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 18-Jul-2025

Black Hole

Science & Technology

Why in News? 

An international team of scientists has detected the most massive black hole merger ever observed, named GW231123, using the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK) Gravitational Wave Network. 

What is a Black Hole Merger? 

  • A black hole merger happens when two black holes orbit each other, gradually come closer by emitting gravitational waves (ripples in space-time), and finally collide to form a single, larger black hole. 
  • These waves are detected on Earth by observatories like LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA. 

Significance of GW231123 

  • Two black holes (100 & 140 solar masses) merged into a 225-solar-mass black hole. 
  • Waves originated billions of years ago, detected on Earth in 2025. 
  • Unusually large and fast spinning, unlike typical black holes (<60 solar masses). 
  • Suggests some supermassive black holes form through mergers, not just star collapse.

Gravitational Wave Network (LVK Collaboration)

The gravitational wave network, also known as the LVK collaboration, is a global partnership of observatories that collaboratively work to detect gravitational waves. 

  • LIGO (USA): First detected gravitational waves in 2015, confirming Einstein’s 1916 theory; this earned the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics. 
  • Virgo (Italy): Improves detection accuracy and helps locate sources. 
  • KAGRA (Japan): Enhances sensitivity and provides wider geographic coverage. 
  • LIGO-India: A planned observatory in collaboration with the US to expand detection capacity. 

Preparing Through MCQ  

Q. GW231123 is significant because it:

(a) Confirmed Einstein’s theory 
 (b) Was detected by LIGO-India 
 (c) Formed a massive, fast-spinning black hole 
 (d) Was the first Virgo detection 

Answer: (c) Formed a massive, fast-spinning black hole