High Energy-Astrophysics | Searching for Gravitational Waves from Spinning Neutron Stars (and other objects)

Speaker: Keith Riles (UM Physics)

Gravitational radiation offers a new non-electromagnetic window through which to observe the universe. The LIGO and Virgo Collaborations have completed a first joint data run with unprecedented sensitivities to gravitational waves. A second joint run with further improvements in sensitivity is now underway, and major upgrades will start soon to build Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo. These upgrades should increase event detection rates by more than 1000. Results from searches in recorded data for a variety of astrophysical sources will be presented, with an emphasis on searches for continuous waves from spinning neutron stars. The opportunities - and challenges - in future continuous wave searches will also be discussed.