Advanced Gravitational Wave Detectors

Introduces the technology and reviews the experimental issues; a valuable reference for graduate students and researchers in physics and astrophysics.

D. G. Blair (Edited by), E. J. Howell (Edited by), L. Ju (Edited by), C. Zhao (Edited by)

9780521874298, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 16 February 2012

344 pages, 112 b/w illus. 14 tables
25.3 x 18 x 1.9 cm, 0.82 kg

'Almost 100 years after Einstein introduced his Theory of General Relativity, we are finally on the threshold of making direct detections of gravitational waves … Advanced Gravitational Wave Detectors gives us an up-to-date view of the science and techniques for making the first detections and then developing yet more sensitive future detectors … This comprehensive review, written by experts in gravitational waves physics, covers these topics in depth and will serve as a very good introduction for students, while at the same time, being a valuable resource for practitioners in the field.' Barry C. Barish, Linde Professor of Physics, Emeritus, California Institute of Technology

After decades of research, physicists now know how to detect Einstein's gravitational waves. Advanced gravitational wave detectors, the most sensitive instruments ever created, will be almost certain of detecting the births of black holes throughout the Universe. This book describes the physics of gravitational waves and their detectors. The book begins by introducing the physics of gravitational wave detection and the likely sources of detectable waves. Case studies on the first generation of large scale gravitational wave detectors introduce the technology and set the scene for a review of the experimental issues in creating advanced detectors in which the instrument's sensitivity is limited by Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. The book covers lasers, thermal noise, vibration isolation, interferometer control and stabilisation against opto-acoustic instabilities. This is a valuable reference for graduate students and researchers in physics and astrophysics entering this field.

Part I. An Introduction to Gravitational Wave Astronomy and Detectors: 1. Gravitational waves D. G. Blair, L. Ju, C. Zhao and E. J. Howell
2. Sources of gravitational waves D. G. Blair and E. J. Howell
3. Gravitational wave detectors D. G. Blair, L. Ju, C. Zhao, H. Miao, E. J. Howell, and P. Barriga
4. Gravitational wave data analysis B. S. Sathyaprakash and B. F. Schutz
5. Network analysis L. Wen and B. F. Schutz
Part II. Current Laser Interferometer Detectors: Three Case Studies: 6. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory P. Fritschel
7. The VIRGO detector S. Braccini
8. GEO 600 H. Lück and H. Grote
Part III. Technology for Advanced Gravitational Wave Detectors: 9. Lasers for high optical power interferometers B. Willke and M. Frede
10. Thermal noise, suspensions and test masses L. Ju, G. Harry and B. Lee
11. Vibration isolation: Part 1. Seismic isolation for advanced LIGO B. Lantz
Part 2. Passive isolation J-C. Dumas
12. Interferometer sensing and control P. Barriga
13. Stabilizing interferometers against high optical power effects C. Zhao, L. Ju, S. Gras and D. G. Blair
Part IV. Technology for Third Generation Gravitational Wave Detectors: 14. Cryogenic interferometers J. Degallaix
15. Quantum theory of laser-interferometer GW detectors H. Miao and Y. Chen
16. ET. A third generation observatory M. Punturo and H. Lück
Index.

Subject Areas: Physics [PH], Astronomy, space & time [PG]