A Horizon Study for Cosmic Explorer: Science, Observatories, and Community

TL;DR

This Horizon Study outlines the design, scientific goals, and community role of Cosmic Explorer, a next-generation gravitational-wave observatory with ten times the sensitivity of current detectors, aiming to explore the universe up to redshift 100.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive evaluation of Cosmic Explorer's design concepts and its strategic role in advancing third-generation gravitational-wave astronomy.

Findings

Cosmic Explorer will significantly extend the observable universe for gravitational waves.

The study outlines plans for U.S. leadership in gravitational-wave observatory development.

It envisions transformative discoveries in astronomy, physics, and cosmology.

Abstract

This Horizon Study describes a next-generation ground-based gravitational-wave observatory: Cosmic Explorer. With ten times the sensitivity of Advanced LIGO, Cosmic Explorer will push gravitational-wave astronomy towards the edge of the observable universe ($z \sim 100$). The goals of this Horizon Study are to describe and evaluate design concepts for Cosmic Explorer; to plan for the United States' leadership in gravitational-wave astronomy; and to envisage the role of Cosmic Explorer in the international effort to build a "Third-Generation" (3G) observatory network that will make discoveries transformative across astronomy, physics, and cosmology.