Status of GEO 600

TL;DR

GEO 600, a gravitational wave detector, has been operational for over a decade, continuously collecting data, upgrading its technology, and contributing to gravitational wave research during its extensive observational period.

Contribution

This paper provides an update on GEO 600's operational status, upgrades, and its role as an astrowatch instrument over 13 years.

Findings

GEO 600 has maintained a 62% duty cycle during science runs.

Several upgrades have been implemented to enhance high-frequency sensitivity.

GEO 600 continues to contribute valuable data to gravitational wave astronomy.

Abstract

The German-British laser-interferometric gravitational wave detector GEO 600 is in its 13th year of operation since its first lock in 2001. After participating in science runs with other first generation detectors, GEO\,600 has continued collecting data as an astrowatch instrument with a duty cycle of 62% during the time when the other detectors have gone offline to undergo substantial upgrades. Less invasive upgrades to demonstrate advanced technologies and improve the GEO 600 sensitivity at high frequencies as part of the GEO-HF program have additionally been carried out in parallel to data taking. We report briefly on the status of GEO 600.