The Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein ( ; ; 14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist, widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest and most influential physicists of all time. Einstein is best known for developing the theor ...
Institute) is a
Max Planck Institute
Max or MAX may refer to:
Animals
* Max (dog) (1983–2013), at one time purported to be the world's oldest living dog
* Max (English Springer Spaniel), the first pet dog to win the PDSA Order of Merit (animal equivalent of OBE)
* Max (gorilla) ...
whose research is aimed at investigating
Einstein's theory of relativity
The theory of relativity usually encompasses two interrelated theories by Albert Einstein: special relativity and general relativity, proposed and published in 1905 and 1915, respectively. Special relativity applies to all physical phenomena ...
and beyond:
Mathematics
Mathematics is an area of knowledge that includes the topics of numbers, formulas and related structures, shapes and the spaces in which they are contained, and quantities and their changes. These topics are represented in modern mathematics ...
,
quantum gravity
Quantum gravity (QG) is a field of theoretical physics that seeks to describe gravity according to the principles of quantum mechanics; it deals with environments in which neither gravitational nor quantum effects can be ignored, such as in the vi ...
, astrophysical relativity, and
gravitational-wave astronomy
Gravitational-wave astronomy is an emerging branch of observational astronomy which aims to use gravitational waves (minute distortions of spacetime predicted by Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity) to collect observational data abo ...
. The institute was founded in 1995 and is located in the Potsdam Science Park in
Golm, Potsdam and in
Hannover
Hanover (; german: Hannover ; nds, Hannober) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Lower Saxony. Its 535,932 (2021) inhabitants make it the 13th-largest city in Germany as well as the fourth-largest city in Northern Germany ...
where it closely collaborates with the
Leibniz University Hannover
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover (german: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität), also known as the University of Hannover, is a public research university located in Hanover, Germany. Founded on 2 May 1831 as Higher Vocational Sc ...
. Both the Potsdam and the Hannover parts of the institute are organized in three research departments and host a number of independent research groups.
The institute conducts
fundamental research in mathematics,
data analysis
Data analysis is a process of inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making. Data analysis has multiple facets and approaches, enc ...
,
astrophysics
Astrophysics is a science that employs the methods and principles of physics and chemistry in the study of astronomical objects and phenomena. As one of the founders of the discipline said, Astrophysics "seeks to ascertain the nature of the h ...
and
theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics that employs mathematical models and abstractions of physical objects and systems to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena. This is in contrast to experimental physics, which uses experim ...
as well as research in
laser physics, vacuum technology,
vibration isolation Vibration isolation is the process of isolating an object, such as a piece of equipment, from the source of vibrations.
Vibration is undesirable in many domains, primarily engineered systems and habitable spaces, and methods have been developed to p ...
and
classical and
quantum optics
Quantum optics is a branch of atomic, molecular, and optical physics dealing with how individual quanta of light, known as photons, interact with atoms and molecules. It includes the study of the particle-like properties of photons. Photons have ...
.
When the
LIGO Scientific Collaboration
The LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC) is a scientific collaboration of international physics institutes and research groups dedicated to the search for gravitational waves.
History
The LSC was established in 1997, under the leadership of Barr ...
announced the
first detection of gravitational waves, researchers of the institute were involved in modeling, detecting, analysing and characterising the signals. The institute is part of a number of collaborations and projects: it is a main partner in the
gravitational-wave detector
A gravitational-wave detector (used in a gravitational-wave observatory) is any device designed to measure tiny distortions of spacetime called gravitational waves. Since the 1960s, various kinds of gravitational-wave detectors have been built ...
GEO600; institute scientists are developing waveform-models that are applied in the gravitational-wave detectors for detecting and characterising
gravitational wave
Gravitational waves are waves of the intensity of gravity generated by the accelerated masses of an orbital binary system that propagate as waves outward from their source at the speed of light. They were first proposed by Oliver Heaviside in 1 ...
s. They are developing detector technology and are also analyzing data from the detectors of the
LIGO
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is a large-scale physics experiment and observatory designed to detect cosmic gravitational waves and to develop gravitational-wave observations as an astronomical tool. Two large ...
