How do gravitational wave researchers detect the subtle vibrations of space and time among all the vibrations in the environment? By creating sample signals of what they are looking for and comparing these templates with the measurements from detectors such as Virgo in Italy. Especially for weaker, long-lasting signals, such template searches require an enormous amount of computing power. PhD candidate Reinier Jonker investigated smart methods that require much less demanding computing. He shows that such polynomial searches are possible and a useful addition to other methods. Jonker will receive his PhD on 27 October at the University of Amsterdam for his research at Nikhef.
Click on the picture below to watch the video in which Jonker explains his thesis:
