Past,present and future of the Resonant-Mass gravitational wave detectors

Resonant-mass gravitational wave detectors are reviewed from the concept of gravitational waves and its mathematical derivation, using Einstein＇s general relativity, to the present status of bars and spherical detectors, and their prospects for the future, which include dual detectors and spheres with non-resonant transducers. The review not only covers technical aspects of detectors and sciences that will be done, but also analyzes the subject in a historical perspective, covering the various detection efforts over four decades, starting from Weber＇s pioneering work.

The Three-Arm Michelson-Fabry-Perot Detector for Gravitational Waves

A three-arm Michelson-Fabry-Perot detector for gravitational waves is designed. It consists of three Michelson Fabry-Perot interferometers, one for each pair of arms. The new detector can be used to confirm whether the gravitational waves are in general relativity polarization states and to set the strong constraints on non-GR gravitational wave polarization states. By the new detectors, the angular resolution of sources can be improved significantly. With the new detector, it is easier to search for and confirm a gravitational wave signal in the observation data.

Detecting Very-High-Frequency Relic Gravitational Waves by a Waveguide

The polarization vector （PV） of an electromagnetic wave （EW） will experience a rotation in a region of spacetime perturbed by gravitational waves （GWs）. Based on this consideration, Cruise＇s group has built an annular waveguide to detect GWs. We give detailed calculations of the rotations of polarization vector of an EW caused by incident GWs from various directions and in various polarization states, and then analyze the accumulative effects on the polarization vector when the EW passes n cycles along the annular waveguide. We reexamine the feasibility and limitation of this method to detect GWs of high frequency around 100 MHz, in particular the relic gravitational waves （RGWs）. By comparing the spectrum of RGWs in the accelerating universe with the detector sensitivity of the current waveguide, it is found that the amplitude of the RGWs is too low to be detected by the waveguide detectors currently operating. Possible ways of improvements on detection are suggested.

Near real-time gravitational wave data analysis of the massive black hole binary with TianQin

Space-borne gravitational wave(GW)detectors can detect the merger of massive black holes.The early warning and localization of GW events before merging can be used to inform electromagnetic telescopes and conduct multimessenger observations.However,this requires real-time data transmission and analysis capabilities.The geocentric orbit of the space-borne GW detector Tian Qin makes it possible to conduct real-time data transmission.In this study,we develop a search and localization pipeline for massive black hole binaries(MBHBs)with Tian Qin under both regular and real-time data transmission modes.We demonstrate that,with real-time data transmission,MBHBs can be accurately localized on the fly.With the approaching merger,each analysis can be finished in only 40 min.For an MBHB system at a distance of 1 Gpc,if we receive data every hour,then we can pinpoint its location to within less than 1 deg^(2)on the final day before the merger.

The next detectors for gravitational wave astronomy

This paper focuses on the next detectors for gravitational wave astronomy which will be required after the current ground based detectors have completed their initial observations, and probably achieved the first direct detection of gravitational waves. The next detectors will need to have greater sensitivity, while also enabling the world array of detectors to have improved angular resolution to allow localisation of signal sources. Sect. 1 of this paper begins by reviewing proposals for the next ground based detectors,and presents an analysis of the sensitivity of an 8 km armlength detector, which is proposed as a safe and cost-effective means to attain a 4-fold improvement in sensitivity. The scientific benefits of creating a pair of such detectors in China and Australia is emphasised. Sect. 2 of this paper discusses the high performance suspension systems for test masses that will be an essential component for future detectors, while sect. 3 discusses solutions to the problem of Newtonian noise which arise from fluctuations in gravity gradient forces acting on test masses. Such gravitational perturbations cannot be shielded, and set limits to low frequency sensitivity unless measured and suppressed. Sects. 4 and 5 address critical operational technologies that will be ongoing issues in future detectors. Sect. 4 addresses the design of thermal compensation systems needed in all high optical power interferometers operating at room temperature. Parametric instability control is addressed in sect. 5. Only recently proven to occur in Advanced LIGO, parametric instability phenomenon brings both risks and opportunities for future detectors. The path to future enhancements of detectors will come from quantum measurement technologies. Sect. 6 focuses on the use of optomechanical devices for obtaining enhanced sensitivity, while sect. 7 reviews a range of quantum measurement options.

