Gravitational Wave Astronomy

  1. Detection Methods and Technologies
    1. Fundamental Detection Principles
      1. Spacetime Strain Measurement
        1. Definition of Gravitational Wave Strain
          1. Typical Strain Amplitudes
            1. Frequency Dependence
            2. Tidal Effects on Test Masses
              1. Differential Acceleration
                1. Quadrupolar Pattern
                  1. Free-Falling Reference Frames
                  2. Interferometric Detection
                    1. Arm Length Changes
                      1. Phase Shifts
                        1. Sensitivity Requirements
                      2. Ground-Based Laser Interferometers
                        1. Basic Michelson Interferometer
                          1. Interference Principles
                            1. Fringe Patterns
                              1. Path Length Differences
                                1. Photodetector Signals
                                2. Advanced Configurations
                                  1. Fabry-Pérot Arm Cavities
                                    1. Resonance Conditions
                                      1. Finesse
                                        1. Power Build-Up
                                          1. Storage Time
                                          2. Power Recycling
                                            1. Signal Enhancement
                                              1. Optical Gain
                                              2. Signal Recycling
                                                1. Frequency Response Tuning
                                                  1. Bandwidth Optimization
                                                2. Major Observatory Networks
                                                  1. LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory)
                                                    1. Hanford Observatory
                                                      1. Livingston Observatory
                                                        1. Design Specifications
                                                          1. Sensitivity Curves
                                                            1. Major Upgrades
                                                            2. Virgo
                                                              1. Cascina, Italy Location
                                                                1. Design Features
                                                                  1. Collaboration Structure
                                                                  2. KAGRA
                                                                    1. Kamioka Underground Location
                                                                      1. Cryogenic Technology
                                                                        1. Sapphire Mirrors
                                                                        2. GEO600
                                                                          1. Hannover, Germany
                                                                            1. Technology Testbed
                                                                              1. Signal Recycling Pioneer
                                                                            2. Detector Network Operations
                                                                              1. Coincident Detection
                                                                                1. Sky Localization
                                                                                  1. False Alarm Reduction
                                                                                    1. Duty Cycle Coordination
                                                                                  2. Noise Sources and Mitigation
                                                                                    1. Fundamental Noise Limits
                                                                                      1. Quantum Noise
                                                                                        1. Shot Noise
                                                                                          1. Radiation Pressure Noise
                                                                                            1. Standard Quantum Limit
                                                                                              1. Squeezed Light Injection
                                                                                              2. Thermal Noise
                                                                                                1. Mirror Thermal Noise
                                                                                                  1. Coating Brownian Noise
                                                                                                    1. Suspension Thermal Noise
                                                                                                      1. Gas Damping
                                                                                                    2. Environmental Disturbances
                                                                                                      1. Seismic Noise
                                                                                                        1. Ground Motion
                                                                                                          1. Microseisms
                                                                                                            1. Anthropogenic Vibrations
                                                                                                            2. Newtonian Noise
                                                                                                              1. Local Gravity Fluctuations
                                                                                                                1. Atmospheric Pressure
                                                                                                                  1. Seismic Coupling
                                                                                                                  2. Electromagnetic Interference
                                                                                                                    1. Power Line Harmonics
                                                                                                                      1. Radio Frequency Pickup
                                                                                                                        1. Magnetic Field Fluctuations
                                                                                                                      2. Technical Noise Sources
                                                                                                                        1. Laser Frequency Noise
                                                                                                                          1. Frequency Stabilization
                                                                                                                            1. Reference Cavities
                                                                                                                            2. Laser Intensity Noise
                                                                                                                              1. Power Stabilization
                                                                                                                                1. Amplitude Modulation
                                                                                                                                2. Mirror Motion Noise
                                                                                                                                  1. Actuator Noise
                                                                                                                                    1. Control System Noise
                                                                                                                                    2. Electronics Noise
                                                                                                                                      1. Photodetector Noise
                                                                                                                                        1. Amplifier Noise
                                                                                                                                          1. Digital Conversion Noise
                                                                                                                                        2. Isolation and Control Systems
                                                                                                                                          1. Seismic Isolation
                                                                                                                                            1. Passive Isolation
                                                                                                                                              1. Active Isolation
                                                                                                                                                1. Multi-Stage Systems
                                                                                                                                                2. Vibration Isolation
                                                                                                                                                  1. Pendulum Suspensions
                                                                                                                                                    1. Multi-Pendulum Chains
                                                                                                                                                      1. Violin Mode Damping
                                                                                                                                                      2. Length Control Systems
                                                                                                                                                        1. Feedback Loops
                                                                                                                                                          1. Error Signals
                                                                                                                                                            1. Actuator Systems
                                                                                                                                                            2. Angular Control
                                                                                                                                                              1. Beam Alignment
                                                                                                                                                                1. Mirror Orientation
                                                                                                                                                                  1. Wavefront Sensing
                                                                                                                                                              2. Pulsar Timing Arrays
                                                                                                                                                                1. Pulsar Timing Fundamentals
                                                                                                                                                                  1. Millisecond Pulsars
                                                                                                                                                                    1. Timing Models
                                                                                                                                                                      1. Timing Residuals
                                                                                                                                                                        1. Clock Stability
                                                                                                                                                                        2. Gravitational Wave Detection Method
                                                                                                                                                                          1. Correlated Timing Residuals
                                                                                                                                                                            1. Hellings-Downs Correlation
                                                                                                                                                                              1. Earth-Pulsar Baseline
                                                                                                                                                                                1. Sensitivity to Nanohertz Waves
                                                                                                                                                                                2. Target Sources
                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Supermassive Black Hole Binaries
                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Cosmic String Networks
                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Primordial Gravitational Waves
                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Major PTA Projects
                                                                                                                                                                                        1. NANOGrav
                                                                                                                                                                                          1. European Pulsar Timing Array
                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Parkes Pulsar Timing Array
                                                                                                                                                                                              1. International Pulsar Timing Array
                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Data Analysis Challenges
                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Red Noise Modeling
                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Clock Corrections
                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Interstellar Medium Effects
                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Solar System Ephemeris
                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Space-Based Interferometry
                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Scientific Motivation
                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Low-Frequency Sensitivity
                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Absence of Seismic Noise
                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Long Baseline Advantages
                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. LISA Mission Concept
                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Triangular Constellation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Laser Interferometry
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Drag-Free Technology
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Mission Timeline
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Target Science
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Massive Black Hole Mergers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Galactic Binary Systems
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Extreme Mass Ratio Inspirals
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Verification Binaries
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Technical Challenges
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Spacecraft Positioning
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Laser Stability
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Thermal Control
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Micrometeorite Impacts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Future Mission Concepts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. DECIGO
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. TianQin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Taiji

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Astrophysical Sources of Gravitational Waves

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Data Analysis and Signal Processing