Einstein’s Gravitational Waves Detected: A Breakthrough Discovery

Posted by Dr Stephania Savva

Description :

The discovery of Einstein’s gravitational waves reported during a blockbuster announcement in a news conference on February 11, 2016 at Washington DC, is making waves all over the world. What’s the big fuzz about it though and why should we care? This article explores the question by taking a more in-depth look into the phenomenon.

The scientific community are still overwhelmed by the news of the breakthrough discovery of gravitational waves in the form of faint ripples of gravity, reverberating invisibly through the fabric of space-time from the collision of two black holes. 

Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), designed to open the field of gravitational-wave astrophysics supported by Caltech and MIT, captured this groundbreaking moment in history reportedly on September 14, 2015. Nevertheless, what does the phenomenon entail in reality and why is it so important to us? We will try to demystify the latter in the next few paragraphs. 

What Are Gravitational Waves? 

The term gravitational waves was originally introduced by Einstein back in 1915 in establishing his theory of general relativity. The latter concept suggests that mass distorts both space and time similar to how a heavy bowling ball distorts a trampoline. 

When an object accelerates, it creates ripples in space-time, in the same way a boat causes ripples in a pond. These ripples that allude space-time are called gravitational waves. Due to the fact that they are extremely weak signals, it is difficult to detect them. Therefore, although there's convincing indirect evidence that gravitational waves exist, a direct detection had proven elusive, until now. 

Missions like LIGO and LISA are dedicated to detect these waves by observing small changes in the distances between objects at set distances. The most optimum opportunity to detect gravitational waves comes from detecting the collision of two black holes or pulsars into each other.

The Discovery

“We have detected gravitational waves. We did it,” Prof David Reitze, executive director of LIGO, told journalists. LIGO, uses the world’s most sophisticated detector, utilizing laser interferometry, which in simple terms means firing lasers into long, L-shaped tunnels; the waves disturb the light to detect the collision of black holes when they merged. A merger occurs when two black holes start to spiral towards each other and radiate energy as gravitational waves. 

Scientists listened the characteristic sound of these waves, namely a chirp, for 20 thousandths of a second as the two giant black holes, one about 36 times the mass of the Sun, the other slightly smaller at 29 solar masses, circled around each other.

The signal detected, allowed them to calculate how stars perish: the two holes had begun by circling each other 30 times a second. Before the final collision and a dark violent merger had occurred at the end of the 20 millisecond snatch of data captured, the two had accelerated to 250 times a second!

The research findings from this study, undertaken by the LIGO Collaboration, have been published in the journal Physical Review Letters.

Signals of Gravitational Waves, As Einstein Predicted detected by the twin LIGO observatories at Livingston, Louisiana, and Hanford, Washington. Image Credit: Caltech/MIT/LIGO Lab

Why It Matters

The significance of detection of gravitational waves is attributed in the following key issues:

1. The discovery of gravitational waves opens a new window to research of the universe since it provides with insights on its existence and a potential paradigm shift on how we detect and study cosmic phenomena, in particular those that do not radiate in the electromagnetic spectrum.

2. The findings of this research confirm Einstein’s prediction of gravitational waves as part of his Theory of General Relativity and regenerate the interest in exploring the theory in depth. 

3. Re-enforces the study on the use of gravitational telescopes which allows to hear phenomena at the same time as light-based telescopes see them.

4. Since gravitational waves were detected from the energy emitted from the collision of two black holes, it is now confirmed that black holes really do exist and that mergers between two black holes proceed as predicted.

Image by THE OFFICIAL ANDREASCY: Fast Facts about Gravitational Waves

In sum, the detection of gravitational waves opens the field to completely new investigation suggesting that some exciting days lay ahead for scientists. Stephen Hawking suggests that "gravitational waves could revolutionize astronomy".

Conclusion

Through this discovery we are one step closer to solving more of the mysteries of the universe following 380,000 years after it is thought to have been generated. And possibly the biggest mystery of it all: the 'Big Bang' singularity.

SOMETHING RELEVANT: Dreaming About the Future of Space Tourism

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Top Tech Money Savers for Your Business

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Running a business is expensive. That’s just the name of the game. Them's the breaks, as they say. You need to pay your employees. You need to pay your taxes. You need supplies and for your utilities to stay on. All of those things cost money. 

