Quantum Optics Colloquium by Andrew D. Jackson NBIA

Understanding the LIGO gravitational wave event (GW150914)

In February 2016 the LIGO team announced the detection of gravitational waves (GW) created by the merger of two black holes. In addition to con- firming a major prediction of general relativity, successful GW detection would provide a powerful new tool for astrophysics. Given their evident importance, the LIGO results and the methods which led to them deserve independent critical analysis. This talk will present the results of one such study in a manner suitable for non-specialists.