Melissa Lopez, PhD at Nikhef, will defend her thesis Monday 17 February 2025 at 16.15 at the Utrecht University.
Exploring the Frontier of Transient Gravitational Wave Detection – Unleashing the Power of Machine Learning (pdf)
In 2015, scientists achieved a groundbreaking milestone by directly observing gravitational waves—ripples in spacetime triggered by cataclysmic cosmic events—just as Einstein predicted a century earlier. This first detection, resulting from the merger of two black holes, marked the beginning of a new era in astronomy. Since then, the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors have confirmed over 90 gravitational wave signals, with many more expected as current detectors improve and new ones come online.
As these detectors become more sensitive, we will not only detect more signals but also discover exotic sources, such as supernovae and intermediate-mass black hole mergers. Massive stars end their lives in supernova explosions, leaving behind neutron stars or black holes. Since stars often exist in binary systems, these remnants may eventually merge. These cataclysmic events produce gravitational waves that are detectable on Earth, enhancing our understanding of stellar life cycles and cosmic evolution.
However, analyzing this growing volume of gravitational wave data presents significant computational challenges. This thesis explores how machine learning—algorithms that learn patterns directly from data—can strengthen gravitational wave detection. By addressing obstacles like noise reduction and data processing demands, and by integrating machine learning into detection algorithms, this research advances our ability to observe and understand the universe’s most energetic events, paving the way for new discoveries in astrophysics.
The PhD defense will take place in the Academiegebouw, Domplein 29, 3512 JE Utrecht.
More information and a livestream link on the website of the Utrecht University.
Supervisor: prof. dr. C.F.F. Van Den Broeck
Co-supervisor: Dr. S.E. Caudill
contact: Melissa Lopez