Indian scientists played a crucial role in the path-breaking project to detect gravitational waves, or ripples in space-time, which Albert Einstein had predicted a century ago. Several institutes, including Institute of Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar, Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, and Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT), Indore, were involved in the research.
The announcement of the detection of gravitational waves was made simultaneously at IUCAA, Pune, and by scientists in Washington DC, USA. Incidentally, India is also one of countries where an advanced gravitational laboratory is being set up.
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) project operates three gravitational-wave (GW) detectors, two of which are in the USA. The proposed LIGO-India project aims to move the Advanced LIGO detector from Hanford (in the US) to India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressed joy over the historic detection of gravitational waves and lauded the role of Indian scientists in the project.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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