Scientific Collaboration, the
Virgo
Virgo may refer to:
*Virgo (astrology), the sixth astrological sign of the zodiac
* Virgo (constellation), a constellation
*Virgo Cluster, a cluster of galaxies in the constellation Virgo
*Virgo Stellar Stream, remains of a dwarf galaxy
* Virgo Su ...
Collaboration and the
KAGRA
The Kamioka Gravitational Wave Detector (KAGRA), is a large interferometer designed to detect gravitational waves predicted by the general theory of relativity. KAGRA is a Michelson interferometer that is isolated from external disturbances: its m ...
Collaboration. They also play a leading role in planning and preparing the space-based detector
LISA (planned launch date: 2034) and are involved in developing the third generation of earth-bound gravitational-wave detectors (
Einstein Telescope
Einstein Telescope (ET) or Einstein Observatory, is a proposed third-generation ground-based gravitational wave detector, currently under study by some institutions in the European Union. It will be able to test Einstein's general theory of r ...
,
Cosmic Explorer
''Cosmic Explorer'' (stylized as ''COSMIC EXPLORER'') is the fifth studio album by Japanese girl group Perfume. It was released on April 6, 2016 by Universal Music Japan, Universal J, and Perfume Records. It is Perfume's fifth consecutive album to ...
). The institute is also a major player in the
Einstein@Home
Einstein@Home is a volunteer computing project that searches for signals from spinning neutron stars in data from gravitational-wave detectors, from large radio telescopes, and from a gamma-ray telescope. Neutron stars are detected by their pul ...
and
PyCBC
PyCBC is an open source software package primarily written in the Python programming language which is designed for use in gravitational-wave astronomy and gravitational-wave data analysis. PyCBC contains modules for signal processing, FFT, match ...
projects.
From 1998 to 2015, the institute has published the
open access
Open access (OA) is a set of principles and a range of practices through which research outputs are distributed online, free of access charges or other barriers. With open access strictly defined (according to the 2001 definition), or libre op ...
review journal
Living Reviews in Relativity.
History
The newly founded institute started its work in April 1995 and has been located in
Potsdam-Golm since 1999.
In 2002 the institute opened a branch at the
Universität Hannover with a focus on
data analysis
Data analysis is a process of inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making. Data analysis has multiple facets and approaches, enc ...
and the development and operation of
gravitational-wave detectors on Earth and in space. The Hannover institute originated from the Institute for Atom and Molecule Physics (AMP) of the Universität Hannover, which was established in 1979 by the Department of Physics.
Research
The research focus of the institute is in the field of
general relativity
General relativity, also known as the general theory of relativity and Einstein's theory of gravity, is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1915 and is the current description of gravitation in modern physics ...
. It covers
theoretical
A theory is a rational type of abstract thinking about a phenomenon, or the results of such thinking. The process of contemplative and rational thinking is often associated with such processes as observational study or research. Theories may be ...
and
experimental
An experiment is a procedure carried out to support or refute a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy or likelihood of something previously untried. Experiments provide insight into cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome occurs when a ...
gravitational physics
In physics, gravity () is a fundamental interaction which causes mutual attraction between all things with mass or energy. Gravity is, by far, the weakest of the four fundamental interactions, approximately 1038 times weaker than the strong ...
,
quantum gravity
Quantum gravity (QG) is a field of theoretical physics that seeks to describe gravity according to the principles of quantum mechanics; it deals with environments in which neither gravitational nor quantum effects can be ignored, such as in the vi ...
,
multi-messenger astronomy
Multi-messenger astronomy is astronomy based on the coordinated observation and interpretation of disparate "messenger" signals. Interplanetary probes can visit objects within the Solar System, but beyond that, information must rely on "extrasolar ...
and
cosmology
Cosmology () is a branch of physics and metaphysics dealing with the nature of the universe. The term ''cosmology'' was first used in English in 1656 in Thomas Blount's ''Glossographia'', and in 1731 taken up in Latin by German philosopher ...
. The institute has a strong research focus on
gravitational-wave astronomy
Gravitational-wave astronomy is an emerging branch of observational astronomy which aims to use gravitational waves (minute distortions of spacetime predicted by Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity) to collect observational data abo ...
