Thursday, 28 September 2017

Ligo-Virgo: a new era for gravitational wave science

Physics from UniTrento comment gravitational wave observation from 3-detector network

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A research group at the University of Trento has been studying gravitational waves using terrestrial detectors for almost thirty years, with support from the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare - INFN.

The research activity also includes a second research group at the University of Padova, with INFN Padova, that works closely with Trento.

Since 2007, their work was key in processing LIGO-Virgo observations, and both when the first gravitational wave was detected and today, when the source of the wave was localized.

At experimental level, the group develops quantum devices to create a state of darkness characterized by compressed noise to improve Virgo’s performance in future observation campaigns.

The group has recently become stronger at experimental and theoretical level, and now can cover many interesting aspects of research in this area, from the advancement of detectors to the analysis and interpretation of observations, especially as regards neutron stars.

Investments in personnel and infrastructure for the study of gravitational waves using terrestrial detectors are matched with the efforts of Trento for a space-borne detector, in preparation for the next phase of the LISA mission.

All the details in the press release (in italian).