The detections, gathered between May 2023 and January 2024, mark a turning point in gravitational-wave astronomy. Improved sensitivity in the detectors, now 25 percent greater than before, enabled scientists to probe deeper into the cosmos and uncover signals from massive and distant systems.
Among the discoveries is GW230814, the loudest gravitational wave recorded to date, which hints at black holes formed from previous mergers. The catalogue also includes evidence of two black hole-neutron star collisions, broadening the variety of cosmic events studied.
UK researchers have played a central role in both instrumentation and data analysis, supported by the Science and Technology Facilities Council. Teams from the University of Glasgow, the University of Portsmouth, and Royal Holloway contributed significantly to the detectors' precision and to extracting faint signals buried in noise.
Dr Daniel Williams from the University of Glasgow noted that the new results highlight the strength of the international network and the analytical tools developed to interpret complex data.
The expanded catalogue enables more precise tests of Einstein's general relativity and refines measurements of the Universe's expansion rate, including the contested Hubble constant. Tessa Baker of the University of Portsmouth emphasized the excitement of releasing over a hundred new events, providing vital cosmological insights while affirming the consistency of gravity on large scales with Einstein's theory.
Looking ahead, researchers expect even more breakthroughs as future facilities, such as the Vera Rubin Observatory, link gravitational wave detections with light-based observations. This multi-messenger approach promises to unravel deeper mysteries about stars, black holes, and the forces shaping the Universe.
Research Report:GWTC-4.0: Updating the Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalog with Observations from the First Part of the Fourth LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Observing Run
Related Links
LIGO
The Physics of Time and Space
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