: five out of six departments are working on different aspects of this research field. Central research topics are:
* source modeling (binary
neutron star
A neutron star is the collapsed core of a massive supergiant star, which had a total mass of between 10 and 25 solar masses, possibly more if the star was especially metal-rich. Except for black holes and some hypothetical objects (e.g. w ...
s, binary
black hole
A black hole is a region of spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing, including light or other electromagnetic waves, has enough energy to escape it. The theory of general relativity predicts that a sufficiently compact mass can def ...
s, mixed binaries,
stellar core collapse)
* experimental work on
gravitational-wave detectors – both on Earth and in space
* solving the
two-body problem in general relativity
The two-body problem in general relativity is the determination of the motion and gravitational field of two bodies as described by the field equations of general relativity. Solving the Kepler problem is essential to calculate the bending of lig ...
* analytical and
numerical solutions of
Einstein's equations
In the general theory of relativity, the Einstein field equations (EFE; also known as Einstein's equations) relate the geometry of spacetime to the distribution of matter within it.
The equations were published by Einstein in 1915 in the for ...
* development and implementation of
data analysis
Data analysis is a process of inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making. Data analysis has multiple facets and approaches, enc ...
algorithm
In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm () is a finite sequence of rigorous instructions, typically used to solve a class of specific problems or to perform a computation. Algorithms are used as specifications for performing ...
s for
gravitational-wave searches
* follow-up analyses to infer properties of the gravitational-wave sources
* searches for particles and fundamental interactions beyond the
standard model
The Standard Model of particle physics is the theory describing three of the four known fundamental forces ( electromagnetic, weak and strong interactions - excluding gravity) in the universe and classifying all known elementary particles. It ...
All these efforts enable a new kind of
astronomy
Astronomy () is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, g ...
, which began with the
first direct detection of gravitational waves on Earth.
Scientists of the institute also work towards the unification of the fundamental theories of
physics
Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which ...
–
general relativity
General relativity, also known as the general theory of relativity and Einstein's theory of gravity, is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1915 and is the current description of gravitation in modern physics ...
and
quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics is a fundamental theory in physics that provides a description of the physical properties of nature at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles. It is the foundation of all quantum physics including quantum chemistry, ...
– into a theory of
quantum gravity
Quantum gravity (QG) is a field of theoretical physics that seeks to describe gravity according to the principles of quantum mechanics; it deals with environments in which neither gravitational nor quantum effects can be ignored, such as in the vi ...
.
Departments
*
Alessandra Buonanno’s Astrophysical and Cosmological Relativity department at AEI Potsdam solves the
two-body problem in general relativity
The two-body problem in general relativity is the determination of the motion and gravitational field of two bodies as described by the field equations of general relativity. Solving the Kepler problem is essential to calculate the bending of lig ...
analytically and
numerically
Numerical analysis is the study of algorithms that use numerical approximation (as opposed to symbolic manipulations) for the problems of mathematical analysis (as distinguished from discrete mathematics). It is the study of numerical methods t ...
, and predicts gravitational signals emitted by binary systems composed of
black hole
A black hole is a region of spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing, including light or other electromagnetic waves, has enough energy to escape it. The theory of general relativity predicts that a sufficiently compact mass can def ...
s and
neutron star
A neutron star is the collapsed core of a massive supergiant star, which had a total mass of between 10 and 25 solar masses, possibly more if the star was especially metal-rich. Except for black holes and some hypothetical objects (e.g. w ...
s. Members of the department use those waveform models to infer
astrophysical and
cosmological
Cosmology () is a branch of physics and metaphysics dealing with the nature of the universe. The term ''cosmology'' was first used in English in 1656 in Thomas Blount's ''Glossographia'', and in 1731 taken up in Latin by German philosopher ...
information, and carry out tests of
general relativity
General relativity, also known as the general theory of relativity and Einstein's theory of gravity, is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1915 and is the current description of gravitation in modern physics ...
, using data from
gravitational-wave detectors.
