激光干涉引力波探测器——人类的宇宙助听器

Laser interferometer gravitational-wave detectors——hearing aids for human on deep universe

爱因斯坦预言引力波100周年之际,人类首次直接探测到引力波信号。文章简单介绍了这次的主角——高新激光干涉引力波天文台(advanced LIGO)的光学与激光部分技术。激光干涉引力波探测器,本质上是一个迈克尔孙干涉仪。原初的迈克尔孙干涉仪也曾在否定以太理论、促使相对论创立的过程中起关键作用。而基于爱因斯坦受激发射理论发展起来的激光技术也在引力波探测中立下汗马功劳。出于协同测量与定位以及扩展引力波探测频段等方面的考虑,除LIGO之外,还有多个地面和空间激光干涉引力波探测器在建或在研。可以预计,当前只是引力波探测技术与引力波天文学发展的开端。

Gravitational wave was detected for the first time 100 years after Einstein＇s pre- diction. Here we briefly describe the advanced laser intefferometer gravitational-wave observatory （advanced LIGO）, with which the discovery was made. The emphasis is put on the optical and laser technology of the detector. Laser intefferometer gravitational-wave detectors are fundamentally Michelson interferometers. The original Michelson intefferometer helped disproving the existence of ＂luminiferous aether＂, which led to the development of the theory of relativity. And laser tech- nology, for which Einstein established the foundations with the theory of stimulated emission, has played crucial role in detecting gravitational waves. Besides LIGO, there are other ground or space based laser interferometer gravitational-wave detectors, which are in the process of building and designing. All those detectors will make joint observation and locate the sources of the waves, and extend the detectable specman of gravitational waves. It is believed that this detection is the beginning of a new era of the gravitational wave detection technology and gravitational wave astronomy.