Session J1: Astrophysics and Astronomy II

1:30 PM–3:06 PM, Saturday, October 18, 2008
Union East, 3rd Floor - University

Chair: Stacy Palen, Weber State University

Abstract ID: BAPS.2008.TS4CF.J1.4

Abstract: J1.00004 : Gravitational Wave Astronomy: a status report

2:30 PM–2:54 PM

Preview Abstract

Author:

  Mario Diaz
    (The University of Texas at Brownsville)

The LIGO observatories have recently finished more than a year of observation at design sensitivity. They will be going through an upgrade that will enhance their sensitivity by a factor of two and start a new period of observation in 2009. After that work to install the major upgrades that constitute Advanced LIGO will start. A few years later the LIGO observatories will start operating with an order of magnitude enhanced sensitivity. In this talk I review the most recent results obtained during the last observation period (scientific run number 5): these results although null, are giving interesting upper limits in observational astrophysics. I will discuss the implications they have for the nascent field of Gravitational Wave Astronomy.

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2008.TS4CF.J1.4