*Masaru Shibata's Computational Relativistic Astrophysics department at AEI Potsdam studies mergers of
black hole
A black hole is a region of spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing, including light or other electromagnetic waves, has enough energy to escape it. The theory of general relativity predicts that a sufficiently compact mass can def ...
s or
neutron star
A neutron star is the collapsed core of a massive supergiant star, which had a total mass of between 10 and 25 solar masses, possibly more if the star was especially metal-rich. Except for black holes and some hypothetical objects (e.g. w ...
s and the
collapse of stellar cores. The department also works on more fundamental aspects of
general relativity
General relativity, also known as the general theory of relativity and Einstein's theory of gravity, is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1915 and is the current description of gravitation in modern physics ...
with
numerical tools.
*The Quantum Gravity and Unified Theories department (acting director since August 2020:
Alessandra Buonanno) at AEI Potsdam works on the development of a
quantum theory of gravity, based on
conformal field theory
A conformal field theory (CFT) is a quantum field theory that is invariant under conformal transformations. In two dimensions, there is an infinite-dimensional algebra of local conformal transformations, and conformal field theories can sometime ...
,
string theory
In physics, string theory is a theoretical framework in which the point-like particles of particle physics are replaced by one-dimensional objects called strings. String theory describes how these strings propagate through space and intera ...
, and
supergravity
In theoretical physics, supergravity (supergravity theory; SUGRA for short) is a modern field theory that combines the principles of supersymmetry and general relativity; this is in contrast to non-gravitational supersymmetric theories such as ...
and
symmetries.
*The research focus of
Karsten Danzmann’s department Laser Interferometry and Gravitational Wave Astronomy at AEI Hannover is on the development and operation of
gravitational-wave detectors on Earth and in space. This includes laboratory experiments in
quantum optics
Quantum optics is a branch of atomic, molecular, and optical physics dealing with how individual quanta of light, known as photons, interact with atoms and molecules. It includes the study of the particle-like properties of photons. Photons have ...
and
laser physics.
*
Bruce Allen’s department Observational Relativity and Cosmology at AEI Hannover studies observational consequences of
general relativity
General relativity, also known as the general theory of relativity and Einstein's theory of gravity, is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1915 and is the current description of gravitation in modern physics ...
, including the search for and analysis of
gravitational-wave signals in data from
ground-based detectors, and the operation of the
Einstein@Home
Einstein@Home is a volunteer computing project that searches for signals from spinning neutron stars in data from gravitational-wave detectors, from large radio telescopes, and from a gamma-ray telescope. Neutron stars are detected by their pul ...
project. The department also works on searches for gamma-ray and radio
pulsar
A pulsar (from ''pulsating radio source'') is a highly magnetized rotating neutron star that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation out of its magnetic poles. This radiation can be observed only when a beam of emission is pointing toward Ea ...
s, and on theoretical aspects of
black holes.
*The department Precision Interferometry and Fundamental Interactions at AEI Hannover, led by Guido Müller, focuses its activity on LISA and other space-based and ground-based gravitational-wave astronomy and on searches for fundamental interactions beyond the standard model using laser-optical methods.
Directors
*
Bruce Allen (AEI Hannover, 2007–present), managing director
*
Alessandra Buonanno (AEI Potsdam, 2014–present)
*
Karsten Danzmann (AEI Hannover, 2002–present)
*
Jürgen Ehlers
Jürgen Ehlers (; 29 December 1929 – 20 May 2008) was a German physicist who contributed to the understanding of Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity. From graduate and postgraduate work in Pascual Jordan's relativity research gro ...
(AEI Potsdam, founding director, 1995–1998)
*
Gerhard Huisken
Gerhard Huisken (born 20 May 1958) is a German mathematician whose research concerns differential geometry and partial differential equations. He is known for foundational contributions to the theory of the mean curvature flow, including Huis ...
(AEI Potsdam, 2002–2013)
* Guido Müller (AEI Hannover, 2022–present)
*
Hermann Nicolai (AEI Potsdam, 1997–2020)
*
Bernard F. Schutz (AEI Potsdam, founding director, 1995–2014)
* Masaru Shibata (AEI Potsdam, 2018–present), deputy managing director
Independent research groups
Permanent independent research groups
*Geometry and Gravitation (led by Lars Andersson) at AEI Potsdam. This research group studies fundamental questions in the theory of gravity and related physical theories with mathematical methods.
