In this article, which will appear as a chapter in the Handbook of Gravitational Wave Astronomy, we will describe the detection of gravitational waves with space-based interferometric gravitational wave observatories. We will provide an overview of the key technologies underlying their operation, illustrated using the specific example of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). We will then give an overview of data analysis strategies for space-based detectors, including a description of time-delay interferometry, which is required to suppress laser frequency noise to the necessary level. We will describe the main sources of gravitational waves in the millihertz frequency range targeted by space-based detectors and then discuss some of the key science investigations that these observations will facilitate. Once again, quantitative statements given here will make reference to the capabilities of LISA, as that is the best studied mission concept. Finally, we will describe some of the proposals for even more sensitive space-based detectors that could be launched further in the future.
We investigate the ability of ground based gravitational wave observatories to detect gravitational wave lensing events caused by stellar mass lenses. We show that LIGO and Virgo possess the sensitivities required to detect lenses with masses as small as $\sim 30 M_\odot$ provided that the gravitational wave is observed with a signal-to-noise ratio of $\sim30$. Third generation observatories will allow detection of gravitational wave lenses with masses of $\sim 1 M_\odot$. Finally, we discuss the possibility of lensing by multiple stars, as is the case if the gravitational radiation is passing…
The first direct detection of gravitational waves emitted from a pair of merging black holes in 2015 has been heralded as one of most significant scientific breakthroughs in physics and astronomy of the 21st century. Motivated by the tremendous scientific opportunities now opened by gravitational-wave observatories and recognizing that to fully exploit the new field will require new observatories that may take 15 to 20 years from conception until operations begin, the Gravitational Wave International Committee (GWIC) convened a subcommittee to examine the path to build and operate a network of…
Quantum uncertainty of laser light limits the sensitivity of gravitational-wave observatories. In the past 30 years, techniques for squeezing the quantum uncertainty as well as for enhancing the gravitational-wave signal with optical resonators were invented. Resonators, however, have finite linewidths; and the high signal frequencies that are produced during the scientifically highly interesting ring-down of astrophysical compact-binary mergers cannot be resolved today. Here, we propose an optical approach for expanding the detection bandwidth. It uses quantum uncertainty squeezing inside one…
The existence of quantum correlations affects both microscopic and macroscopic systems. On macroscopic systems they are difficult to observe and usually irrelevant for the system's evolution due to the frequent energy exchange with the environment. The world-wide network of gravitational-wave (GW) observatories exploits optical as well as mechanical systems that are highly macroscopic and largely decoupled from the environment. The quasi-monochromatic light fields in the kilometre-scale arm resonators have photon excitation numbers larger than $10^{19}$, and the mirrors that are quasi-free fal…
For ground-based gravitational wave (GW) detectors, lightning strokes in the atmosphere are sources of environmental noise. Some GW detectors are built or planned in underground facilities, and knowledge of how lightning strokes affect them is of interest. In this paper, the lightning detection system in KAGRA is introduced, and the properties of the magnetic field measured inside and outside the KAGRA tunnel are shown. One lightning-induced event in the GW channel of the KAGRA main interferometer is also shown. Finally, possible applications of lightning events for the GW experiments are disc…
Planning for the development of a 3rd generation global gravitational-wave detector array is a multifaceted and complex effort that will necessarily need a high level of community input. Interfacing to extant and new stakeholders in the broader scientific constituencies is necessary to keep them aware of the activities taking place in the ground-based gravitational-wave community and receive input to inform and evolve the planning. In this report, we present the approaches GWIC and gravitational-wave collaborations and projects should consider taking to engage with broader community. This repo…
