The Past, Present and Future of the Resonant-Mass Gravitational Wave Detectors

TL;DR

This paper reviews the development, current status, and future prospects of resonant-mass gravitational wave detectors, including bars and spheres, from theoretical foundations to technological advancements over four decades.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive historical and technical overview of resonant-mass gravitational wave detectors, highlighting recent innovations like dual detectors and non-resonant transducers.

Findings

Historical analysis of four decades of detection efforts

Current status of bar and spherical detectors

Future prospects including dual and non-resonant detectors

Abstract

Resonant-mass gravitational waves detectors are reviewed from the concept of gravitational waves and its mathematical derivation, using Einstein's general relativity, to the present status of bars and spherical detectors, and their prospects for the future, which include dual detectors and spheres with non-resonant transducers. The review covers not only the technical aspects of detectors and the science that will be done, but also analyses the subject in a historic perspective, covering the various detection efforts over four decades, starting from Weber's pioneering work.