LIGO INDIA: UNLOCKING THE NEW ERA FOR INDIA’S ASTRONOMY In recent years, India has emerged as a major player in the field of astronomy. From the launch of the country's first space telescope, ASTROSAT, to the discovery of a massive supercluster of galaxies, India's contributions to astronomy have been substantial. But the country's latest initiative, the LIGO India project, is set to take its astronomy capabilities to a whole new level. WHATIS LIGO? LUGO, which stands for the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, is a collaborative project between the United States and several other countries, aimed at detecting gravitational waves - ripples in the fabric of space-time - that are caused by the most violent events in the universe, such as the collision of black holes and neutron stars. HOW DOES LIGO WORKS? LUGO, the detector consists of two perpendiculararms, each fourkilometerslong, with a laser beam split and sent down both arms. The beams are then reflected and recombined at the end of each arm, and any difference in the length of the two arms caused by a passing gravitational wave is measured, Whena gravitational wave passes through the detector, it causes the fabric of space-time to stretch and compress, which changes the length of the arms of the detector. This change in length is incredibly small - lessthan the width of a subatomicparticle - so LIGO is designed to be incredibly sensitive to these tiny changes. The laser beams that are sent down to the arms of the detector are of a specific wavelength, and when they recombine, they interfere with each other. The interference pattern produced by the laser beams depends on the relative length of the two arms. If the arms are the same length, the interference pattern will show constructive interference, producing a bright spot. Ifthe length of one arm is slightly different from the other, the interference pattern will show destructive interference, producing a dark spot. When a gravitational wave passes through the detector, it causes the length of one arm to increase while the other decreases, causing a change in the interference pattern. This change is measured by the detector, and it allows scientists to determine the amplitude, frequency, and polarization of the gravitational wave.LIGO TIMELINE ‘The original LIGO project in the United States consisted of two detectors located in Louisiana and Washington State, which made the first direct detection of gravitational waves in 2015, a discovery that was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2017. Since then, the LIGO project has made several more detections, including the historic detection of a binary neutron star merger in 2017, which was accompanied by electromagnetic radiation observed by telescopes around the world. India joined the LIGO collaboration in 2011 and has been an important partner in the project ever since. In 2016, the indian government approved the construction of a third LIGO detector in the country, to be in Hingoli district, Maharashtra. The LIGO India project is a joint venture between the Department of ‘Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) of the Indian government ‘WHAT'S NEXT? The LIGO India detector will be located at a site chosen for its low seismic activity and stable geology. The site is also located far away from any major urban centers to minimize noise from human activity. ‘The construction of the LIGO India detector is currently underway and is expected to be completed by 2024, Once operational, the detector will significantly increase the sensitivity of the global gravitational wave network, allowing for more frequent and precise detections of these elusive signals, The LIGO India project represents a major milestone for indian astronomy and is expected to have significant scientific and technological spin-offs. In addition to advancing our understanding of the universe, the project will also provide opportunities for training and research in cutting-edge technology, such as high-power lasers, vacuum systems, and advanced materials. The LIGO India projectis a testament to India's growing capabilities in science and technology, and its commitment to pushing the boundaries of human knowledge. With the construction of the LIGO India detector, Indiais poised o play a leading role in the global pursuit of understanding the universe, and to Unlock new insights into the mysteries of space and time. t