The status of ground-based interferometric gravitational-wave detectors

We are living in an exciting time for the maturing field of gravitational-wave (GW) physics. A world-wide network of advanced multi-kilometer long laser interferometers for GW detection is currently under construction in the United States, Europe, and Japan. Compared to the initial detectors which were in operation until 2011, the advanced detectors will be about 10 times more sensitive, resulting in a 1000-fold increase in observable volume. In only a couple years' time, we expect to make not only the first direct detection of GWs, but to start an era in which signals are routinely observed. We present a general overview of the advanced detectors and the status of their construction and commissioning.