14 April 2011

Speaker: Laura Cadonati (U Mass Amherst)

Title:Probing the Transient Universe with Gravitational Waves: Status and Prospects

Abstract: The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) and its sister project Virgo aim to achieve in the next few years the first direct detection of gravitational waves and open a new observational channel for some of the most violent and energetic events in the universe, such as colliding black holes and core-collapse supernovae. The information from gravitational waves, complementary to the multi-wavelength electromagnetic spectrum, neutrinos and cosmic rays, will contribute to a more complete, multi-messenger understanding of such sources as gamma-ray bursts, soft- gamma repeaters, supernovae, and glitching pulsars. In this talk I will review how electromagnetic and neutrino observations and the theoretical understanding of source dynamics and populations are implemented in gravitational wave analyses. I will present selected results from LIGO data and outline prospects for discovery in the advanced detector era, with particular focus on transient signatures.

Video of the Presentation (Talks can be viewed with RealPlayer. Free download is available from www.real.com )