Sample interview questions: Can you explain the concept of gravitational waves and their detection?
Sample answer:
Gravitational waves are a fundamental prediction of Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity. According to this theory, massive objects in the universe can create ripples in the fabric of spacetime, similar to how a stone creates ripples when thrown into a pond. These ripples are what we refer to as gravitational waves.
Gravitational waves are generated by the acceleration or movement of massive objects, such as black holes, neutron stars, or even by the merging of two such objects. As these massive objects move, they produce changes in the curvature of spacetime, which propagate outwards as waves. These waves carry energy, momentum, and information about the source that created them.
Detecting gravitational waves is a challenging task due to their extremely weak nature. When a gravitational wave passes through a region of space, it causes a tiny stretching and squeezing effect in the spacetime fabric. However, this effect is incredibly small, even when generated by massive cosmic events. To put it into perspective, the stretching and squeezing caused by a gravitational wave passing through Earth is less than the width of an atomic nucleus!
To detect these minuscule changes, scientists have developed sophisticated instruments called gravitational wave detectors. The most sensitive detectors currently in use are the ground-based Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) an… Read full answer