[Paper Review] Ground-Based Gravitational-Wave Astronomy in Australia: 2019 White Paper

M. Bailes, D. E. McClelland+19 more|arXiv (Cornell University)|Dec 13, 2019

Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research4 citations

TL;DR

This 2019 white paper advocates for Australia to lead in next-generation gravitational-wave astronomy by funding a Gravitational-Wave Pathfinder to develop key technologies for third-generation observatories like Cosmic Explorer, and by sustaining a national Tier-2 data centre for A+ and 3G-era data. The initiative aims to enable detection of neutron star mergers at redshifts up to z=12 and black hole mergers at z=37, unlocking insights into dense matter, cosmic evolution, and extreme gravity.

ABSTRACT

The past four years have seen a scientific revolution through the birth of a new field: gravitational-wave astronomy. The first detection of gravitational waves---recognised by the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics---provided unprecedented tests of general relativity while unveiling a previously unknown class of massive black holes, thirty times more massive than the Sun. The subsequent detection of gravitational waves from a merging binary neutron star confirmed the hypothesised connection between binary neutron stars and short gamma-ray bursts while providing an independent measurement of the expansion of the Universe. The discovery enabled precision measurement of the speed of gravity while shedding light on the origin of heavy elements. At the time of writing, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) and its European partner, Virgo, have published the detection of eleven gravitational-wave events. New, not-yet-published detections are announced on a nearly weekly basis. This fast-growing catalogue of gravitational-wave transients is expected to yield insights into a number of topics, from the equation of state of matter at supra-nuclear densities to the fate of massive stars. The science potential of 3G observatories is enormous, enabling measurements of gravitational waves from the edge of the Universe and precise determination of the neutron star equation of state. Australia is well-positioned to help develop the required technology. The Mid-term Review for the Decadal plan for Australian astronomy 2016-2025 should consider investment in a scoping study for an Australian Gravitational-Wave Pathfinder that develops and validates core technologies required for the global 3G detector network.

Motivation & Objective

• Address the need for Australia to maintain leadership in gravitational-wave astronomy as the field transitions to third-generation observatories.
• Mitigate technical and financial risks in developing next-generation detectors by advancing technology through a national Pathfinder facility.
• Ensure Australia can process and analyze the exponentially increasing data volume from A+ and future 3G detectors via a dedicated Tier-2 data centre.
• Enable multi-messenger astronomy by aligning gravitational-wave detection with radio and electromagnetic observatories like SKA and LISA.
• Position Australia as a key global partner in the Cosmic Explorer network through technology development and infrastructure readiness.

Proposed method

• Propose a scoping study for an Australian Gravitational-Wave Pathfinder (Stage 0) to validate core technologies for 3G detectors like Cosmic Explorer.
• Develop and test advanced technologies including low-noise suspensions, high-power lasers, and quantum noise reduction systems to enable 40 km-scale interferometers.
• Establish a national Gravitational-Wave Data Centre as a Tier-2 facility, integrating with global data networks and supporting analysis of A+ and 3G data.
• Leverage existing ARC LIEF funding and international collaboration to co-develop components for A+ and future 3G observatories.
• Use the Pathfinder to produce precise cost estimates and technical roadmaps for OzHF and Cosmic Explorer South with 10% contingency.
• Integrate data centre operations with other astronomy data centres to maximize efficiency and share expertise across the national research infrastructure.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 How can Australia develop and validate the core technologies required for third-generation gravitational-wave detectors like Cosmic Explorer?
• RQ2 What is the optimal design and cost structure for a national Gravitational-Wave Pathfinder to de-risk 3G observatory construction?
• RQ3 How can Australia ensure sustained leadership in gravitational-wave science through data analysis as detection rates increase tenfold with A+ and 1000-fold with 3G?
• RQ4 What role can Australia play in multi-messenger astronomy by enabling early electromagnetic follow-up of gravitational-wave events detected at high redshift?
• RQ5 How can a national data centre be scaled to handle the data volume from 3G observatories while maintaining high performance and international interoperability?

Key findings

• The Australian Gravitational-Wave Pathfinder is estimated to cost $5M AUD through 2025 and will produce cost estimates for OzHF and Cosmic Explorer South with 10% contingency.
• The Gravitational-Wave Data Centre requires $4.4M AUD through 2025 to maintain funding at current levels, supporting ~9 FTE and hardware updates every five years.
• Cosmic Explorer South could detect binary neutron star mergers out to redshift z=12, when the Universe was only 400 Myr old, surpassing the most distant known galaxy at z=11.09.
• Cosmic Explorer could detect binary black holes like GW150914 out to redshift z=37, well before stellar-mass black holes are expected to form.
• A+ observatory will detect binary neutron stars up to three times farther than Advanced LIGO, increasing detection rates by a factor of ~30 and enabling alerts up to ten minutes before merger.
• Third-generation observatories will achieve signal-to-noise ratios thousands of times higher than Advanced LIGO, enabling precision tests of general relativity and searches for new physics in extreme gravity.