Australia's role in gravitational wave detection

John S. Jacob, Pablo Barriga, David G. Blair, Aidan Brooks, Ron Burman, Raymond Burston, Lee Chan, Xiuting Chan, Eu Jeen Chin, Jong Chow, David Coward, Benedict Cusack, Glen De Vine, Jerome Degallaix, Jean Charles Dumas, Angus Faulkner, Florin Garoi, Slawomir Gras, Malcolm Gray, Murray HamiltonMatthew Herne, C. Hollitt, David Hosken, Eric Howell, Li Ju, T. Kelly, Ben Lee, Chuen Ying Lee, Kah Tho Lee, Antony Lun, David McClelland, Kirk McKenzie, C. Mow-Lowry, Damien Mudge, Jesper Munch, Darren Paget, Sascha Schediwy, Susan Scott, Antony Searle, Ben Sheard, Bram Slagmolen, Peter Veitch, John Winterflood, Andrew Woolley, Zewu Yan, Chunnong Zhao

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

An enormous effort is underway worldwide to attempt to detect gravitational waves. If successful, this will open a new frontier in astronomy. An essential portion of this effort is being carried out in Australia by the Australian Consortium for Interferometric Gravitational Astronomy (ACIGA), with research teams working at the Australia National University, University of Western Australia, and University of Adelaide involving scientists and students representing many more institutions and nations. ACIGA is developing ultrastable high-power continuous-wave lasers for the next generation interferometric gravity wave detectors; researching the problems associated with high optical power in resonant cavities; opening frontiers in advanced interferometry configurations, quantum optics, and signal extraction; and is the world's leader in high-performance vibration isolation and suspension design. ACIGA has also been active in theoretical research and modelling of potential astronomical gravitational wave sources, and in developing data analysis detection algorithms. ACIGA has opened a research facility north of Perth, Western Australia, which will be the culmination of these efforts. This paper briefly reviews ACIGA's research activities and the prospects for gravitational wave astronomy in the southern hemisphere.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)223-241
Number of pages19
JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of Australia
Volume20
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished or Issued - 2003
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Gravitational waves

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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