SCOTTISH scientists have developed a vital component of a machine that will pave the way for groundbreaking experiments to measure the "ripples" in the fabric of space and time first predicted by Albert Einstein.
A team at Glasgow University's Institute for Gravitational Research (IGR) have successfully concluded testing of a sensor precise enough to detect minute events, as well as being robust enough to survive after it is blasted into space.
The "optical bench" has been built for the Lisa Pathfinder (LPF) mission.
The project is designed to prove that technologies being developed will be sensitive enough to detect gravitational waves thrown out from some of the universe's most violent events.
These ripples in spacetime are caused by collision of black holes and the explosion of dying stars, but are elusive due to the vast distances involved as they travel across the galaxy.
The IGR team in the School of Physics and Astronomy demonstrated that the high-precision sensor system is ready to survive tremendous forces during rocket launch of up to 35 times Earth's gravity.
Dr Christian Killow, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance Advanced Fellow at the University, said: "We are really excited that the Lisa Pathfinder mission is now well positioned for launch in 2015."
The research at the IGR has been funded by the UK Science and Technologies Facilities Counci, the UK Space Agency, ESA, the Scottish Universities Physics Alliance and the University of Glasgow.
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