*Searching for Continuous Gravitational Waves (led by
M. Alessandra Papa) at AEI Hannover. This research group works on searches for as of today undetected continuous
gravitational wave
Gravitational waves are waves of the intensity of gravity generated by the accelerated masses of an orbital binary system that propagate as waves outward from their source at the speed of light. They were first proposed by Oliver Heaviside in 1 ...
s, which are expected from rapidly rotating
neutron star
A neutron star is the collapsed core of a massive supergiant star, which had a total mass of between 10 and 25 solar masses, possibly more if the star was especially metal-rich. Except for black holes and some hypothetical objects (e.g. w ...
s.
Independent research groups
*Binary Merger Observations and Numerical Relativity (led by Frank Ohme) at AEI Hannover. The independent research group works on
gravitational-wave data analysis
Data analysis is a process of inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making. Data analysis has multiple facets and approaches, enc ...
and predictions of wave forms for signals from merging
black hole
A black hole is a region of spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing, including light or other electromagnetic waves, has enough energy to escape it. The theory of general relativity predicts that a sufficiently compact mass can def ...
s and
neutron star
A neutron star is the collapsed core of a massive supergiant star, which had a total mass of between 10 and 25 solar masses, possibly more if the star was especially metal-rich. Except for black holes and some hypothetical objects (e.g. w ...
s. The studies are based on numerical simulations of these processes.
*Exceptional Quantum Gravity (Emeritus group, led by
Hermann Nicolai) at AEI Potsdam. This research group is funded by an
ERC Advanced Grant. Its research is concerned with a
symmetry
Symmetry (from grc, συμμετρία "agreement in dimensions, due proportion, arrangement") in everyday language refers to a sense of harmonious and beautiful proportion and balance. In mathematics, "symmetry" has a more precise definiti ...
-based approach to a consistent theory of
quantum gravity
Quantum gravity (QG) is a field of theoretical physics that seeks to describe gravity according to the principles of quantum mechanics; it deals with environments in which neither gravitational nor quantum effects can be ignored, such as in the vi ...
.
*Historical Epistemology of the Final Theory Program (led by Alexander Blum) at AEI Potsdam. This research group focuses on the history of the search for a
quantum gravity theory
Quantum gravity (QG) is a field of theoretical physics that seeks to describe gravity according to the principles of quantum mechanics; it deals with environments in which neither gravitational nor quantum effects can be ignored, such as in the vi ...
. The group is a joint Max Planck Research Group of the
Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin and the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics in Potsdam.
*Multi-messenger Astrophysics of Compact Binaries (led by Tim Dietrich) at AEI Potsdam. This Max Planck Fellow research group investigates the electromagnetic and gravitational-wave emission from binary neutron star mergers using numerical relativity methods.
*Theoretical Cosmology (led by Jean-Luc Lehners) at AEI Potsdam. This research group is funded by an
ERC Consolidator Grant and works on
theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics that employs mathematical models and abstractions of physical objects and systems to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena. This is in contrast to experimental physics, which uses experim ...
of the very
early universe
The chronology of the universe describes the history and future of the universe according to Big Bang cosmology.
Research published in 2015 estimates the earliest stages of the universe's existence as taking place 13.8 billion years ago, with ...
and the
Big Bang
The Big Bang event is a physical theory that describes how the universe expanded from an initial state of high density and temperature. Various cosmological models of the Big Bang explain the evolution of the observable universe from the ...
.
Max Planck Partner Groups
Max Planck Partner Groups carry out research in fields overlapping with those of the former host Max Planck institute. They are established to support junior scientists returning to their home country after a research stay at a Max Planck Institute.
The Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics has five Max Planck Partner Groups:
* at the Institute of Theoretical Physics,
Chinese Academy of Sciences
The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); ), known by Academia Sinica in English until the 1980s, is the national academy of the People's Republic of China for natural sciences. It has historical origins in the Academia Sinica during the Republi ...
, Beijing, China, collaborating with the “Quantum Gravity and Unified Theories” department
* at the
Chennai Mathematical Institute
Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI) is a higher education and research institute in Chennai, India. It was founded in 1989 by the SPIC Science Foundation, and offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in physics, mathematics and comp ...
, India, collaborating with “Quantum Gravity and Unified Theories” department
* at the
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) Hindi: भारतीय प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान कानपुर) is a public institute of technology located in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was ...
