Re: Layman's question about Gravitational waves

nuny@xxxxxxxx wrote:


Yes it does, but not by blithely assuming that its predictions are
correct without actually looking for them directly. A huge pile of
predictions, inferences and correlations does not negate a total lack
of predicted direct observations.

I'd still like a single cite showing that Weber-style detectors
(direct-resonant gravitational wave antennas) ever detected anything
above their design noise floor.

And again I ask you why Forward's work doesn't count?


Mark L. Fergerson


"Gravitational waves offer a remarkable opportunity to see the universe
from a new perspective, providing access to astrophysical insights that
are available in no other way. The initial LIGO gravitational wave
detectors have started observations, and are already yielding data that
are being interpreted to establish new upper limits on
gravitational-wave flux.

"The sensitivity of the initial LIGO instruments is such that it is
perfectly possible that discoveries will be made. If they succeed,
there will be a strong demand from the community to improve the
sensitivity allowing more astrophysical information to be recovered
from the signals. If no discovery is made, there will be no lesser
urgency to improve the sensitivity of the instrument to the point where
there is a general consensus that gravitational waves will be detected
often and with a good signal-to-noise ratio. The development of the
next generation of instrument must be pursued aggressively to make the
transition from the initial to the Advanced detector in a timely way -
after the complete science run of the initial detector, but as quickly
as possible thereafter".

Keep going: http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/advLIGO/scripts/summary.shtml
.

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