Moon has become centre of atraction for research.Karan Jani, an astrophysicist at Vanderbilt University, led a series of studies that provided the first case of gravitational wave infrastructure on the surface of the moon. He said that this experiment, called the Cosmological Gravitational Wave Lunar Observatory (GLOC), uses the lunar environment and geocentric orbit to analyze the effects of black holes, neutron stars, and dark matter candidates within nearly 70% of the observable volume of the entire universe. merge.
Jani said: “By digging into the natural conditions on the moon, our research has shown that one of the most challenging gravitational wave spectra can be better measured from the surface of the moon. So far, it seems impossible from the earth or space. ”
Avi Loeb, a science professor at Harvard University and best-selling author of books on black holes, the first stars, the search for extraterrestrial life, and the future of the universe, said: “The moon provides an ideal backdrop for the ultimate gravitational wave observatory because it has no atmosphere.
And the obvious seismic noise, we must alleviate the laser interferometer on the earth at a huge price. A lunar observatory will provide unprecedented sensitivity to discover sources we did not anticipate, which may allow us to understand new physics GLOC may be the crown jewel of science on the lunar surface.”
This work was carried out as NASA resumed its Artemis program, which aims to send the first woman and the next man to the moon as early as 2024. The ongoing commercial work of aerospace companies, including SpaceX and BlueOrigin, has also added to the impetus behind ambitious plans for scientific infrastructure on the lunar surface.
Jani said: “In the next few years, we hope to develop a’Pathfinder’ mission on the moon to test GLOC’s technology. Unlike space missions that last only a few years, the huge investment benefit of GLOC is that it will be on the moon. Establish a permanent base where generations of people can study the universe, in fact, the entire time of this century.”
At present, the observatory is theoretical, and Jani and Loeb are strongly recognized by the international gravitational wave community. “It’s a great honor to work with an innovative young thinker like Karan Jani,” Loeb said. “He may live long enough to witness the results of the project.”
