China‘s Sky Eye FAST telescope, the world’s largest and most sensitive radio astronomy telescope, continues to make groundbreaking discoveries in the field of astronomy. Recently, the Chinese pulsar timing array research team, comprised of scientists from the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other institutions, utilized Sky Eye FAST to detect compelling evidence of nanohertz gravitational waves. This remarkable achievement demonstrates that China’s research in this area is on par with international standards and has even reached a leading position.

The data set containing the Research Data spanned over 3 years

The findings were published in China’s prestigious astronomical journal, “Astronomy and Astrophysics Research,” on June 29. The research team analyzed a data set spanning 3 years and 5 months, collected by Sky Eye FAST, and successfully identified key evidence supporting the existence of nanohertz gravitational waves at a confidence level of 4.6 sigma. Such a high level of confidence signifies a false positive rate of less than 1 in 500,000.

China Telescope

Nanohertz gravitational waves are a type of gravitational wave characterized by an extremely low frequency of 10 to the power of minus 9 Hz. Detecting these waves poses significant challenges due to their ultra-low frequency, long periods lasting several years, and wavelengths stretching across several light-years.

Gravitational waves, as predicted by Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity, are ripples in spacetime caused by the acceleration of objects with mass. Analogous to throwing a stone into a pond and observing the resulting ripples on the surface, these waves propagate outward from the source of mass. Their weak interaction with matter during propagation makes them ideal carriers of valuable information from the depths of the universe. Gravitational wave astronomy, a field of observational astronomy, focuses on using gravitational waves to gather information about violent astronomical events such as binary star systems comprising white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes. Supernovae and the Big Bang also serve as sources of these cosmic disturbances.

The groundbreaking discovery of gravitational waves in 2015 by the LIGO scientific team and subsequent observations have opened up an exciting new chapter in our understanding of the universe. In recognition of their pioneering work, Rainer Weiss, Barry Barish, and Kip Thorne were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2017.

China’s significant contributions to gravitational wave research, as evidenced by the latest breakthrough utilizing Sky Eye FAST, reaffirm its position as a global leader in astronomy and showcase the nation’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge. With each new discovery, our understanding of the universe deepens, unveiling its secrets and inspiring future generations of astronomers and scientists.

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