There is no rule, however, that says you have to pay full price for everything all the time. Here are some of the best ways you can save money on technology for your business and use technology to save your business money:

1. Print Smart

If you’re paying full price for your toner and ordering it directly from the printer manufacturer, stop it! That’s like taking your car to the dealership for an inspection. There are much better ways to get your toner needs taken care of, and this includes your toner cartridge, premium LaserJet options or repairs for your copy machine. Why pay full price and then some if you don’t have to?

2. Go Solar

Solar chargers are going to be the best thing that happened to your office and your business utility bill. Solar chargers (especially if you get the “expanded editions” AKA, bigger cells that can store more power) make it possible to charge everything from cell phones and PDAs to laptop computers without ever having to plug those things in to an A/C outlet. This cuts down on the amount of energy your company uses (which reduces your electric bill). 

They’re also portable so they can help your employees keep their devices charged no matter where they are. Plus, going green is good karma, and what business couldn't use good karma!

3. Tablets Rule, Desktops Drool

Switch to tablet computers instead of forcing your employees to use desktops. Microsoft has great deals for small business owners who want to furnish their employees with tablets (Apple has similar deals if the iPad is more your company’s style). A few years ago switching to tablets was a pipe dream. Now, though, thanks to accessories like keyboards, styluses, etc you can get your tablet to function just like your desktop (sometimes even better).

This also helps make your workplace more portable. Your employees won’t require as much space to do their jobs. You can donate the desktop computers to charity for an additional business write off. Everybody wins!

4. Independent Contractors

Independent contractors and freelancers offer you the ability to get top notch work done for a fraction of what you’d pay for a full time employee. Plus, thanks to web based tools for teleconferencing, desktop sharing, etc—people can work together no matter where they are physically located. The primary benefit of working with an independent contractor or freelancer is that you only have to pay for the number of hours spent actually working or the work that actually gets completed. You don’t have to pay for time spent sitting in the office surfing Google News or playing Candy Crush on Facebook.

Even better, independent contractors and freelancers manage their own taxes and finances so you’ll save time and effort on your payroll duties.

Conclusion

These are just some of the things you can do to save money for your business (while also embracing the latest technologies). What are some of the things you’ve done to help save money and keep your business up to “techno-date”?

READ ALSO: Tech for the Sales Team

You are free to leave your questions below. Thank you for your time!

*by andreascy*

Direct Differences Between Inkjet and Laser Printers

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Torn Between an Inkjet and a Laser Printer? 

Can’t decide between an inkjet and a laser printer? You’re not alone. Most, if not all, consumers wanting to buy a new printer have faced this dilemma. 

Often, budget constraints force a consumer to get the cheaper option, not knowing the better option to buy to meet their printing needs. Budget may play a big role in your choice of printer, but there are a variety of factors to consider, namely which one will work best for your projects.

Printing Volume 

One of the first things to consider when looking for a new printer is to know where you’re going to use it. Will it be used at home or at the office? Given this factor, a family, who occasionally uses a printer, will benefit most from an inkjet. On the other hand, you’ll most probably need a laser printer if you expect to print documents, photos, and other materials in high volumes. 

Size 

Another difference between inkjets and laser printers are their size. Generally, the latter tends to be larger in size. Hence, this is another reason homeowners, especially those with limited space, are best advised to purchase an inkjet printer. If space is not an issue, you can consider printers with laser technology. 

Speed 

Laser printers are best suited for those who expect high volumes of printing largely because of their print speed. Quality laser printers have faster printing capabilities and can print at a speed of 10-15 pages per minute - inkjet printers are not as fast and generally have a lower printing speed. Laser printers are then best for homes or businesses which require hundreds of pages printed at a time. 

Technology and Supplies 

Inkjet printers make use of simpler technology and parts compared to laser printers. As the name implies, ink is used for inkjet printers, while laser printers use toner. Unlike ink, toner is made, and needs to be used for, a specific kind of printer; meaning you can’t mix and match toner cartridges. 

Resolution 

Due to the difference in technology, the print quality and resolution vary between laser and inkjets. Laser technology in printers gives it a higher resolution and print quality and is best for printing in colour. Inkjets are better for printing word documents and the odd photograph. 

Paper 

To achieve the best resolution and printing outcomes, the right type of paper should also be considered. Remember, a laser printer works well with almost any kind of paper. On the other hand, inkjets work best with specialty paper designed for inkjet printers - otherwise, there’s a good chance you’ll end up with some fuzzy photos. 