Gravitational-wave (GW) astrophysics is a rapidly expanding field, with plans to enhance the global ground-based observatory network through the addition of larger, more sensitive observatories: Einstein Telescope and Cosmic Explorer. These observatories will allow us to peer deeper into the sky, collecting GW events from farther away and earlier in the Universe. Within our own Galaxy, there is a plethora of interesting GW sources, including core-collapse supernovae, phenomena in isolated neutron stars and pulsars, and potentially novel sources. As GW observatories are directionally sensitive,…
A Pseudo Plane-wave Gravitational Calibrator for Gravitational Wave Observatories
Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics, University of Washington（华盛顿大学实验核物理与天体物理中心）；California Institute of Technology（加州理工学院）；LIGO Hanford Observatory（LIGO汉福德天文台）；The University of Sheffield（谢菲尔德大学）；SUPA, University of Glasgow（苏格兰物理联盟，格拉斯哥大学）
Gravitational waves from binary black hole and neutron star mergers are being regularly detected. As of 2021, ninety confident gravitational wave detections have been made by the LIGO and Virgo detectors. Work is ongoing to further increase the sensitivity of the detectors for the fourth observing run, including installing some of the A+ upgrades designed to lower the fundamental noise that limits the sensitivity to gravitational waves. In this review, we will overview how the LIGO detectors work, including their optical configuration and lock acquisition procedure, discuss the detectors' fund…
The assembly of massive black holes in the early universe remains a poorly constrained open question in astrophysics. The merger and accretion of light seeds (remnants of Population III stars with mass below $\sim 1000M_{\odot}$) or heavy seeds (in the mass range $10^4-10^6 M_{\odot}$) could both explain the formation of massive black holes, but the abundance of seeds and their merging mechanism are highly uncertain. In the next decades, the gravitational-wave observatories coming online are expected to observe very high-redshift mergers, shedding light on the seeding of the first black holes.…
Proposed next-generation networks of gravitational-wave observatories include dedicated kilohertz instruments that target neutron star science, such as the proposed Neutron Star Extreme Matter Observatory, NEMO. The original proposal for NEMO highlighted the need for it to exist in a network of gravitational-wave observatories to ensure detection confidence and sky localisation of sources. We show that NEMO-like observatories have significant utility on their own as coincident electromagnetic observations can provide the detection significance and sky localisation. We show that, with a single …
We investigate the prospects of electromagnetic follow-up observations for binary neutron star (BNS) mergers, with the help of early warnings from decihertz gravitational-wave (GW) observatories, B-DECIGO and DO-Optimal. Extending the previous work, we not only give quick assessments of joint short $γ$-ray burst (sGRB) detection rates for different $γ$-ray satellites and BNS population models, but also elaborate on the analyses and results on multi-band kilonova detections for survey telescopes with different limiting magnitudes. During an assumed 4-year mission time for decihertz GW observato…
Gravitational wave observatories have always been affected by tele-seismic earthquakes leading to a decrease in duty cycle and coincident observation time. In this analysis, we leverage the power of machine learning algorithms and archival seismic data to predict the ground motion and the state of the gravitational wave interferometer during the event of an earthquake. We demonstrate improvement from a factor of 5 to a factor of 2.5 in scatter of the error in the predicted ground velocity over a previous model fitting based approach. The level of accuracy achieved with this scheme makes it pos…
We explore the possibility of detecting Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) solely from gravitational wave observations of binary neutron star mergers with third generation (3G) gravitational wave (GW) detectors like Cosmic Explorer and the Einstein Telescope. These measurements would provide a new independent probe of cosmology. The detection of the BAO peak with current generation GW detectors (solely from GW observations) is not possible because i) unlike galaxies, the GW mergers are poorly localized and ii) there are not enough merger events to probe the BAO length scale. With the 3G GW det…
We investigated the detection rates and early warning parameters of binary neutron star (BNS) populations with decihertz gravitational-wave observatories in a realistic detecting strategy. Assuming 4 years' operation of B-DECIGO, we based on parameter precision to classify the detectable BNSs into three categories: (a) sources that merge within 1 year, which could be localized with an uncertainty of $ΔΩ\sim 10^{0}$ deg$^2$; (b) sources that merge in 1-4 years, which take up three quarters of the total events and yield the most precise angular resolution with $ΔΩ\sim 10^{-2}$ deg$^2$ and time-o…
