We were drawn to this topic because evidence for gravitational waves is relatively new, and there is still exciting research emerging as we speak. First detected by LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory) in 2015, gravitational waves prove even more of Einstein’s theories correct. While they’d been theorized for decades, this breakthrough detection actually proved their existence. Since 2015, another observatory called NANOGrav has detected gravitational waves of different frequencies.
For our poster, we highlighted several multivariable concepts. We used our knowledge of Mathematica 3D plots and spherical and cylindrical coordinates to create the graphics, as well as the Mathematica Demonstrations Project. We also used what we learned in chain rule with partial derivatives in order to expand the wave equation.