Orbit optimization for ASTROD-GW and its time delay interferometry with two arms using CGC ephemeris

Astrodynamical space test of relativity using optical devices optimized for gravitation wave detection （ASTROD- GW） is an optimization of ASTROD to focus on the goal of detection of gravitation waves. The detection sensitivity is shifted 52 times toward larger wavelength compared with that of laser interferometer space antenna （LISA）. The mission orbits of the three spacecrafts forming a nearly equilateral triangular array are chosen to be near the Sun–Earth Lagrange points L3, L4, and L5. The three spacecrafts range interferometrically with one another with an arm length of about 260 million kilometers. In order to attain the required sensitivity for ASTROD-GW, laser frequency noise must be suppressed to below the secondary noises such as the optical path noise, acceleration noise, etc. For suppressing laser frequency noise, we need to use time delay interferometry （TDI） to match the two different optical paths （times of travel）. Since planets and other solar-system bodies perturb the orbits of ASTROD-GW spacecraft and affect the TDI, we simulate the time delay numerically using CGC 2.7 （here, CGC stands for center for gravitation and cosmology） ephemeris framework. To conform to the ASTROD-GW planning, we work out a set of 20-year optimized mission orbits of ASTROD-GW spacecraft starting at June 21, 2028, and calculate the differences in optical path in the first and second generation TDIs separately for one-detector case. In our optimized mission orbits of 20 years, changes of arm lengths are less than 0.0003 AU; the relative Doppler velocities are all less than 3m/s. All the second generation TDI for one-detector case satisfies the ASTROD-GW requirement.

Orbit optimization and time delay interferometry for inclined ASTROD-GW formation with half-year precession-period

ASTROD-GW （ASTROD [astrodynamical space test of relativity using optical devices] optimized for gravitational wave detection） is a gravitational-wave mission with the aim of detecting gravitational waves from massive black holes, extreme mass ratio inspirais （EMRIs） and galactic compact binaries together with testing relativistic gravity and probing dark energy and cosmology. Mission orbits of the 3 spacecrafts forming a nearly equilateral triangular array are chosen to be near the Sun-Earth Lagrange points L3, L4, and L5. The 3 space, crafts range interferometrically with one another with arm length about 260 million kilometers. For 260 times longer arm length, the detection sensitivity of ASTROD- GW is 260 fold better than that of eLISA/NGO in the lower frequency region by assuming the same acceleration noise. Therefore, ASTROD-GW will be a better cosmological probe. In previous papers, we have worked out the time delay interferometry （TDI） for the ecliptic formation. To resolve the reflection ambiguity about the ecliptic plane in source position determination, we have changed the basic formation into slightly inclined formation with half-year precessionperiod. In this paper, we optimize a set of 10-year inclined ASTROD-GW mission orbits numerically using ephemeris framework starting at June 21, 2035, including cases of inclination angle with 0° （no inclination）, 0.5°, 1.0°, 1.5°, 2.0°, 2.5°, and 3.0°. We simulate the time delays of the first and second generation TDI configurations for the different inclinations, and compare/analyse the numerical results to attain the requisite sensitivity of ASTROD-GW by suppressing laser frequency noise below the secondary noises. To explicate our calculation process for different inclination cases, we take the 1.0° as an example to show the orbit optimization and TDI simulation.

Signal photon flux generated by high-frequency relic gravitational waves

The power spectrum of primordial tensor perturbations Pt increases rapidly in the high frequency region if the spectral index nt 〉 0. It is shown that the amplitude of relic gravitational waves ht （5×109 Hz） varies from 10-36 to 10-25 while rtt varies from -6.25 × 10-3 to 0.87. A high frequency gravitational wave detector proposed by F,-Y, Li detects gravitational waves through observing the perturbed photon flux that is generated by interaction between relic gravitational waves and electromagnetic field. It is shown that the perturbative photon flux N1x （5 × 109 Hz） varies from 1.40× 10-4 s-i to 2.85× 107 s-i while nt varies from -6.25 ×10-3 to 0.87, Correspondingly, the ratio of the transverse perturbative photon flux N1x to the background photon flux varies from 10-28 to 10-16.

Is GW151226 really a gravitational wave signal?

Recently, the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Virgo Collaboration published the second observation of a gravitational wave, GW151226 [Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 241103（2016）], from a binary black hole coalescence with initial masses about 14 M and 8 M. They claimed that the peak gravitational strain was reached at about 450 Hz, the inverse of which is longer than the average time a photon stays in the Fabry-Perot cavities in the two arms.In this case, the phase-difference of a photon in the two arms due to the propagation of a gravitational wave does not always increase as the photon stays in the cavities. It might even be cancelled to zero in extreme cases. When the propagation effect is taken into account, we find that the claimed signal GW151226 almost disappears.