Gravitational wave detectors: New eyes for physics and astronomy

GABRIELA GONZÁLEZ, for the LIGO Scientific Collaboration

Department of Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University, 202 Nicholson Hall,

Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA

E-mail: gonzalez@reef.phys.lsu.edu

Abstract. Several interferometric gravitational wave detectors around the world are

now starting to achieve better sensitivity to gravitational waves than ever before. We

describe the prospects these detectors offer for physics and astronomy and review the

rapid progress and the present status of the detectors' sensitivities. We also report the

progress made by the LIGO Scientific Collaboration in analysing the data produced by

the LIGO and GEO detectors during the Collaboration's Science Runs.

Keywords. Gravitational waves; interferometric detectors.

PACS Nos 04.80.Nn; 95.55.Ym; 95.85.Sz