From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: LIGO India and other such developments
Mains level: LIGO India and its Significance
Central Idea
The Union Cabinet approved the full budget for the LIGO-India mega-science project, which includes the construction, commissioning and joint scientific operation of a state-of-the-art, advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) in India in collaboration with the NSF-funded LIGO Laboratory, USA, operated by Caltech and MIT.
About LIGO-India
- LIGO-India will be the fifth node of this international network of gravitational wave observatories, and possibly the last.
- The instrument is so sensitive that it can easily get influenced by events like earthquakes, landslides, or even the movement of trucks, and produce a false reading.
- That is why multiple observatories are needed to revalidate the signals.
- India’s involvement in LIGO is crucial to demonstrating its intent and capability to pull-off complex science projects independently
Facts for prelims: What is LIGO?
|
What is it? |
Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO)
|
| Purpose | Detect and study gravitational waves |
| Cause | Ripples in spacetime caused by violent and energetic events in the universe |
| Location | Livingston, Louisiana and Hanford, Washington |
| Detector | Michelson interferometer |
| Function | Measure changes in length caused by passing gravitational waves
|
| Benefits | Improving our understanding of the universe and its origins |
| Discovery | Detected gravitational waves for the first time in 2015
|
| Significance | Confirmed a prediction made by Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity
|
| Field | Gravitational wave astronomy |
| Discoveries | Many exciting discoveries about the nature of the universe
|
Significance of LIGO-India
- Advancement in gravitational-wave astronomy and astrophysics: LIGO-India will significantly enhance global capabilities in the field of gravitational-wave astronomy and astrophysics. The project will enable an entirely new window to our universe and open up opportunities to study the cosmos in ways that were previously impossible.
- Boosting research careers: LIGO-India will provide opportunities for Indian youth to pursue research careers in cutting-edge areas of science and technology, thereby supporting the growth of the Indian science industry and economy.
- Development of cutting-edge technologies: LIGO-India will lead to the development of cutting-edge technologies such as lasers, optics, vacuum, quantum metrology and control-system technologies, which have great national relevance. The project will bring together researchers in fundamental and applied sciences from national research laboratories, IITs and IISERs to universities in partnership with the industry, and attract talent from the large pool of Indian researchers spread worldwide.
- Galvanizing India’s industry: The project will galvanize India’s industry to enhance capability and capacity to engineer and manufacture complex components with precision to meet stringent scientific requirements, thereby enhancing the reputation of Indian industry.
- Contributing to India’s mega-science ventures: LIGO-India is part of India’s mega-science ventures, which aim to lead or partner in very high-science goals through large-scale collaborative efforts requiring highly skilled human resources, significant fiscal capital and infrastructural investment, and close academia-industry partnerships. LIGO-India is expected to extend the legacy of successful world-class facilities such as the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) near Pune and Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) in Ladakh.
Facts for prelims: Other Important science projects
|
Mega-science Project |
Description |
| Large Hadron Collider (LHC) | Particle accelerator located in Switzerland, aims to study subatomic particles |
| Indian-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) | A proposed underground neutrino laboratory to be located in Tamil Nadu, India |
| Facility for Antiproton & Ion Research (FAIR) | A particle accelerator located in Germany, used for research in nuclear and particle physics |
| Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) | A proposed astronomical observatory, with a mirror diameter of 30 meters, to be located in Hawaii |
| Square Kilometre Array (SKA) | A radio telescope that will be the largest and most sensitive in the world, to be located in Australia and South Africa |
| Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) | A facility designed to detect gravitational waves, with observatories located in the USA and India |
Way ahead: Mega-Science Projects and India’s S&T Policy
- Mega-science projects like LIGO-India inculcate invaluable elements of work ethic in the scientific community.
- The key is the ability to create a focused but adequately large well-knit collaborative ecosystem that remains open to growing by bringing in wider participation.
- There is need for a culture within S&T communities to anticipate breakthroughs and appreciate new findings that may often deviate from the current comfort zone for policymakers to be receptive and for executing agencies to create robust mechanisms to assess, evaluate, and respond expeditiously to allow sufficient time to set up the enterprise.
Conclusion
The LIGO-India mega-science project is a significant milestone in India’s contribution to the growth of modern astronomy. The project will prompt Indian S&T in academia, national laboratories, and industries to leapfrog in a range of cutting-edge technologies. It reinforces the view that a healthy sprinkling of mega-science efforts in the overall S&T policy empowers and enriches the nation.
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
