Speaker
Prof.
Hartmut Grote
(Cardiff University)
Description
The first detections of gravitational waves from colliding black holes and neutron stars in 2015 and 2017 have started the field of gravitational-wave astronomy.
In this talk I will introduce some principles of the instruments making
these detections possible, focusing on the US-based LIGO detectors.
These exquisitely sensitive laser interferometers combine elements
from different fields of physics and engineering, such as mechanics, optics, electronics, material science, feedback control, electronics, and simulations.
I will also report on current upgrades and some future plans for LIGO.
Primary author
Prof.
Hartmut Grote
(Cardiff University)