Costs 

The laser printer might appear to cost more than an inkjet; however, you should always remember that your purchase should not be based on the initial costs alone. The cost of maintenance, if needed, ink, toner and paper should all be taken into consideration. 

Given the above list, the best thing to do when deciding what printer to buy, is first think about what you will mainly be using it for. That way, you won’t end up buying an inkjet when it’s a laser printer you should really be getting, and vice versa.

SEE ALSO:

Common Printer Mistakes To Avoid

Wireless Printing and Why You Need It

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UCSB : Ripping electrons from their cores - Physicists mix 2 lasers to create light at many frequencies

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

A team of physicists at UCSB (University of California, Santa Barbara) has seen the light, and it comes in many different colors. By aiming high- and low-frequency laser beams at a semiconductor, the researchers caused electrons to be ripped from their cores, accelerated, and then smashed back into the cores they left behind. This recollision produced multiple frequencies of light simultaneously. Their findings appear in the current issue of the science journal Nature.

"This is a very remarkable phenomenon. I have never seen anything like this before," said Mark Sherwin, whose research group made the groundbreaking discovery. Sherwin is a professor of physics at UCSB and a co-author of the paper. He is also director of the campus's Institute for Terahertz Science and Technology. 

When the high-frequency optical laser beam hits the semiconductor material - in this case, gallium arsenide nanostructures - it creates an electron-hole pair called an exciton. The electron is negatively charged, and the hole is positively charged, and the two are bound together by their mutual attraction. "The high-frequency laser creates electrons and holes," Sherwin explained. "The very strong, low-frequency free electron laser beam rips the electron away from the hole and accelerates it. As the low-frequency field oscillates, it causes the electron to come careening back to the hole." The electron has excess energy because it has been accelerated, and when it slams back into the hole, the recombined electron-hole pair emits photons at new frequencies. 

"It's fairly routine to mix the lasers and get one or two new frequencies, Sherwin continued. "But to see all these different new frequencies, up to 11 in our experiment, is the exciting phenomenon. Each frequency corresponds to a different color." 

In terms of real-world applications, the electron-hole recollision phenomenon has the potential to significantly increase the speed of data transfer and communication processes. One possible application involves multiplexing -- the ability to send data down multiple channels - and another is high-speed modulation. 

"Think of your cable Internet," explained Ben Zaks, a UCSB doctoral student in physics and the paper's lead author. "The cable is a bundle of fiber optics, and you're sending a beam with a wavelength that's approximately 1.5 microns down the line. But within that beam there are a lot of frequencies separated by small gaps, like a fine-toothed comb. Information going one way moves on one frequency, and information going another way uses another frequency. You want to have a lot of frequencies available, but not too far from one another." 

The electron-hole recollision phenomenon does just that - it creates light at new frequencies, with optimal separation between them. 

The researchers utilize a free electron laser - a building-size machine in UCSB's Broida Hall -- to produce the electron-hole recollisions, which they note is not practical for real-world applications. Theoretically, however, a transistor could be used in place of the free electron laser to produce the strong terahertz fields. "The transistor would then modulate the near infrared beam," Zaks continued. "Our data indicates that we are modulating the near infrared laser at twice the terahertz frequency. This is where we could really see this working to increase the speed of optical modulation, which is how you get information down a cable line." 

The electron-hole recollision phenomenon creates many new avenues for research and exploration, Sherwin noted. "It is an interesting time because there are a lot of people who can participate in doing this kind of research," he said. "We have a unique tool -- a free electron laser -- which gives us a big advantage for exploring the properties of fundamental materials. We just put it in front of our laser beams and measure the colors of light going out. Now that we've seen this phenomenon, we can start doing the hard work of putting the pieces together on a chip." 

In discussing the research team's discovery, Sherwin cited Michael Polanyi, the Hungarian scientist and science philosopher. "He talked about growing points in science, and I'm hoping this is going to be one of those, where a lot of people can use it as a foundation for going off in a lot of different directions," he said. "I want to continue working on it, but I'd like to see a lot of other people join in." 

Also contributing to the research is the paper's second author, R.B. Liu of The Chinese University in Hong Kong. "This is an excellent example of the value of communicating with scientists from all over the globe," said Sherwin. "If we had never met, this research would not have happened." 

WORTH THE READ: MIT Ultra Speed Laser-Powered Camera Can Detect Objects Hidden Around Corners

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MIT Ultra Speed Laser-Powered Camera Can Detect Objects Hidden Around Corners

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Scientists at MIT have created a new camera that uses a titanium-sapphire laser as a light source, and it's so sensitive it can see around corners. 

