Gravitational-wave astronomy: Observational results and their impact

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent gravitational-wave detection efforts, discusses what null results reveal about the universe, and predicts how future detections will advance astrophysics and transform gravitational-wave astronomy.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive review of observational results and insights gained from null detections, and offers predictions on future impacts of gravitational-wave observations.

Findings

Null results constrain properties of astrophysical objects

Recent searches inform detector sensitivity improvements

Future detections expected to revolutionize astrophysics

Abstract

The successful construction and operation of highly sensitive gravitational-wave detectors is an achievement to be proud of, but the detection of actual signals is still around the corner. Even so, null results from recent searches have told us some interesting things about the objects that live in our universe, so it can be argued that the era of gravitational-wave astronomy has already begun. In this article I review several of these results and discuss what we have learned from them. I then look into the not-so-distant future and predict some ways in which the detection of gravitational-wave signals will shape our knowledge of astrophysics and transform the field.