GW150914, gravitational wave

thingiverse

This model shows the effect of a gravitational wave (GW, and in particular the first one ever detected, named GW150914) distorting a shape representative of a modern gravitational wave detector, that is, two equal-length arms oriented at 90 degrees; this is the basic shape of modern interferometers like Advanced Virgo in Italy and Advanced LIGO in US. The direction along the rib represents the time (flowing from the wavy end to the straight one), while each cross-section perpendicular to the rib represents the deformation of the base shape at one particular moment in time (making the two arms unequal in length). The model shows approximately the last 0.2 seconds of the GW signal: the effect of stretching and shrinking due to the GW is much exaggerated in the model, for didactical purposes. For more info read the section 'Overview and Background'. The model features equally-spaced time markers as alternating solid and dashed lines: they are useful to appreciate the development of the waveform (increasing frequency and amplitude) as time flows. The model was developed taking into account the specific needs of visually impaired people; indeed the first driver for developing the model was to develop an accessible, tactile exhibit to explain the effect of the passage of a GW. By running a finger along one of the vertical edges of the shape one can appreciate the amplitude and frequency evolution of the wave in time, while doing it on both edges at the same time makes clear that while one direction shrinks the other expands and vice versa. The model was developed by a group of members of the Virgo collaboration and of INFN: Nicola Bez, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Padova, Italy; Alessio Buggiani, European Gravitational Observatory (EGO), Pisa, Italy & Virgo Collaboration; Giacomo Ciani, University of Padova, Italy & Virgo Collaboration; Livia Conti, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Padova, Italy & Virgo Collaboration Visit our web sites: https://www.virgo-gw.eu and https://www.ego-gw.it