Speaker
Description
Detection of Gravitational Waves (GWs) in 2015 provided yet further vindication of Einstein’s General Relativity and its predictions that were made more than a century before. Rates of detection have far surpassed those initially projected. As instrument sensitivity refines and with new detectors coming online in a few years, we expect an explosion of detections to add to the growing catalogue. As we fully immerse in the era of multi-messenger astronomy information from gravitational wave events is expected to shed light on the physics of compact bodies that remain poorly understood. In turn, growing computing power, the reduction of computing costs with advancing technology and the potential of artificial intelligence are expected to lead to more refined simulations of gravitational wave events providing better templates for searches. Collapse supernovae (CCSNe) of galactic origin have long been touted as candidates for GWs, yet no signal has yet been detected from such a source to date. We consider the potential for an imminent detection. We also discuss other factors that may need to be considered in calculating detection rates of GW events. One such factor is the role of intervening viscous matter and consider scenarios that may diminish or altogether mask GWs.