Projects per year
Abstract
The Advanced LIGO gravitational wave detectors are second-generation instruments designed and built for the two LIGO observatories in Hanford, WA and Livingston, LA, USA. The two instruments are identical in design, and are specialized versions of a Michelson interferometer with 4 km long arms. As in Initial LIGO, Fabry–Perot cavities are used in the arms to increase the interaction time with a gravitational wave, and power recycling is used to increase the effective laser power. Signal recycling has been added in Advanced LIGO to improve the frequency response. In the most sensitive frequency region around 100 Hz, the design strain sensitivity is a factor of 10 better than Initial LIGO. In addition, the low frequency end of the sensitivity band is moved from 40 Hz down to 10 Hz. All interferometer components have been replaced with improved technologies to achieve this sensitivity gain. Much better seismic isolation and test mass suspensions are responsible for the gains at lower frequencies. Higher laser power, larger test masses and improved mirror coatings lead to the improved sensitivity at mid and high frequencies. Data collecting runs with these new instruments are planned to begin in mid-2015.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 074001 |
Journal | Classical and Quantum Gravity |
Volume | 32 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 3 Mar 2015 |
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Dive into the research topics of 'Advanced LIGO'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 5 Finished
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Ernest Rutherford Fellowship : Dr John Veitch - Surveying black holes and neutron stars with gravitational waves
Veitch, J.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL
1/02/14 → 30/04/17
Project: Research Councils
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Birmingham Astrophysics : Consolidated Grant 2013-2016
Vecchio, A., Ponman, T., Freise, A., Smith, G., Speake, C., Mandel, I., Cruise, M., Raychaudhury, S. & Stevens, I.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL
1/04/13 → 30/09/16
Project: Research Councils
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UK Involvement in the Operations of Advanced LIGO
Vecchio, A. & Freise, A.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL
1/08/11 → 31/12/15
Project: Research Councils
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Bridging Advanced LIGO to Desiign Performance and Further Sensitivity Enhancements
Vecchio, A. & Freise, A.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL
1/07/11 → 30/06/13
Project: Research Councils
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UK Involvement in the Advanced LIGO Gravitational Wave Project
Vecchio, A., Castelli, C. & Cruise, M.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL
1/06/03 → 31/03/11
Project: Research Councils