White dwarf binary shows evidence of gravity waves
AUG 29, 2012
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.026295
BBC : A team of astronomers led by JJ Hermes of the University of Texas at Austin has determined that the decreasing orbital period of a close pair of white dwarf stars is likely due to gravity waves. As predicted by Einstein’s general theory of relativity, gravity waves are produced by the motion of massive objects through spacetime, but they have yet to be directly detected. The binary white dwarf system’s unusually short orbital period of only 13 minutes makes it a strong emitter of gravitational radiation, causing it to lose momentum. Over the 30 months that the white dwarf binary was observed, its orbital period lost 6 seconds; it is expected to lose another 20 seconds by next May.
© 2012 American Institute of Physics
