Condensed Matter Seminar: Quantum noise and the future of LIGO

Abstract:

​On the 14th of September 2015, the LIGO-VIRGO Collaboration directly observed gravitational radiation emitted during the merger of two black holes. Announced in February, this landmark discovery confirmed a 100-year-old prediction of general relativity and instantaneously established a new field of astronomy. The laser interferometers which facilitated this breakthrough are the most sensitive position meters ever constructed. At design sensitivity, they will measure displacements of order 10^{-20} m, with further improvements prevented by the discrete nature of light itself. In this generally accessible talk, I will discuss how the techniques of quantum optics can be employed to circumvent this limit, present LIGO's latest results and the new science they enable and describe a road map for future detector upgrades which will increase the reach of gravitational-wave astrophysics by more than an order of magnitude.

Event Organizer: Prof. Eli Eisenberg