On September 14, 2015 at 09:50:45 UTC the two detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory simultaneously observed a transient gravitational-wave signal. The signal sweeps upwards in frequency from 35 to 250 Hz with a peak gravitational-wave strain of 1.0×10(-21). It matches the waveform predicted by general relativity for the inspiral and merger of a pair of black holes and the ringdown of the resulting single black hole. The signal was observed with a matched-filter signal-to-noise ratio of 24 and a false alarm rate estimated to be less than 1 event per 203,000 years, equivalent to a significance greater than 5.1σ. The source lies at a luminosity distance of 410(-180)(+160)  Mpc corresponding to a redshift z=0.09(-0.04)(+0.03). In the source frame, the initial black hole masses are 36(-4)(+5)M⊙ and 29(-4)(+4)M⊙, and the final black hole mass is 62(-4)(+4)M⊙, with 3.0(-0.5)(+0.5)M⊙c(2) radiated in gravitational waves. All uncertainties define 90% credible intervals. These observations demonstrate the existence of binary stellar-mass black hole systems. This is the first direct detection of gravitational waves and the first observation of a binary black hole merger.

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The Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Black Hole Merger

Extended Theories of Gravity

Singular Integral Equations. By N.I. Muskhelishvili. Translated fromthe 2nd Russian edition by J.R.M. Radok. Pp. 447. F1. 28.50. 1953. (Noordhoff, Groningen)

Gravitational Field of a Spinning Mass as an Example of Algebraically Special Metrics

The goal of this review is to present an introduction to loop quantum gravity—a background-independent, non-perturbative approach to the problem of unification of general relativity and quantum physics, based on a quantum theory of geometry. Our presentation is pedagogical. Thus, in addition to providing a bird's eye view of the present status of the subject, the review should also serve as a vehicle to enter the field and explore it in detail. To aid non-experts, very little is assumed beyond elements of general relativity, gauge theories and quantum field theory. While the review is essentially self-contained, the emphasis is on communicating the underlying ideas and the significance of results rather than on presenting systematic derivations and detailed proofs. (These can be found in the listed references.) The subject can be approached in different ways. We have chosen one which is deeply rooted in well-established physics and also has sufficient mathematical precision to ensure that there are no hidden infinities. In order to keep the review to a reasonable size, and to avoid overwhelming non-experts, we have had to leave out several interesting topics, results and viewpoints; this is meant to be an introduction to the subject rather than an exhaustive review of it.

Background independent quantum gravity: A Status report

A new approach to general relativity by means of a tetrad or spinor formalism is presented. The essential feature of this approach is the consistent use of certain complex linear combinations of Ricci rotation coefficients which give, in effect, the spinor affine connection. It is applied to two problems in radiationtheory; a concise proof of a theorem of Goldberg and Sachs and a description of the asymptotic behavior of the Riemann tensor and metric tensor, for outgoing gravitational radiation.

An Approach to Gravitational Radiation by a Method of Spin Coefficients

A new solution of the Einstein‐Maxwell equations is presented. This solution has certain characteristics that correspond to a rotating ring of mass and charge.

Metric of a Rotating, Charged Mass

A new class of empty‐space metrics is obtained, one member of this class being a natural generalization of the Schwarzschild metric. This latter metric contains one arbitrary parameter in addition to the mass. The entire class is the set of metrics which are algebraically specialized (contain multiple‐principle null vectors) such that the propagation vector is not proportional to a gradient. These metrics belong to the Petrov class type I degenerate.

Empty-Space Generalization of the Schwarzschild Metric

Recent work on the Bondi‐Metzner‐Sachs group introduced a class of functions sYlm (θ, φ) defined on the sphere and a related differential operator ð. In this paper the sYlm are related to the representation matrices of the rotation group R 3 and the properties of ð are derived from its relationship to an angular‐momentum raising operator. The relationship of the sTlm (θ, φ) to the spherical harmonics of R 4 is also indicated. Finally using the relationship of the Lorentz group to the conformal group of the sphere, the behavior of the sTlm under this latter group is shown to realize a representation of the Lorentz group.

Spin‐s Spherical Harmonics and ð

It is shown that, in space-times which are asymptotically flat, there are reasonable physical restrictionsthat allow one to impose coordinate conditions (in addition to the usual Bondi-type conditions)which restrict the allowed coordinate group to a subgroup of the Bondi-Metzner-Sachsgroup. This subgroup is isomorphic to the improper orthochronous inhomogeneous Lorentz group.

Ezra T. Newman

Papers

An Approach to Gravitational Radiation by a Method of Spin Coefficients

Metric of a Rotating, Charged Mass

Empty-Space Generalization of the Schwarzschild Metric

Spin‐s Spherical Harmonics and ð

Note on the Bondi-Metzner-Sachs Group