Gravitational Wave (GW) astronomy promises to observe different kinds of astrophysical sources. Here we explore the possibility of detection of GWs from hyperbolic interactions of compact stars with ground-based interferometric detectors. It is believed that a bound compact cluster, such as a globular cluster, can be a primary environment for these interactions. We estimate the detection rates for such events by considering local geometry within the cluster, accounting for scattering probability of compact stars at finite distances, and assuming realistic cluster properties guided by available…
Quantum fluctuation of light limits the sensitivity of advanced laser interferometric gravitational-wave detectors. It is one of the principal obstacles on the way towards the next-generation gravitational-wave observatories. The envisioned significant improvement of the detector sensitivity requires using quantum non-demolition measurement and back-action evasion techniques, which allow us to circumvent the sensitivity limit imposed by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. In our previous review article: "Quantum measurement theory in gravitational-wave detectors"' [Living Rev. Relativity 15,…
We present the prospects for the early (pre-merger) detection and localization of compact-binary coalescences using gravitational waves over the next 10 years. Early warning can enable the direct observation of the prompt and early electromagnetic emission of a neutron star merger. We examine the capabilities of the ground based detectors at their "Design" sensitivity (2021-2022), the planned "A+" upgrade (2024-2026), and the envisioned "Voyager" concept (late 2020's). We find that for a fiducial rate of binary neutron star mergers of $1000 ~\mathrm{Gpc}^{-3} \mathrm{yr}^{-1}$, the Design, A+,…
Distinguishing cosmology, astrophysics and systematics: the Bayesian search for a primordial gravitational-wave background in next-generation observatories
Princeton University（普林斯顿大学）；University of Nevada, Las Vegas（内华达大学拉斯维加斯分校）
Chirping compact stars: gravitational radiation and detection degeneracy with binary systems A conceptual pathfinder for space-based gravitational-wave observatories
Precision constraints on the neutron star equation of state with third-generation gravitational-wave observatories
International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, University of Western Australia（西澳大利亚大学国际射电天文研究中心）；OzGrav: The ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery（ARC引力波发现卓越中心）；School of Physics and Astronomy, Monash University（蒙纳士大学物理与天文学院）；Swinburne University of Technology（斯威本科技大学）
Third-generation (3G) gravitational-wave detectors will observe thousands of coalescing neutron star binaries with unprecedented fidelity. Extracting the highest precision science from these signals is expected to be challenging owing to both high signal-to-noise ratios and long-duration signals. We demonstrate that current Bayesian inference paradigms can be extended to the analysis of binary neutron star signals without breaking the computational bank. We construct reduced order models for $\sim 90\,\mathrm{minute}$ long gravitational-wave signals, covering the observing band ($5-2048\,\math…
To deliver on the promise of next generation gravitational-wave observatories, a sustained and coordinated detector research and development program is required. This report examines in detail the wide range of nearer- and longer-term detector R&D programs needed for next generation GW detectors commensurate with the key science targets presented in "The Next Generation Global Gravitational Wave Observatory: The Science Book", including considerations of site selection and large-scale vacuum infrastructure. The report makes a series of detailed recommendations on the needed advances in detecto…
We present a new measure for the comparison of unknown gravitational wave signals in two detectors, without recurring to an {\it a priori} template. We apply this measure to the LIGO data of the GW150914 event and discover that Hanford and Livingston observatories have recorded two different components of the gravitational wave polarization signal.
Atom-interferometer gravitational-wave (GW) observatory, as a new design of ground-based GW detector for the near future, is sensitive at a relatively low frequency for GW observations. Taking the proposed atom interferometer Zhaoshan Long-baseline Atom Interferometer Gravitation Antenna (ZAIGA), and its illustrative upgrade (Z+) as examples, we investigate how the atom interferometer will complement ground-based laser interferometers in testing the gravitational dipole radiation from binary neutron star (BNS) mergers. A test of such kind is important for a better understanding of the strong e…
