Gravitational wave science with laser interferometers and pulsar timing

TL;DR

This paper reviews the upcoming advancements in gravitational wave detection across different frequency regimes, emphasizing the scientific potential of pulsar timing and space-based interferometers for astronomy.

Contribution

It provides an overview of gravitational wave detection methods, focusing on low frequency regimes and the expected scientific impact, highlighting recent progress and future prospects.

Findings

Ground-based interferometers expected to detect gravitational waves within five years.

Pulsar timing efforts may lead to detections in the nHz regime within this decade.

Space-based interferometers could operate in the mHz regime by the late 2020s.

Abstract

Within this decade gravitational wave detection will open a new observational window on the Universe. Advanced ground based interferometers covering the kHz frequency range will be online by 2016, and it is foreseeable the announcement of a first detection within five years. At the same time, a worldwide effort of detecting low frequency waves (in the nHz regime) by timing ultra-precise millisecond pulsars is rapidly growing, possibly leading to a positive detection within this decade. The mHz regime, bridging these two windows, is the realm of space based interferometers, which might be launched in the late 20s. I provide here a short overview of the scientific payouts of gravitational wave astronomy, focusing the discussion on the low frequency regime (pulsar timing and space based interferometry). A detailed discussion of advanced ground based interferometer can be found in Patrick Brady's contribution to this proceedings series.