Title：Turning the Moon into a Gravitational Wave Detector

Speaker: Xian Chen (Peking University）

Time：3:00 pm Apr.03th (Thursday)

Tencent Meeting：429-1540-0486 password: 6360

Location: Lecture Hall, 3rd floor

Abstract：

Gravitational waves in the decihertz band (0.1 Hz) carry rich physical information and hold great scientific significance for unveiling the formation and evolution of compact objects as well as the physics of the very early universe. However, existing gravitational wave detectors are unable to cover this critical frequency band. In this talk, I will introduce a decihertz gravitational wave detection scheme based on lunar seismic measurements, originally proposed by J. Weber in the 1960s. I will focus on the latest theoretical and numerical research progress made by our collaborative team from Peking University, Beijing Normal University, and the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, regarding the Moon’s response to gravitational waves. Additionally, leveraging China’s Chang’e Lunar Exploration Program, I will discuss the scientific potential of lunar seismometers in gravitational wave detection.

CV：

Xian Chen is an Associate Professor of the Department of Astronomy at Peking University. He obtained his Ph.D. from Peking University in 2010 and subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at the Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics (Peking University), the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Germany), and the Institute of Astrophysics at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. He joined the Department of Astronomy at Peking University’s School of Physics in 2016. His research focuses on dynamics and radiation processes near black holes, Galactic center dynamics, and gravitational wave astrophysics.