Third Place, 2021

The merger of two black holes is among the most violent and energetic events known to exist, the effects of which can be felt across the universe. Employing Einstein’s theory of gravity, we can computationally solve for the behavior of these mergers as pictured here. This image shows a snapshot of two black holes of different mass orbiting one another, producing massive ripples in space-time known as gravitational waves. By the time these waves reach us, their amplitudes have decayed to be nearly imperceptible. However, gravitational wave detectors such as the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory can detect these signals, giving us a new lens through which to observe the universe.

Credit:
Dr. Deborah Ferguson
Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Gravitational Physics