Advanced LIGO subsystems
are the organizational units of the overall project. Follow the links below to view the mission and progress of each subsystem.
Auxiliary Optics Core Optics
 
Data Acquisition Data and
Computing
Systems
 
Facilities
Modifications		 Input Optics
 
Interferometer
Control		 Pre-Stabilized
Laser
 
Seismic
Isolation		 Suspensions

Advanced LIGO --
The Next Step in Gravitational Wave Astronomy

Gravitational waves offer a remarkable opportunity to see the universe from a new perspective, providing access to astrophysical insights that are available in no other way. The Initial LIGO gravitational wave detectors completed observations at and beyond their original design sensitivity in 2007, and the data have been interpreted to establish new upper limits on gravitational-wave flux. An additional data run with the modified Enhanced LIGO detectors reached completion in 2010. The Advanced LIGO project will completely upgrade the three U.S. gravitational wave interferometers, bringing these instruments to sensitivities that should make gravitational wave detections a routine occurrence. The U.S. National Science Foundation leads in financial support for Advanced LIGO. Funding organizations in Germany, the U.K. and Australia also have made significant commitments to the project. Together with Advanced Virgo, Advanced LIGO will bring gravitational wave astronomy to maturity.   Read more . . .

Advanced LIGO News
November 2015

LIGO's O1 observing run, the first data run of the advanced gravitational wave detector era, began in September 2015. An array of always-on software monitors continues to provide diagnostic information related to detector performance as the run proceeds. The H1 (Washington) and L1 (Louisiana) interferometers began the run at the top end of LIGO's projections for O1 astrophysical sensing range and their reach has remained steady through mid-November. For gravitational waves from the inspiral of a pair of 1.4 solar mass neutron stars (the "standard candle" for gravitational wave interferometry), [range] H1 and L1 typically range to an all-sky average of about 250 million light years, roughly a factor of four above LIGO's 2010 sensitivity. The Advanced LIGO seismic isolation systems and multi-stage optic suspensions are providing isolation that's contributed to the improved range and to the production of longer lock stretches, including a 60(+) hour lock stretch on L1 that began on November 4. The photo shows a twelve-hour period of "double conincidence" data collection with H1 (red) and L1 (green) averaging roughly 75 Megaparsecs of range. The O1 run will continue through mid-January 2016.  Read more . . .


Explore Advanced LIGO    Construction Schedule
   An Overview of the Upgrades
   The International Partnership
   Science Impacts
   LIGO Technology Transfers
   LIGO Scientific Collaboration
   Public Outreach
   LIGO Magazine
   aLIGO Home

Technology developments
from the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, stimulated by the NSF's establishment of the LIGO Observatories, continue to migrate into the broader research and development community. Learn more by viewing LIGO's technology transfer case studies.[eligo]


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