, India, collaborating with the “Quantum Gravity and Unified Theories” department
* at
Jilin University
Jilin University (JLU; ; often abbreviated JLU or ) is a leading national research university located in Changchun, China. It is under the direct jurisdiction of China's Ministry of Education. It is a Chinese Ministry of Education Class A Do ...
Changchun, collaborating with the “Quantum Gravity and Unified Theories” department
* at the
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India, collaborating with the “Observational Relativity and Cosmology” department
Collaborative projects
Advanced LIGO and advanced Virgo
At AEI Hannover and AEI Potsdam, there are two
LIGO Scientific Collaboration
The LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC) is a scientific collaboration of international physics institutes and research groups dedicated to the search for gravitational waves.
History
The LSC was established in 1997, under the leadership of Barr ...
groups concerned with theory and
data analysis
Data analysis is a process of inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making. Data analysis has multiple facets and approaches, enc ...
of the
LIGO
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is a large-scale physics experiment and observatory designed to detect cosmic gravitational waves and to develop gravitational-wave observations as an astronomical tool. Two large ...
and
Virgo
Virgo may refer to:
*Virgo (astrology), the sixth astrological sign of the zodiac
* Virgo (constellation), a constellation
*Virgo Cluster, a cluster of galaxies in the constellation Virgo
*Virgo Stellar Stream, remains of a dwarf galaxy
* Virgo Su ...
detectors. At AEI Hannover there is also the GEO group concerned with various experimental topics. AEI researchers in Potsdam and Hannover analyse LIGO and Virgo data. They also develop predictions of gravitational-wave signals used for the search for mergers of
black hole
A black hole is a region of spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing, including light or other electromagnetic waves, has enough energy to escape it. The theory of general relativity predicts that a sufficiently compact mass can def ...
s and
neutron star
A neutron star is the collapsed core of a massive supergiant star, which had a total mass of between 10 and 25 solar masses, possibly more if the star was especially metal-rich. Except for black holes and some hypothetical objects (e.g. w ...
s and their interpretation.
The AEI Hannover is a partner institution in the advanced LIGO project and contributed the pre-stabilized laser system for the advanced LIGO detectors in Hanford and Livingston. AEI researchers help commissioning and operating the advanced LIGO interferometers.
In early 2018 researchers at AEI Hannover have developed, built, and helped install a
squeezed-light source at the Advanced
Virgo gravitational-wave detector. During the third joint observation run of the gravitational-wave detectors, it reduced the quantum-mechanical background noise by about third, increasing the expected detection rate of
binary neutron star mergers by up to 26%.
Einstein Telescope
Researchers at AEI contribute to the planning, development of, and the science case for the
Einstein Telescope
Einstein Telescope (ET) or Einstein Observatory, is a proposed third-generation ground-based gravitational wave detector, currently under study by some institutions in the European Union. It will be able to test Einstein's general theory of r ...
(ET), a third-generation gravitational-wave detector in Europe. The ET steering committee co-chair is at AEI Hannover, and laser technology for the ET Prototype in Maastricht is to be developed at AEI Hannover. AEI Potsdam researchers contribute to developing wave-form models for third generation gravitational-wave detectors such as the Einstein Telescope.
GEO600
The
GEO600 gravitational-wave detector
A gravitational-wave detector (used in a gravitational-wave observatory) is any device designed to measure tiny distortions of spacetime called gravitational waves. Since the 1960s, various kinds of gravitational-wave detectors have been built ...
south of
Hannover
Hanover (; german: Hannover ; nds, Hannober) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Lower Saxony. Its 535,932 (2021) inhabitants make it the 13th-largest city in Germany as well as the fourth-largest city in Northern Germany ...
was designed and is operated by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics and the
Leibniz Universität Hannover
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover (german: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität), also known as the University of Hannover, is a public research university located in Hanover, Germany. Founded on 2 May 1831 as Higher Vocational ...
, along with partners in the United Kingdom.
LISA Pathfinder
LISA Pathfinder
LISA Pathfinder, formerly Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology-2 (SMART-2), was an ESA spacecraft that was launched on 3 December 2015 on board Vega flight VV06. The mission tested technologies needed for the Laser Interferometer ...
was a test mission by
ESA for the
Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). It demonstrated key technologies for gravitational-wave detection in space. The Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics in Hannover and the Institute for Gravitational Physics at Leibniz Universität Hannover were responsible for and coordinated the German contribution to the mission.
