeline:
  • In-principle approval: February 2016
  • Final approval: Rs 2,600 crore cleared recently
  • Expected Operational Year: 2030

Collaboration:

• Joint effort by DAE and DST, Govt. of India
  • In MoU with US National Science Foundation (NSF)

KAGRA Observatory

• Location:
  • Gifu Prefecture, Japan
  • First Asian gravitational wave observatory

Key Feature: Built underground to reduce seismic noise

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