LIGO: the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory
California Institute of Technology · Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics · +55 more institutions
Abstract
The goal of the Laser Interferometric Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is to detect and study gravitational waves (GWs) of astrophysical origin. Direct detection of GWs holds the promise of testing general relativity in the strong-field regime, of providing a new probe of exotic objects such as black holes and neutron stars and of uncovering unanticipated new astrophysics. LIGO, a joint Caltech-MIT project supported by the National Science Foundation, operates three multi-kilometer interferometers at two widely separated sites in the United States. These detectors are the result of decades of worldwide technology development, design, construction and commissioning. They are now operating at their design…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 61.47
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 117
Authors
501- BPB. P. AbbottCorresponding
California Institute of Technology
- RAR. Abbott
California Institute of Technology
- RXR. X. Adhikari
California Institute of Technology
- PAP. Ajith
Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics
- BAB. Allen
Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Topics & keywords
- LIGO
- Physics
- Gravitational wave
- Observatory
- Interferometry
- Astronomical interferometer
- Astronomy
- Gravitational-wave astronomy
Funding
- NSNational Science Foundation
- NANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
- APAlfred P. Sloan Foundation
- AVAlexander von Humboldt-Stiftung
- JSJohn Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
- LTLeverhulme Trust
- COCouncil of Scientific and Industrial Research, India
- NSNatural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- SAScience and Technology Facilities CouncilAwards: PP/F00110X/1, PP/F001096/1, ST/G504284/1, PP/E001203/1, PP/F001118/1, ST/F01032X/1