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OCR for page 1
Executive Summary
Gravity is one of the four fundamental forces of nature. It is an immediate
fact of everyday experience, yet it presents us with some of the deepest theoreti-
cal and experimental challenges in contemporary physics. Gravity is the weakest
of the four fundamental forces, but, because it is a universal attraction between
all forms of energy, it governs the structure of matter on the largest scales of
space and time, including the structure of the universe itself. As one of the
fundamental interactions, gravity is central to the quest for a unified theory of all
forces, whose simplicity would emerge at very high energies or, equivalently, at
very small distances.
Gravitational physics is thus a two-frontier science. On the large scales of
astrophysics and cosmology it is central to the understanding of some of the most
exotic phenomena in the universe black holes, pulsars, quasars, the final des-
tiny of stars, and the propagating ripples in the geometry of spacetime called
gravitational waves. On the smallest scales it is concerned with the quantized
geometry of spacetime, the unification of all forces, and the quantum initial state
of the universe. Its two-frontier nature means that gravitational physics is a
cross-disciplinary science overlapping astrophysics and cosmology on large
scales and elementary-particle and quantum physics on small scales.
The theory that bridges this enormous range of scales is Einstein's 1915
general theory of relativity. The key ideas of general relativity are that gravity is
the geometry of four-dimensional spacetime, that mass produces spacetime cur-
vature while curvature determines the motion of mass, and that all freely falling
bodies follow paths independent of their mass (an idea that is called the principle
of equivalence).
1
OCR for page 2
2 GRAVITATIONAL PHYSICS: EXPLORING THE STRUCTURE OF SPACE AND TIME
When gravitational fields are weak and vary only slowly with time, the
effects of general relativity are well approximated by Newton's 300-year-old
theory of gravity. However, general relativity predicts qualitatively new phe-
nomena when gravitational fields are strong, are rapidly varying, or can accumu-
late over vast spans of space or time. Black holes, gravitational waves, closed
universes, and the big bang are some examples. Further, when the principles of
classical general relativity are united with quantum theory, quantum uncertainties
can be expected in the geometry of spacetime itself. The focus of modern gravi-
tational physics has naturally been on exploring such relativistic and quantum
phenomena.
Gravitational physics is one of the oldest subjects in physics. Yet the expan-
sion of opportunities in both experiment and theory has made it one of the most
rapidly changing areas of science today. A short list of some of the important
achievements of the past decade illustrates this point:
· The confirmation of the existence of gravitational waves by the observed
shortening of the orbital period of a binary pulsar.
· The detection of the fluctuations in the cosmic background radiation (the
light from the big bang) that are the origin of today's galaxies, stars, and planets.
· The development of a new generation of high-precision tests (to parts in a
thousand billion) of the equivalence principle that underlies general relativity,
and the verification of general relativity's weak-field predictions to better than
parts in a thousand.
.
The identification of candidate black holes in x-ray binary stars and in the
centers of galaxies. Black holes are no longer a theorist's dream; they are central
to the explanation of many of astronomy's most dramatic phenomena.
The use of gravitational tensing as a practical astronomical tool to inves-
tigate the structure of galaxies and to search for the dark matter in the universe.
· The increasing use of large-scale numerical simulations to solve Einstein's
difficult nonlinear equations. These simulations can predict the effects of strong
gravity that will be seen in the next generation of observations of gravitational
phenomena.
· The discovery of "critical phenomena" in gravitational collapse analo-
gous to those that occur in transitions between different states of matter.
· The development of string theory and the quantum theory of geometry as
promising candidates for the union of quantum mechanics and general relativity.
· The first descriptions of the quantum states of black holes.
· The development of powerful mathematical tools to study the physical
regimes where Einstein's theory can break down.
.
OCR for page 3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
3
The Committee on Gravitational Physics (COP) foresees that the transforma-
tion of the science of gravitational physics will accelerate in the next decade,
driven by new experimental, observational, and theoretical opportunities. A
single theme runs through the most important of these opportunities: the explora-
tion of strong gravitational fields. Among the specific opportunities the COP
believes could be realized in the next decade if appropriate resources are made
available are the following:
.
The first direct detection of gravitational waves by the worldwide net-
work of gravitational wave detectors now under construction.
· The first direct observation of black holes by the characteristic gravita-
tional radiation they emit in the last stages of their formation.
· The use of gravitational waves to probe the universe of complex astro-
nomical phenomena by the decoding of the details of the gravitational wave
signals from particular sources.
· The continuing transformation of cosmology into a data-driven science
by the wealth of measurements expected from new cosmic background radiation
satellites, new telescopes in space and on the ground, and new systematic surveys
of the large-scale arrangements of the galaxies.
The first unambiguous determination of the basic parameters that charac-
terize our universe, its age and fate, the matter of which it is made, how much of
that matter there is, and the curvature of space on large scales.
· The unambiguous measurement of the value of the cosmological con-
stant, with profound implications for our understanding of the fate of the uni-
verse, and also for particle physics and quantum gravity.
