The 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Rainer Weiss, Barry C. Barish and Kip S. Thorne for their role in the first observation of gravitational waves. Their work over decades with the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) project led to the first detection of gravitational waves in 2015, confirming Einstein's prediction of their existence. The LIGO detectors use highly advanced laser interferometry to measure tiny distortions in spacetime caused by massive accelerating objects like black holes and neutron stars. This breakthrough has opened new avenues for exploring the universe.

2. Nobel Prize in Physics – 2017
By
SADAF MUNIR
2023-M.PHIL-APP-PHY-14

3. ▪ The Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded by The Royal Swedish Academy
of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden.
▪ The Nobel Prize in Physics 2017 was divided, one half awarded to
Rainer Weiss, the other half jointly to Barry C. Barish and Kip S. Thorne
for:
“Decisive Contributions to the LIGO Detector and the
observation of Gravitational Waves“.

4. Rainer Weiss Facts :
Born: 29 September 1932, Berlin, Germany
Affiliationat the time of the award: LIGO/VIRGO Collaboration,; Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT), Cambridge, MA,
USA
Prize share: ½
Work:
One consequence of Einstein’sgeneral theory of relativityis the existence of gravitationalwaves. These are like ripples ina four-
dimensionalspace time that occur when objects with mass accelerate.The effects are very small. Beginning in the 1970s the
LIGO detector was developed.In this detector laser technology is used to measure small changes in length caused by
gravitational waves.Rainer Weiss has made crucial contributionsto the developmentof the detector. In 2015 gravitational
waves were detected for the first time.

5. Barry C. Barish Facts :
Born: 27 January 1936, Omaha, NE, USA
Affiliationat the time of the award: LIGO/VIRGO Collaboration,; CaliforniaInstitute of Technology(Caltech), Pasadena, CA, USA
Prize share: 1/4
Work:
One consequence of Einstein’sgeneral theory of relativityis the existence of gravitationalwaves. These are like ripples in a four-
dimensionalspacetime that occur when objects with mass accelerate. The effects are very small. Beginning in the 1970s the LIGO
detector was developedto record gravitational waves.Barry Barish had a leading role in the project from 1994 and made crucial
contributionsto the developmentof the detector. In 2015 gravitationalwaves were detected for the first time.

6. Kip S. Thorne Facts:
Born: 1 June 1940, Logan, UT, USA
Affiliationat the time of the award: LIGO/VIRGO Collaboration,; CaliforniaInstitute of Technology(Caltech), Pasadena, CA, USA
Prize share: ¼
Work:
One consequence of Einstein’sgeneral theory of relativityis the existence of gravitationalwaves. These are like ripples in a four-
dimensionalspacetime that occur when objects with mass accelerate. The effects are very small. Beginning in the 1970s the
LIGO detectorwas developed.In this detector laser technology is used to measure small changes in length caused by
gravitational waves.Kip Thorne has made crucial contributionsto the developmentof the detector. In 2015 gravitational waves
were detected for the first time.

7. ▪ FIRST PREDICTED A CENTURY AGO BY ALBERTEINSTEIN IN HIS GENERAL THEORYOF RELATIVITY,
GRAVITATIONALWAVESWERE NOT DETECTED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2015. THEYCARRY INFORMATIONON THE
MOTIONS OF OBJECTSIN THE UNIVERSE, AND THEIR OBSERVATIONOPENS NEW AVENUES OF EXPLORATION
INTO THE HISTORY AND STRUCTURE OF OUR UNIVERSE.
▪ GRAVITATIONALWAVESARE PRODUCED BY MASSIVE ACCELERATING OBJECTS IN THE UNIVERSE SUCH AS
NEUTRON STARS OR BLACK HOLES ORBITINGEACH OTHER. EINSTEIN PREDICTED THAT THEIR ACTIONS WOULD
PRODUCEWAVES OF DISTORTED SPACE THAT TRAVEL THROUGH THE UNIVERSE AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT.
▪ THE FIRST GRAVITATIONALWAVEEVER TO BE DETECTED ARRIVED ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY AT THE TWO
LASER INTERFEROMETER GRAVITATIONAL-WAVEOBSERVATORIES(LIGO), ONE SITUATED IN LIVINGSTON
(LOUISIANA) AND THE OTHER ONE 3 000 KM AWAY, NEAR WASHINGTONSTATE, ON 14 SEPTEMBER 2015.
PIONEERS RAINER WEISS AND KIP S. THORNE, TOGETHER WITH BARRYC. BARISH, THE SCIENTIST AND LEADER
WHO BROUGHTTHE PROJECTTO COMPLETION, ENSURED THAT FOUR DECADESOF EFFORT LED TO
GRAVITATIONALWAVESFINALLY BEING OBSERVED.

8. ▪ LIGO adapted the chirp of the gravitational wave to allow us to hear it:
▪ Einstein himself did not believe that the gravitational waves could be measured – a century ago,
the technology and precision required was unimaginable. By the early 1970s, both Kip Thorne and
Rainer Weiss were firmly convinced that gravitational waves could be detected and bring about a
revolution in our knowledge of the universe. The signal measured on 14 September 2015,
following a collision between two black holes 1.3 billion years ago, was about one thousandth the
size of a proton. The precision of the LIGO instrument is “a testament to modern technology and
science,” said Barry C. Barish. “I think this couldn't have been done 50 years ago, or 20 years ago,
or 30 years ago. It's taken the best modern lasers and control and engineering to be able to do it.”
▪ Comprised of two enormous laser interferometers located thousands of kilometers apart, LIGO
exploits the physical properties of light and of space itself to detect and understand the origins of
gravitational waves. Since 2015, three other gravitational waves have been detected, the latest
one on 14 August at the VIRGO observatory (Italy) along with LIGO. Being able to experimentally
detect these signals has been crucial to validate Einstein’s General Relativity theory, but it also
provides new tools to investigate the history and the structure of our universe, potential
modifications of gravity and much more.

10. THANK YOU