Our Science

Detecting Gravitational Waves

Gravitational wave astronomy begins with gravitational wave detection. Our group is a member of the LIGO-Virgo and NANOGrav collaborations, and PI Finn is a member of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna International Science Team. Our specialty is the development and application of statistically rigorous data analysis methodologies whose design is drive by specific scientific goals: e.g., identifying the progenitors of gamma-ray bursts, measuring the mass and angular momentum of core collapse supernovae, and testing our theory of relativistic gravity.

LISA Mission Logo [Image: NASA]

Simulated detection by NANOGrav of the gravitational waves from the collision of two supermassive black holes at the distance of 100 Mpc [Image: Finn, et al.]

NANOGrav uses many radio telescopes like the Green Bank Telescope pictured here to monitor small variations in the arrival times of signals from pulsars for evidence of gravitational waves.
[Image: Green Bank Telescope]

LISA Mission Logo [Image: NAerial view of the Laser Interferometer
Gravitational-wave Observatory site Livingston, Louisiana.
LIGO also operates a sister site in Hanford, Washington. [Image:LIGO]ASA]

"The Penn State Gravitational-Wave Astronomy Group is supported by the National Science Foundation under awards PHY 06-53462 and PHY 09-40924. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Gravitational Wave Astronomy Group, The Pennsylvania State University
104 Davey Lab PMB 89, University Park, PA 16802
Tel: +1 (814) 863.9605 Fax: +1 (814) 863.9608