The first space-based gravitational-wave detectors
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, 209 South 33rd Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 (United States)
- Department of Physics, Columbia University, 538 West 120th Street, New York, New York 10027 (United States)
Gravitational waves provide a laboratory for general relativity and a window to energetic astrophysical phenomena invisible with electromagnetic radiation. Several terrestrial detectors are currently under construction, and a space-based interferometer is envisioned for launch early next century to detect test-mass motions induced by waves of relatively short wavelength. Very-long-wavelength gravitational waves can be detected using the plasma in the early Universe as test masses; the motion induced in the plasma by a wave is imprinted onto the cosmic microwave background (CMB). While the signature of gravitational waves on the CMB temperature fluctuations is not unique, the {ital polarization} pattern can be used to unambiguously detect gravitational radiation. Thus, forthcoming CMB polarization experiments, such as the Microwave Anisotropy Probe and Planck, will be the first space-based gravitational-wave detectors. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
- OSTI ID:
- 295582
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review, D, Journal Name: Physical Review, D Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 59; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 0556-2821
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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