Status of Advanced LIGO detectors

COFFEE_KLATCH · Invited

Abstract

It has been almost 100 years since Einstein predicted gravitational waves as a consequence of his theory of general relativity. Gravitational waves are "ripples of space-time,'' where the space time changes like a fabric and its ripples propagate at the speed of light across the universe. There is strong evidence for their existence from observations of binary pulsar systems, however, the actual distortions of the space time have not been directly detect yet. Gravitational waves are produced by drastic astrophysical phenomena such as core-collapse supernova and collisions of neutron stars and black holes. Detecting and studying gravitational waves will give us new views of the universe. Advanced LIGO project started in 2010, aiming for the first detections and for starting the new gravitational-wave astrophysics. The detectors will be ready for the first science observation in the next year. In this talk, the current status and prospects for detections will be presented.

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Authors

  • Brad Cox

    North Carolnia State University, Vanderbilt University, University of South Carolina, University of Virginia, Francis Marion Univ, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Florida International University, Georgia College, JINR, Tsinghua University, LBNL, GANIL, Austin Peay State University, Lehigh University, University of Pardubice, Universit\'e de Rennes, Austin Peay State University Department of Physics and Astronomy, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge TN 37831, American Superconductor Corp., Westborough MA 01581, University of North Georgia, Dahlonega GA 30597, Florida State University, Ecole Polytechnique, Space Telescope Science Institute, Fermi National Accelerator Lab, National Optical Astronomy Observatory, Austin Peay State Univerity, North Carolna State University, Florida Intl Univ, University of North Georgia, Clemson University, Clemson Univ, Vanderbilt University/ORNL, Vanderbilt University/Univ. of Kentucky, College of William and Mary, Louisiana State University, Presbyterian College, North Carolina State Univ, Department of Physics, Virginia Tech, Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Virginia Tech University, Hollins University, University of Tennessee Space Institute, Davidson College, University of Tennessee, American Superconductor Corporation, University of South Alabama, North Carolina State University, James Madison University, Lousiana State University, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, Changwon Korea