During the operations phase, Max Planck and Leibniz Universität researchers in Hannover were partners in the mission's data analysis. They also played a leading role developing the analysis software LTPDA, a
MATLAB
MATLAB (an abbreviation of "MATrix LABoratory") is a proprietary multi-paradigm programming language and numeric computing environment developed by MathWorks. MATLAB allows matrix manipulations, plotting of functions and data, implementat ...
toolbox. AEI scientist took part in the mission operations shifts at
ESOC.
LISA
The space-based
gravitational-wave observatory LISA is developed under
ESA leadership in collaboration with a scientific consortium.
The LISA consortium is led by AEI director Karsten Danzmann.
At AEI Hannover and AEI Potsdam there are LISA Consortium groups. At AEI Hannover there are large laboratories for LISA laser
interferometry
Interferometry is a technique which uses the '' interference'' of superimposed waves to extract information. Interferometry typically uses electromagnetic waves and is an important investigative technique in the fields of astronomy, fiber o ...
experiments.
GRACE Follow-On
GRACE-FO is a satellite-based
geodesy
Geodesy ( ) is the Earth science of accurately measuring and understanding Earth's figure (geometric shape and size), orientation in space, and gravity. The field also incorporates studies of how these properties change over time and equival ...
mission that takes detailed measurements of the Earth's gravitational field and its temporal and spatial variations by
interferometric
Interferometry is a technique which uses the '' interference'' of superimposed waves to extract information. Interferometry typically uses electromagnetic waves and is an important investigative technique in the fields of astronomy, fiber o ...
distance measurements between two satellites. The laser ranging interferometer used for this purpose is a cooperation between
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.
NASA was established in 1958, succeedin ...
and German partners, with the German contribution led by the AEI. The instrument's concept, its prototypes and technical specifications were done at the AEI. AEI researchers have been involved in developing and testing the flight hardware.
Graduate Program
The institute participates in two International Max Planck Research Schools (IMPRS). Such research schools are graduate programs run by Max Planck Institutes in partnership with local universities, offering a Ph.D. degree. Th
IMPRS for Mathematical and Physical Aspects of Gravitation, Cosmology and Quantum Field Theorypartners with the Institute for Mathematics at
University of Potsdam
The University of Potsdam is a public university in Potsdam, capital of the state of Brandenburg, Germany. It is mainly situated across three campuses in the city. Some faculty buildings are part of the New Palace of Sanssouci which is known ...
, the Institute of Physics at
Humboldt University
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (german: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, abbreviated HU Berlin) is a German public research university in the central borough of Mitte in Berlin. It was established by Frederick William III on the initiati ...
,
IIT Bombay,
Chennai Mathematical Institute
Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI) is a higher education and research institute in Chennai, India. It was founded in 1989 by the SPIC Science Foundation, and offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in physics, mathematics and comp ...
, and the Institute of Theoretical Physics of the
Chinese Academy of Sciences
The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); ), known by Academia Sinica in English until the 1980s, is the national academy of the People's Republic of China for natural sciences. It has historical origins in the Academia Sinica during the Republi ...
Th
IMPRS on Gravitational Wave Astronomyis run in two collaborating branches, one in Hannover and one in Potsdam-Golm. The Hannover branch cooperates with the
Leibniz University Hannover
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover (german: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität), also known as the University of Hannover, is a public research university located in Hanover, Germany. Founded on 2 May 1831 as Higher Vocational Sc ...
and th
Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. The Potsdam branch partners with the
Humboldt University
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (german: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, abbreviated HU Berlin) is a German public research university in the central borough of Mitte in Berlin. It was established by Frederick William III on the initiati ...
, the
University of Potsdam
The University of Potsdam is a public university in Potsdam, capital of the state of Brandenburg, Germany. It is mainly situated across three campuses in the city. Some faculty buildings are part of the New Palace of Sanssouci which is known ...
and the
Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics. It cooperates with the IMPRS for Mathematical and Physical Aspects of Gravitation, Cosmology and Quantum Field Theory (also at AEI Potsdam), the master's degree program in astrophysics at the
University of Potsdam
The University of Potsdam is a public university in Potsdam, capital of the state of Brandenburg, Germany. It is mainly situated across three campuses in the city. Some faculty buildings are part of the New Palace of Sanssouci which is known ...
