Gravity seminar - Stephen Fairhurst [COLLOQUIUM, 13:00] Seminar

Abstract: Gravitational Waves (GWs) emitted by colliding black holes were detected for the first time by LIGO in 2015. The subsequent observation of merging neutron stars in 2017, and its electromagnetic counterpart signal, attracted the attention of the astronomy community worldwide. Over 100 gravitational wave signals have been observed to date, providing a glimpse of the binary black hole population in the nearby universe. The next-generation global GW observatory will be transformative in its reach, capable of observing GWs from colliding neutron stars and black holes out to the edge of the Universe. The network, consisting of US Cosmic Explorer and European Einstein Telescope nodes, will provide guaranteed discoveries in astrophysics, cosmology and fundamental physics.  In this talk, I will outline the plans for Cosmic Explorer and Einstein Telescope, discuss their expected sensitivities and present some of the key science highlights these observatories will enable.  These include providing a detailed understanding of black-hole and neutron-star mass and population statistics throughout the Universe; enabling precision tests of General Relativity; providing a wealth of unforeseen astrophysical information through GW and electromagnetic multi-messenger astronomy; and yielding tight constraints on the nature of matter at the extreme densities represented by neutron stars.