Gravitational Wave Interference Graphical Computer Simulation

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the potential visualization of gravitational wave interference patterns using optical telescopes, inspired by a Gizmodo article featuring a LIGO team member. The participant proposes that if coherent gravitational waves can be focused through gravitational lensing, it may be possible to observe interference patterns visually, akin to Thomas Young's double slit experiment. The conversation also explores the need for a computer simulation tool capable of accurately modeling gravitational lensing and gravitational wave interactions, which could aid both professional and amateur astronomers in identifying observable phenomena.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of gravitational waves and their properties
  • Familiarity with gravitational lensing concepts
  • Knowledge of optical telescopes and their functionalities
  • Basic principles of computer simulations in astrophysics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research gravitational lensing techniques and their applications in astronomy
  • Explore computer simulation software for astrophysical phenomena, such as Universe Sandbox or SpaceEngine
  • Investigate the properties and behaviors of coherent gravitational waves
  • Study the historical significance of visual observations in physics, particularly in relation to interference patterns
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, astrophysicists, computer simulation developers, and anyone interested in the intersection of gravitational wave research and optical astronomy.

Simpleton123
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I have found on the internet an article from Gizmodo magazine, in which a LIGO team member answer some readers’ questions, regarding gravitational waves, and found a specific question and answer in that article, to be very interesting.

The question relates to weather gravitational waves are coherent.

She writes as part of the answer: "... There may be an exotic form of gravitational lensing that could at least partially focus gravitational waves, but these would be difficult if not impossible to use for a purpose..."

But i do see a potentially very important purpose, if such a phenomenon exists and if it can be visualized:

If such a hypothetical coherent gravitational wave is focused via gravitational lensing, and then another coherent focused gravitational wave of a correlating frequency, will pass in a certain way, through that first coherent focused gravitational lensing field, wouldn't it then be possible to visually observe, using an optical telescope, how interference between these two focused coherent gravitational waves, creates an interference pattern, which affect the visual output of the light, that passes though such a gravitational interference field?

I think that if such a visual effect could possibly be observed, using an optical telescope, such an observation might have a significant importance. The reason for that, is that if i am not wrong here, visual observations of interference, have had a very significant impact on science understanding in historical perspective.

For example, Thomas Young 1801 double slit experiment. Here i am relating to a visual result, that might not be equal to the double slit experiment, but rather more akin to watching waves from 2 rocks thrown in a pond, create observable interference patterns. But still, if such a gravitational wave interference pattern was not visually observed before, wouldn't such a visual optical observation snapshot, if exists, still have an important significance?

At this point I think that I might be able to guess what a few if not more than a few people, with some serious science training, might be saying: The science of 2019 is nothing like the science of 1801, the science of our days is based much more on exact mathematics and very exact equipment and is almost not based at all on the senses input and on actual visual experience itself. But still, isn’t a lot of professional and certainly a lot of amateur astronomy today, still based on visual, optical telescopes? If there exists a distinct pattern to light that passes though a stable gravitational wave interference field and this pattern is shared with professionals and amateur astronomers that are operating optical telescopes, wouldn’t they be able to contribute not a little to science, if they are able to recognize and record that distinct visual pattern via their optical telescopes, if such a pattern exists and not yet known?

Therefore, here is my question: Is there a way to use a computer software simulation as a visualization tool, that enables to accurately simulate gravitational lensing, as it is observed via optical telescopes? Does there exist an exact a possible astronomical computer simulation graphical engine, that enables to add one or multiple gravitational lensing objects, gravitational wave objects (known, hypothized and idealized), add sources that create these gravitational waves, such as neutron stars of types, binary systems, black holes, add sources that create the light that passes though these gravitational fields etc. And then enable to add any wanted number and combinations and properties of these astronomical objects, as well as add a telescope of any known chosen type at any wanted location in space and then observe how this virtual combination takes a visual appearance?

If there exists such a computer visual simulation tool, where it is possible to virtually adjust and play with the astronomical objects and equipment properties, then perhaps it is possible to simulate via such a software, a gravitational lensing effect of coherent and focus nature, as well as the passing of a second independent coherent focused gravitational wave, via the first gravitational field and hence, be able to visualize (for the first time?) how light that passes though gravitational wave interference field would look like?

If such a possibility of a computer simulation software exists, perhaps it might help to conjecture on which parts of the sky professionals and amateurs should aim for with their optical telescopes, when looking for such a visual gravitational wave interference phenomenon?
 
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In the movie Interstellar they did a lot of accurate black hole simulations. There’s a book about it called the Science of Interstellar by Kip Thorne that’s worth looking at.

I don’t know if there is any commercial software readily available that can do the same although you can search on throne and Interstellar and software via google to see what comes up.
 
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