, th
Astrophysics Network Potsdam the
Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics at
Kyoto University
, mottoeng = Freedom of academic culture
, established =
, type = Public (National)
, endowment = ¥ 316 billion (2.4 billion USD)
, faculty = 3,480 (Teaching Staff)
, administrative_staff = 3,978 (Total Staff)
, students = ...
, and the
University of Maryland
The University of Maryland, College Park (University of Maryland, UMD, or simply Maryland) is a public land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland. Founded in 1856, UMD is the flagship institution of the University System of ...
.
Jürgen Ehlers Spring School
The institute offers an annual two-week spring school for 40 international students of
mathematics
Mathematics is an area of knowledge that includes the topics of numbers, formulas and related structures, shapes and the spaces in which they are contained, and quantities and their changes. These topics are represented in modern mathematics ...
and
physics
Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which ...
. Each year, the lectures, exercises, and discussions cover different topics from the institute's research expertise. Lectures are held by researchers from the institute.
The Jürgen Ehlers Spring School was established in 2000 and is named after the institute's founding director
Jürgen Ehlers
Jürgen Ehlers (; 29 December 1929 – 20 May 2008) was a German physicist who contributed to the understanding of Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity. From graduate and postgraduate work in Pascual Jordan's relativity research gro ...
.
Outreach
Public events
The institute's outreach activities include Open Days at the AEI Potsdam and at the
GEO600 gravitational-wave detector, participation in the Girls' Days and Future Days, popular science talks by researchers, participation in the “November der Wissenschaft” in Hannover, tours of the institutes including selected laboratories and computer clusters, and a program for visits and presentations by researchers at high schools.
Einstein Online
The institute runs the popular-science webportal Einstein Online, which is a hypertext network with introductory and in-depth articles about Einstein's theory of relativity and its consequences.
Journalist in Residence
Since 2018, the institute has been offering a Journalists-in-Residence program to science journalists. The goal is to improve the communication between journalists and scientists, and to provide deeper insight into the institute's research.
Einstein@Home
The institute together with the
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UW–Milwaukee, UWM, or Milwaukee) is a public urban research university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is the largest university in the Milwaukee metropolitan area and a member of the University of Wisc ...
is one of the two host institutions of the distributed volunteer computing project
Einstein@Home
Einstein@Home is a volunteer computing project that searches for signals from spinning neutron stars in data from gravitational-wave detectors, from large radio telescopes, and from a gamma-ray telescope. Neutron stars are detected by their pul ...
.
Einstein@Home aggregates computing time on volunteers’ computers to search for signals from rotating
neutron star
A neutron star is the collapsed core of a massive supergiant star, which had a total mass of between 10 and 25 solar masses, possibly more if the star was especially metal-rich. Except for black holes and some hypothetical objects (e.g. w ...
s in data from the
LIGO
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is a large-scale physics experiment and observatory designed to detect cosmic gravitational waves and to develop gravitational-wave observations as an astronomical tool. Two large ...
gravitational-wave detectors, from large
radio telescope
A radio telescope is a specialized antenna and radio receiver used to detect radio waves from astronomical radio sources in the sky. Radio telescopes are the main observing instrument used in radio astronomy, which studies the radio frequency ...
s, and from the
Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope
The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (FGST, also FGRST), formerly called the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST), is a space observatory being used to perform gamma-ray astronomy observations from low Earth orbit. Its main instrument is ...
.
References
External links
Homepage of the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational PhysicsEinstein Online- outreach website hosted at the institute about
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein ( ; ; 14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist, widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest and most influential physicists of all time. Einstein is best known for developing the theor ...
's theories of
relativity
Website of the LISA Consortiumhosted at the institute
{{Max Planck Society
Gravitational Physics
In physics, gravity () is a fundamental interaction which causes mutual attraction between all things with mass or energy. Gravity is, by far, the weakest of the four fundamental interactions, approximately 1038 times weaker than the strong ...
Physics institutes
Research institutes established in 1995
1995 establishments in Germany