[论文解读] Cosmic Explorer: A Submission to the NSF MPSAC ngGW Subcommittee

Matthew Evans, A. Corsi+74 more|arXiv (Cornell University)|Jun 23, 2023

Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research被引用 36

一句话总结

一份白皮书提出 Cosmic Explorer，这是一个下一代引力波观测站，其灵敏度比 LIGO 高出数量级，以扩展在天文学、物理学和宇宙学领域的观测。

ABSTRACT

Gravitational-wave astronomy has revolutionized humanity's view of the universe, a revolution driven by observations that no other field can make. This white paper describes an observatory that builds on decades of investment by the National Science Foundation and that will drive discovery for decades to come: Cosmic Explorer. Major discoveries in astronomy are driven by three related improvements: better sensitivity, higher precision, and opening new observational windows. Cosmic Explorer promises all three and will deliver an order-of-magnitude greater sensitivity than LIGO. Cosmic Explorer will push the gravitational-wave frontier to almost the edge of the observable universe using technologies that have been proven by LIGO during its development. With the unprecedented sensitivity that only a new facility can deliver, Cosmic Explorer will make discoveries that cannot yet be anticipated, especially since gravitational waves are both synergistic with electromagnetic observations and can reach into regions of the universe that electromagnetic observations cannot explore. With Cosmic Explorer, scientists can use the universe as a laboratory to test the laws of physics and study the nature of matter. Cosmic Explorer allows the United States to continue its leading role in gravitational-wave science and the international network of next-generation observatories. With its extraordinary discovery potential, Cosmic Explorer will deliver revolutionary observations across astronomy, physics, and cosmology including: Black Holes and Neutron Stars Throughout Cosmic Time, Multi-Messenger Astrophysics and Dynamics of Dense Matter, New Probes of Extreme Astrophysics, Fundamental Physics and Precision Cosmology, Dark Matter and the Early Universe.

研究动机与目标

• 在 NSF 投资的基础上，推动下一代引力波观测站的建设。
• 论证更高的灵敏度、精准性和新的观测窗口将推动革命性发现。
• 将 Cosmic Explorer 定位为维持美国在引力波科学领域领先地位与全球合作的关键。

提出的方法

• 描述 Cosmic Explorer 的科学动机与发现潜力。
• 通过利用 LIGO 展示的技术，讨论技术就绪情况。
• 突出观测站在多信使天文学和基础物理学中的作用。

实验结果

研究问题

• RQ1 相比 LIGO，增加一个数量级的引力波灵敏度可以实现哪些类型的发现？
• RQ2 Cosmic Explorer 将如何提升多信使天体物理学和基础物理测试？
• RQ3 Cosmic Explorer 在推动宇宙学和跨越宇宙时间的致密物质研究中的作用是什么？

主要发现

• Cosmic Explorer 承诺实现三方面的改进：更高的灵敏度、更高的精准度，以及开启新的观测窗口。
• 它旨在把引力波前沿推向几乎可观测宇宙的边缘。
• 观测站将与电磁观测协同工作，探测电磁天文学无法触及的区域。
• 它支持美国在引力波科学领域的持续领导地位以及国际下一代观测站网络。
• 该项目设想在黑洞、中子星、致密物质动力学与基础物理学等领域开展具有变革性的研究。