Quantum Science Seminar #58 - Sheila Rowan

Sheila Rowan University of Glasgow Glasgow — United Kingdom Gravitational wave observatories: km-scale 'quantum sensors' In September 2015 the twin `Advanced LIGO' observatories enabled the first direct detection of gravitational waves from astrophysical sources. The waves detected originated from the collision and merger of two black holes 1.3 billion light years from earth. This detection marked the start of new field of gravitational astrophysics, in the 100th anniversary year of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. The observatories operate by using laser interferometry to search for the tiny changes in the relative positions of the suspended optics in a Michelson-type interferometer, induced by the passage of gravitational waves. This talk will describe the technologies developed to reach the threshold of first detection and outline the research directions being pursued to increase the operating sensitivity of the detectors - where quantum effects form an important noise source in the instruments.