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Gravitational Waves

Binary black hole inspiral — chirp signal and spacetime ripples

System parameters

Separation r:
Orbital freq:
GW freq:
Strain h:

As the black holes spiral inward, gravitational wave frequency increases — the chirp. Power emitted: P ∝ (μ/a)⁵.

LIGO detected GW150914 (36+29 M☉) in 2015, confirming Einstein's 1916 prediction. The signal swept 35–150 Hz in 0.2 seconds.