· The use of gamma-ray, x-ray, optical, infrared, and radio telescopes on
Earth and in space to detect new black holes in orbit about companion stars and to
explore the extraordinary properties of the geometry of space in the vicinity of
black holes that are predicted by general relativity.
· The measurement of the dragging of inertial frames due to the rotation of
Earth at the 1 percent level by the Gravity Probe B mission scheduled for launch
in 2000.
· Dramatically improved tests of the equivalence principle that underlies
general relativity.
· The understanding of the predictions of Einstein's theory in dynamical,
strong-field, realistic situations through the implementation of powerful numeri-
cal simulations and sophisticated mathematical techniques untrammeled by weak-
field assumptions, special symmetries, or other approximations.
· The development of current ideas in string theory and the quantum theory
of geometry to achieve a finite, workable union of quantum mechanics, gravity,
and the other forces of nature, potentially resulting in a fundamentally new view
.
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4 GRAVITATIONA:L PHYSICS: EXPLORING THE STRUCTURE OF SPACE AND TIME
of space and time. The application of this new theory to predict the outcome of
black hole evaporation and the nature of the big bang singularity.
· The continued development within quantum gravity of a theory of the
quantum initial condition of the universe capable of making testable predictions
of cosmological observations today.
If these opportunities are realized, the CGP expects the next decade of re-
search in gravitational physics to be characterized by (1) a much closer integra-
tion of gravitational physics with astrophysics, cosmology, and elementary-par-
ticle physics, (2) much larger experiments yielding much more data and requiring
international collaboration, (3) a much closer relationship between theory and
experiment, and (4) a much wider, more important role for computation in gravi-
tational physics.
In light of such opportunities, the CGP identified the following unordered
list of highest-priority goals for gravitational physics:
· Receive gravitational waves and use them to study regions of strong
gravity.
Explore the extreme conditions near the surface of black holes.
· Measure the geometry of the universe and test relativistic gravity on
cosmological scales; explore the beginning of the universe.
Test the limits of Einstein's general relativity and explore for new
physics.
· Unify gravity and quantum theory.
.
.
In making this list, the CGP assumed that the scientific objectives of a number of
projects now under way will be achieved, e.g., Gravity Probe B. construction of
the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), the Chandra
X-ray satellite, and the MAP cosmic background satellite. Although fully en-
dorsed by the CGP, these projects do not appear in its recommendations.
OCR for page 5
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
s
The COP makes several recommendations for reaching these goals. The
four areas of recommended actions are listed in priority order, with the highest-
pnonty area given first. The recommendations within each of the four categories
have equal weight.
1. Gravitational Waves
The search for gravitational waves divides naturally into the high-frequency
gravitational wave window (above a few hertz) accessible by experiments on
Earth, and the low-frequency gravitational wave window (below a few hertz)
accessible only from space. Both windows are important, and the CGP has not
prioritized one over the other. The highest priority is to pursue both of these
sources of information.
The High-Frequency Gravitational Wave Window
Carry out the first phase of LIGO scientific operations.
Enhance the capability of LIGO beyond thefirst phase of operations, with
the goal of detecting the coalescence of neutron star binaries.
· Support technology development that will provide the foundation for fu-
ture improvements in LIGO's sensitivity.
The Low-Frequency Gravitational Wave Window
· Develop a space-based laser interferometer facility able to detect the
gravitational waves produced by merging supermassive black holes.
2. Classical and Quantum Theory of
Strong Gravitational Fields
· Support the continued development of analytic and numerical tools to
obtain and interpret strong-field solutions of Einstein's equations.
· Support research in quantum gravity, to build on the exciting recent
progress in this area.
.
3. Precision Measurements
Dramatically improve tests of the equivalence principle and of the gravi-
tational inverse square law.
.
Continue to improve experimental testing of general relativity, making
use of available technology, astronomical capabilities, and space opportunities.
OCR for page 6
6 GRAVITATIONA:L PHYSICS: EXPLORING THE STRUCTURE OF SPACE AND TIME
4. Astronomical Observations
The astronomical observations recommended below have strong arguments
for support from astronomy and astrophysics. The ones listed are those that the
COP expects will have the greatest impact on gravitational physics in the next
decade.
.
Use gamma-ray, x-ray, optical, infrared, and radio telescopes on Earth
and in space to study the environment near black holes.
· Measure the temperature and polarization;fluctuations of the cosmic back-
ground radiation from arcminute scales to scales of tens of degrees.
· Search for additional relativistic binary systems.
· Launch all-sky gamma-ray and x-ray burst detectors capable of detecting
the electromagnetic counterparts to LIGO events.
.
Use astronomical observations of supernovae and gravitational lenses to
infer the distribution of dark matter and to measure the cosmological constant.
If these recommendations are implemented, the COP believes that the next
decade in gravitational physics could see as significant a transformation of the
field as occurred in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This transformation will take
the subject further into the arena of strong gravitational fields, with stronger
coupling from experiment than ever before, leading to a deeper understanding of
the central place of gravitational physics in resolving the fundamental questions
of contemporary physics.
Representative terms from entire chapter:
black holes
