Barry C. Barish

Probing for Gravitational Waves with LIGO

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is being developed with sensitivity that should be capable of the detection of gravitational waves resulting from such astrophysical sources as merging compact binary systems, spinning neutron stars, supernovae explosions and even cosmological sources. LIGO consists of two widely separated long baseline interferometers that can be used standalone or in coincidence. These sophisticated interferometers have been constructed and the commissioning is well along. The detectors are already the most sensitive in the world and are now approaching the design sensitivity of the initial interferometers. The science of gravitational waves, the technology and detector performance, the first upper limits, and finally the prospects for the future will be discussed.