In search of gravitational waves: path to discovery, triumph and prospects

Interview with Dr. V.I. Zhdanov and Dr. Yu.V. Shtanov

Abstract

On February 11, 2016, an event occurred, which generations of physicists have been looking forward to. The members of international scientific collaboration LIGO issued a statement that they managed to record gravitational waves – vibrations of space-time curvature generated by the merger of two black holes at a distance of about 1.3 billion light years. About the history of search for gravitational waves, amazing technological solutions and the importance of this discovery for future development of astronomy, we talked with the Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, professor V.I. Zhdanov and Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Yu.V. Shtanov.