Speaker
Description
Second-generation gravitational-wave (GW) detectors, Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo, have opened a new window on the Universe. The first detection of GWs from a binary black hole merger in 2015 marked a major scientific breakthrough, followed by the observation of a neutron star binary coalescence accompanied by electromagnetic counterparts.
Since then, regular detections—particularly of black hole binaries—have become routine, providing valuable insights into compact object populations, stellar evolution, and strong-field gravity. These results, while groundbreaking, represent only the beginning of GW astrophysics.
Third-generation (3G) detectors like the Einstein Telescope (ET) and Cosmic Explorer (CE) aim to revolutionize the field further. With tenfold improved sensitivity and an extended frequency range, ET will access a vastly larger volume of the Universe and probe phenomena inaccessible to current detectors.
The talk will mainly focus on the ET detector, giving an overview of the scientific objectives, the status of design and of the site identification, the technological challenges and the expected implications to the GW Astronomy progress.
