| Abstract |
Gravitational wave is a propagation of space-time distortion, which is predicted by Einstein in general relativity. Strong gravitational waves will come not only from some drastic astronomical objects like as coalescences of neutron star binaries, black holes, supernovae, pulsars, but also from cosmological origines as inflation, cosmic string etc. To search these gravitational waves, large-scale laser interferometers will compose a global network of detectors. LCGT in japan, advanced LIGO in USA, advanced Virgo in Europa, LIGO Australia, INDIGO in India and Einstein Telescope are constructing / upgrading / planning. now. Network of these gravitational wave detectors will start in late 2016 or 2017, and may discover the gravitational waves. We will learn about the basic concept and current status of gravitational wave detection, and discuss about prospects of ‘gravitational wave astronomy’ in the following two lectures.
1. Fundamentals of Gravitational Wave and its Detection
We will learn what is a gravitational wave, and how to detect/measure it. We should remark Einstein’s general theory of relativity to understand the gravitational wave. On the other hand. we will introduce the fundamentals of detectors. Modern detector type is a laser interferometer with large (km size) beam base-line, using high power laser and high quality optics. It is extremely high-sensitivity measurement of space-time distortion. We will see the wonderful physics of fundamental characteristics of detector instruments. We also display the recent status of world wide detectors. LCGT (Largescale Cryogenic Gravitational wave Telescope) is now constructing in Kamioka-mine, Japan.
2. Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology with Gravitational Waves
Current constructing gravitational wave detectors will reach its search range for coalescences of neutron star binary is over 200 Mpc. Detectors will be sensitive also for gravitational waves originate massive black-holes, supernovae, pulsars, etc. Since most of gravitational wave events are from high-energy phenomenon of the astronomical objects, these might have counterpart evidences in electromagnetic radiation (visible light, X/gamma ray), neutrino, high energy particles or others. For the future detector using space craft will be capable to receive gravitational waves not only from huge numbers of compact binaries but also from cosmological origines. Space-based gravitational wave detectors may probe the early universe and study the cosmology. We will discuss about the physics, astrophysics and cosmology with gravitational waves. |
