ÃÛÌÒTV

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Title:ÌýÃÛÌÒTVing massive black holes throughout the universe with gravitational-wave observations

Abstract:ÌýPulsar timing arrays have recently provided observational evidence for a background of ultra-low frequency gravitational waves. The signal is likely produced by the cosmic population of massive black hole binaries. This is the first observational step to unveil massive black holes throughout the universe, characterise their properties and map their populations. I will discuss recent pulsar timing array results, their implications for astrophysics and fundamental physics, and future prospects with the next-generation of gravitational-wave observatories.

ÃÛÌÒTV the speaker: Alberto Vecchio studied theoretical physics as an undergraduate (Laurea) at Collegio Ghislieri and the Universita' di Pavia, and obtained a Ph.D. in astronomy from the Universita' di Milano in 1996. He held post-doctoral positions at Cardiff University and the Max-Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik in Potsdam, where he stayed as a research scientist before joining the University of Birmingham in 2001. During the academic year 2006/07 he was visiting professor at Northwestern University in the USA. Professor Vecchio’s research is focused on the use of gravitational radiation to study the universe in a radically new observational window and to test the behaviour of gravity in extreme conditions. His work concerns the astrophysics of compact objects, data analysis techniques, gravitational-wave observations, and he has contributed to the development and construction of instrumentation for Advanced LIGO.