Watch a neutron star merger simulation here
A snapshot of the gravitational wave emission following the formation of a black hole by the collision of two, plane-fronted gravitational waves, from a recent study by Pretorius and East.
The initiative is a collaborative effort between Princeton University's Astrophysics, Mathematics and Physics departments to explore the fundamental nature of gravity. Launched in September 2018, the goal of the initiative is to foster a vibrant interdisciplinary research program in theoretical strong-field gravity. We aim to tackle some of the deepest mysteries remaining in this field, including the nature of dark energy, the origins of the Universe, quantum gravity, and what happens inside black holes and neutron stars. Though largely a theory initiative, we unabashedly acknowledge the crucial role that observation and experiment plays in advancing scientific theory. The timing of the start of the initiative could therefore not be better, with LIGO ushering in a new era of observational strong-field gravity, adding to a wealth of related data that will come from a new generation of electromagnetic and neutrino observatories.
The Initiative supports several postdoctoral fellowship positions, a visitor program, and partnering with the PCTS, will host several conferences and workshops per year. The new common space, including offices and a meeting room, is located on the fourth floor of Jadwin Hall adjacent to the PCTS.
