Global detector networks
Abstract
Whereas the challenge to detect the elusive gravitational-wave signal drives the technological design of laser-interferometer gravitational-wave detectors, the identification and characterization of astrophysical sources emitting the gravitational-wave signals require a global network of gravitational-wave detectors. Using the simultaneous observations of a network of detectors has strong scientific motivations: (i) to increase the detection confidence of weak and rare gravitational-wave signals expected to be associated with highly energetic astrophysical phenomena, (ii) to improve signal/source reconstruction and then provide an accurate estimate of the source parameters, and (iii) to enable gravitational waves to be part of the multi-messenger observations of the Universe. It was, indeed, the network of the LIGO interferometers that detected and characterized the first gravitational-wave signals coming from binary black-hole mergers [Abbott et al. (2016c,e, 2017c,d)], opening a new channel for the exploration of the Universe. It was also the network of the LIGO and Virgo interferometers that detected and characterized the first gravitational-wave signal coming from a binary neutron star coalescence [Abbott et al. (2017f)], starting the era of multi-messenger astronomy including gravitational waves [Abbott et al. (2017g)]. This chapter focuses on the importance of a network of gravitational-wave detectors for gravitational-wave detection, gravitational-wave astrophysics and multi-messenger astronomy.
- Publication:
-
Advanced Interferometric Gravitational-Wave Detectors. Volume I: Essentials of Gravitational-Wave Detectors. Edited by Reitze D et al. Published by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd
- Pub Date:
- 2019
- DOI:
- 10.1142/9789813146082_0003
- Bibcode:
- 2019aigw.book...59B