MIT researchers say it could be used in medical, industrial or even consumer products.

The video below shows how scientists at the MIT Media Lab reconstruct a hidden object using scattered laser light.

Future applications may include seeing in dangerous or inaccessible locations, such as inside machinery with moving parts, or in highly contaminated areas. 

Read the original research here and check out the researchers project url here.

*by andreascy*

The Smallest Laser in the world is Smaller Than Dust

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

What is the biggest constraint in creating tiny lasers? Pump power. Yes sir, all lasers require a certain amount of pump power from an outside source to begin emitting a coherent beam of light and the smaller a laser is, the greater the pump power needed to reach this state. The laser cavity consists of a tiny metal rod enclosed by a ring of metal-coated, quantum wells of semiconductor material. 

A team of researchers from the University of California has developed a technique that uses quantum electrodynamic effects in coaxial nanocavities to lower the amount of pump power needed. This allowed them to build the world’s smallest room-temperature, continuous wave laser. The whole device is only half a micron in diameter (human hair has on average a thickness of 50 micron).

The nanolaser design appears to be scalable – meaning that they could be shrunk to even smaller sizes – an important feature that would make it possible to harvest laser light from even smaller structures. Applications for such lasers could include tiny biochemical sensors or high-resolution displays, but the researchers are still working out the theory behind how these tiny lasers operate. They would also like to find a way to pump the lasers electrically instead of optically.

*by andreascy*

Coherent's Verdi G18 : Scientific Lasers hit 18W

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

With output powers of 12, 15, and 18 Watts, Coherent says its new Verdi G series of 532nm scientific grade lasers offer many advantages over earlier lower-power models.

Despite their higher output, the new Verdi G12, Verdi G15, and Verdi G18 lasers are actually contained within smaller laser heads measuring just 68 x 98 x 214mm – just 40% of the volume of earlier models. The lasers output a vertically polarised beam with a M² of less than 1.1 and very low total noise – just 0.02% measured over the frequency range from 10Hz to 100MHz, according to Coherent.

This low noise is attributed to the reduced upper state lifetime of the gain medium in these optically pumped semiconductor lasers (OPSL), which is said to eliminates the ‘green noise’ that often compromises performance of 532nm solid state lasers. This, and advanced surface cooling, means that there are no thermal lensing issues with these devices and consequently they can be operated at anywhere from 10 to 100% of their rated output with no effect on beam parameters, says Coherent.

The lasers are intended primarily for pumping titanium : sapphire (Ti:S) oscillators, where their power will enable tunable, mode-locked output of more than 4 Watts (the G15 and G18 can pump a Ti:S and a regenerative amplifier at the same time).

*by andreascy*

UGGA : Ultra Portable Greenhouse Gas Analyser Fits In Small Case

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Portable gas analysers are nothing new, but Los Gatos Research reckons its latest instrument is the world’s first Greenhouse Gas Analyser to qualify for the label "ultra portable". 

Able to detect the three major greenhouse gases - CO2 (Carbon Dioxide), CH4 (Methane), and H2O (Water Vapour) to a claimed accuracy of parts per billion, the appropriately-named Ultra-portable Greenhouse Gas Analyser, or UGGA, is built into a rugged case small enough to be taken as aircraft carry-on luggage.

Los Gatos says that UGGA can simultaneously measure concentrations of CO2, CH4, and H2O, without suffering cross-sensitivity with other gases. The device consumes less than 70 watts, which the company says is less than a standard light bulb (but, as tungsten bulbs over 60W have already be come unavailable Europe, this isn’t necessarily a universal truth). 

The instrument works on the company’s proprietary Off-axis Integrated Cavity Output Spectroscopy (OA-Icos) technology, a cavity-enhanced laser absorption technique which it says is more precise and more rugged than competing technologies. Being a laser-based technique, the instrument automatically corrects CO2 and CH4 for water vapour dilution and spectroscopic effects. Both are reported as dry mole fractions, enabling accurate measurements without the need for sample drying. 

The choice of technology and the ruggedised case makes UGGA suitable for portable operation, and the package fits within US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) guidelines. Applications include compliance monitoring of industrial emissions and landfills, leak detection, air quality studies, soil flux studies, and other field operations where greenhouse gas emissions are to be monitored. 

*by andreascy*