Research Projects

To date, Einstein's General Theory of Relativity is the best current fundamental theory of gravity. This fascinating theory describes gravity as the curvature of space and time itself. As esoteric as it sounds, results from Einstein's theory are put to use every day in high-precision Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation.

Researchers in gravitational physics are exploring a wide range of applications of Einstein's theory of gravity. Many physicists are interested in testing predictions of Einstein's theory of gravity. One such prediction is that the universe is filled with gravitational waves: undulations in the fabric of spacetime. These waves are produced by enormous astrophysical events, such as the collision of two neutron stars or black holes. Gravitational waves are very weak and difficult to detect, and so dedicated collaborations exist to detect them including the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) collaboration.Physicists are also interested in testing General Relativity and its foundations, Special Relativity and the Weak Equivalence Principle. One motivating idea is that tiny deviations from the principles of General Relativity might arise from a much sought after unified theory of physics that incorporates Einstein's General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. Gravitational physics offers unique testing grounds such as Earth-laboratory tests like gravimeter tests and short-range gravity tests as well as space-based tests such as lunar laser ranging, orbiting gyroscopes (Gravity Probe B), binary pulsar tests, and others.