Seminar by Dr. Koustav Chandra
Title: From a Whisper to a continuous Roar: Designing the Network of Next-Generation Gravitational-Wave Detectors
Speaker: Dr. Koustav Chandra, AEI Potsdam
Abstract: What began as a trickle back in 2015 has now become a veritable deluge. Over the past decade, the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA detectors have recorded more than 300 gravitational-wave events, enabling strong-field tests of general relativity, shedding light on the astrophysical origins of these sources, and improving our understanding of local compact-binary demographics. However, these facilities are approaching their technological limits, and it is time to prepare for the next generation of ground-based detectors, such as Cosmic Explorer and the Einstein Telescope. With this in mind, we are currently considering several design choices, and science traceability matrix studies are underway to determine which network configuration and detector design deliver the optimal scientific return within external constraints. In this talk, I will summarise the study's findings, focusing primarily on population inference, cosmology, and multi-messenger astronomy. I will highlight how LIGO-India, a current-generation detector, fits into this broader picture and why it forms a vital cog in the next-generation network.
Venue: Seminar Room (202), Physics Department IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai