Jérôme Degallaix, chercheur au Laboratoire de Matériaux Avancés à Lyon donnera un séminaire intitulé « Miroirs extraordinaires à l’écoute des vibrations de l’espace-temps » le mardi 4 février 2025 à 10h00 en salle Pierre Cotton du laboratoire.
Résumé : The first direct detection of gravitational waves from the merger of two black holes in 2015 opened a new window to study the most violent events in the universe. Completely complementary to the electromagnetic spectrum, these spacetime vibrations provide us with unprecedented information on the evolution of the most compact objects that nature has produced.
To date, more than 90 events have already been recorded, and we are in the midst of a new data-taking period with increasingly sensitive instruments. These detections are the result of 50 years of experimental research leading to the development of giant detectors, optical interferometers several kilometers long. At the heart of these instruments are the most precise mirrors in the world, whose processing and characterization were done in Lyon.
This presentation will cover the latest discoveries in gravitational waves and introduce the unique infrastructure developed in Lyon to meet the needs of large optics in astronomy. We will also explore the challenges facing the next generation of mirrors. The presentation is intended for a general audience.
To date, more than 90 events have already been recorded, and we are in the midst of a new data-taking period with increasingly sensitive instruments. These detections are the result of 50 years of experimental research leading to the development of giant detectors, optical interferometers several kilometers long. At the heart of these instruments are the most precise mirrors in the world, whose processing and characterization were done in Lyon.
This presentation will cover the latest discoveries in gravitational waves and introduce the unique infrastructure developed in Lyon to meet the needs of large optics in astronomy. We will also explore the challenges facing the next generation of mirrors. The presentation is intended for a general audience.
Biographie : Jérôme Degallaix est chercheur au LMA (Laboratoire des Matériaux Avancés) à Lyon et travaille sur la technologie des miroirs. Il a fait toute sa carrière scientifique dans la détection des ondes gravitationnelles, en travaillant sur des techniques optiques depuis plus de 20 ans, de la simulation au travail expérimental. Il s’intéresse actuellement aux grands miroirs en saphir et à l’optique personnalisée dont il parlera brièvement dans sa présentation.
Contact : Frédéric Galland – Séminaire invité du Thème Information & Photonique
