Question

Difficulty: MediumScience, Emerging Technology, and Space Missions in News

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory in India (LIGO-India) is a mega-science project approved for construction to join the global network of gravitational-wave detectors. Which of the following statements accurately describes the primary objective and key institutional setup of the LIGO-India project?

  1. It is a ground-based advanced laser interferometer observatory being established in the Hingoli district of Maharashtra, jointly built by Indian research institutions and US LIGO laboratories to detect cosmic gravitational waves.Answer
  2. B
    It is a space-borne satellite mission launched into a Sun-synchronous polar orbit by ISRO to study solar magnetic storms and coronal mass ejections.
  3. C
    It is an underwater research station deployed in the Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem to monitor maritime microplastic pollution and sea-level rise.
  4. D
    It is a quantum communication satellite constellation developed under the National Quantum Mission to establish secure encryption keys for military radar systems.

Answer

LIGO-India is a ground-based advanced laser interferometer observatory located in Hingoli district, Maharashtra, built through collaboration between Indian research institutes and US LIGO laboratories to detect cosmic gravitational waves.
The correct answer accurately highlights that LIGO-India is a ground-based laser interferometer observatory located in the Hingoli district of Maharashtra. It operates in collaboration with the US LIGO Laboratory to detect gravitational waves caused by extreme cosmic events such as merging black holes and neutron stars.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the nature and domain of LIGO-India
LIGO-India is a mega-science initiative designed for ground-based gravitational wave detection using ultra-precise laser interferometry.
Gravitational wave research requires extremely long arms (4 km) situated on stable ground to detect minute distortions in space-time.
2
Verify the geographical location and institutional partners
The observatory site is selected at Hingoli district in Maharashtra, executed jointly by premier Indian scientific bodies (IUCAA, IPR, RRCAT) in collaboration with US LIGO Laboratory (Caltech/MIT).
Expanding the baseline of existing LIGO detectors in Hanford and Livingston improves angular resolution and source localization across the sky.

Key Concept

LIGO-India Project Objectives and Infrastructure
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