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Gravitational-Wave Astronomy

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Multi-messenger astronomy will explore the cosmos through different "windows" to the Universe.


GW Astronomy is an emerging branch of observational astronomy which aims to use GWs to collect observational data about various astrophysical and cosmological phenomena. This frontier research field in the area of Gravitation and Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A) is still in the developmental stages. However there is consensus within the A&A community that this field will evolve to become an established component of 21st century "multi-messenger astronomy", and that GW astronomers will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with gamma-ray, x-ray, optical, infrared and radio astronomers in exploring the cosmos in the years to come.

GWs are tiny distortions in the spacetime geometry that propagates with the speed of light. Detecting such tiny signals (the typical distortions that we expect are of the order of a million times smaller than the size of a nucleus) is an enormous challenge. This requires a close collaboration of theoretical and experimental physicists, astronomers, computer scientists, mathematicians and statisticians.

Graduate studies in Gravitational-Wave Astronomy


Research areas include:
  • Interferometry on ground and space (using light as well as matter waves).
  • Development and fabrication of mirrors and suspensions.
  • Numerical modelling of optical and mechanical systems.
  • Modelling of GW sources using analytical and numerical relativity, and magneto-hydrodynamics.
  • Materials research.
  • Development of computational and statistical techniques for GW detection and source-parameter estimation.
  • Theoretical Astrophysics: modelling source populations, interpreting GW observations and upper limits.

Research opportunities for undergraduate students


Research and training programs for school children


List of summer research projects from the past

  • This web page summarizes the summer research projects in the past facilitated by the members and collaborators of the IndIGO consortium.

Know more about the field