He speaks one of the researchers of gravitational waves – ElEspectador.com

detection of gravitational waves is a discovery “due out in the books” as the answer, one hundred years later, the last question of the theory of Relativity Einstein , said Thursday Efe spokesman LIGO project, the Argentina Gabriela Gonzalez.

“that’s why it’s so exciting for everyone, now know the universe a little more , we know that there are black holes collide and form larger ones, “said the researcher in an interview with Efe, after participating in the big announcement of the detection of waves at the National Press Club in Washington . (See: Scientists confirm the predictions of Einstein).

“And the most amazing thing is that they produce contractions of space-time around us on Earth, here where we live These waves have traveled millions of years where they were born to us, “he says.

like all who have worked on this ambitious project, talk about

González,” new window “to the Cosmos that just opened with great enthusiasm and pride. So much that he wears a neckerchief with a drawing of waves and has been designed to commemorate the milestone.

In a crowded press conference US scientists observatory laser interferometry (LIGO) today put an end to months of rumors and large excitement among the research community to a finding that opens the door to rediscover the universe, this time without light.

the milestone LIGO is twofold. This is the first direct detection of gravitational waves and the first observation of the merger of a binary black hole system

the expected discovery coincides with the centenary this year, the publication of the article in which Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves as a result of the Theory of General Relativity which was presented in November 1915, just months before.

” this knowledge of Einstein’s theory that space-time is dynamic is something I think everyone is going to generate curiosity to understand what is happening around us, “notes Gonzalez, who is a professor of physics and astronomy at University of Louisiana.

the announcement was made wait five months since the waves were detected at 10 d ela am local time, on September 14 by two LIGO detectors, one located in Livingston (Louisiana) and one in Hanford (Washington), thousands of kilometers away.

“We had to be sure, there have been fiascos in the past. We had to ensure that nothing had happened especially in one of the detectors to indicate that there was an astrophysical sources. That takes a long time, “explains the researcher.

The first thing the scientists found was a computer code indicating that it had detected a gravity wave. “But computers you can not believe everything they say,” says Gonzalez.

“we had to see that the code was good, the results have physically possible parameters, they understand the source macrophysics could produce these waves, and all that takes many analyzes “details.

” we had to simulate many waves to see what effect they had on the detector and what was the most it was like we were watching. We had to analyze information from monitoring weather, cosmic rays, wind, to ensure that nothing had happened in one of the detectors take us to deception, “he added.

The team that has made this scientific milestone is “very international,” more than 1,000 people from 20 countries who have worked in the detection, data interpretation and writing of this study.

the two detectors are American and most funds for development comes from the National Science Foundation (NSF), with foreign contributions.

LIGO scientists are certain that if they continue taking data with the same instruments detected other waves, though perhaps not as strong.

“we started taking data detectors in August because we had three or four times better than the last operated in 2010, despite the fact that we do 10 times better than they were then, “says Gonzalez.

” But we tried, we take data, we would learn listeners how to better work, to see what it was and, to our surprise, what was there was this sign great “he says.

Now, Americans detectors, will join one of Virgo in Italy, until a power ten times higher than it was in 2010.

“having three detectors operating simultaneously and analyzing data from all three at the same time, signals will be easier to find and distinguished from noise, because it must be the same in all three , let’s triangulate, “said the scientist.

LIGO researchers want to continue taking steps so that, like today, help to answer these questions about the universe that man is made since ancient times .

at the moment, have put a finishing touch to the historic Einstein theory, just as is the centenary of its formulation.