Homework from Einstein : Detection of Gravitational Waves(One Hundred Years of General Relativity-History, Current Status, and Future Prospects)

Abstract

The existence of the gravitational wave was predicted in the general theory of relativity almost 100 years ago, but it has never been directly detected. Gravitational waves are considered to be emitted from the coalescence of a neutron star binary, the beginning of the Universe, etc. The detection of gravitational waves is expected to establish completely new astronomy, so-called gravitational wave astronomy. The most promising method for the detection of gravitational wave is a laser interferometer. Actually in Japan, the US, and Europe, large-scale laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors, such as KAGRA are being built with expectation of the first detection within several years. Furthermore, future detectors with higher sensitivities have been and are planned and studied to obtain various new science.