Logo
ScienceStack
Table of Contents
Fetching ...
Sign In

Cosmic Explorer: The U.S. Contribution to Gravitational-Wave Astronomy beyond LIGO

David Reitze, Rana X Adhikari, Stefan Ballmer, Barry Barish, Lisa Barsotti, GariLynn Billingsley, Duncan A. Brown, Yanbei Chen, Dennis Coyne, Robert Eisenstein, Matthew Evans, Peter Fritschel, Evan D. Hall, Albert Lazzarini, Geoffrey Lovelace, Jocelyn Read, B. S. Sathyaprakash, David Shoemaker, Joshua Smith, Calum Torrie, Salvatore Vitale, Rainer Weiss, Christopher Wipf, Michael Zucker

Abstract

This white paper describes the research and development needed over the next decade to realize "Cosmic Explorer," the U.S. node of a future third-generation detector network that will be capable of observing and characterizing compact gravitational-wave sources to cosmological redshifts.

Cosmic Explorer: The U.S. Contribution to Gravitational-Wave Astronomy beyond LIGO

Abstract

This white paper describes the research and development needed over the next decade to realize "Cosmic Explorer," the U.S. node of a future third-generation detector network that will be capable of observing and characterizing compact gravitational-wave sources to cosmological redshifts.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 20 sections, 4 figures, 2 tables.

Table of Contents

  1. Executive Summary
  2. Key Science Goals and Objectives
  3. Technology Overview
  4. Design architecture
  5. Key performance requirements
  6. Technical, site, and infrastructure requirements
  7. Technology Drivers
  8. An engineering study for Cosmic Explorer
  9. Prerequisite work for the engineering study
  10. Description of the engineering study
  11. Schedule and cost of the engineering study
  12. Laboratory research and prototypes
  13. Cosmic Explorer prototype test mass chamber
  14. Conversion of the LIGO 40 m prototype
  15. Large cryogenic suspension testing
  16. ...and 5 more sections

Figures (4)

  • Figure 1: Amplitude spectrum of the detector noise as a function of frequency for the two stages of Cosmic Explorer (CE1, CE2) and the current (O3), design, and upgraded (A+) sensitivities of Advanced LIGO.
  • Figure 2: A top-level timeline showing a phased approach to the Cosmic Explorer detector. A detailed timeline for Cosmic Explorer technology development in the 2020s in given in Figure 3.
  • Figure 3: Schedule for Cosmic Explorer technology development in the 2020s. Activities in green are within the scope of this white paper and contribute to the cost estimate (Table 2). The broader timeline for Cosmic Explorer, extending into the 2040s, is given in Figure 2.
  • Figure 4: Cost per year for the activities in Table 2 and Figure 3.