Abstract:
Different types of gravitational wave (GW) detectors are considered. It is noted that interferometric techniques offer the greatest prospects for GW registration due to their high sensitivity and extremely wide frequency band. Using laser interferometers, proposed as far back as 1962 in the work by M E Gertsenshtein and V I Pustovoit published in Russian (Zh. Eksp. Teor. Fiz., vol. 43, p. 605, 1962) and in English translation (Sov. Phys. JETP, vol. 16, p. 433, 1963), it proved possible for the first time to directly detect GW emission from a merger
of two black holes. It is noted that the assertion that Gertsenshtein–Pustovoit's work was unknown to some of those experts
involved in direct GW detection is inconsistent with reality. The problems of high-power laser radiation affecting the electrostatic polarization of free-mass mirrors are discussed. It is shown that mirror polarization can lead to additional links with electrically conducting elements of the design resulting in the interferometer's reduced sensitivity. Some new prospects for developing high reflection structures are discussed and heat
extraction problems are considered.
Keywords:gravitational waves, general theory of relativity, laser interferometers, direct detection of gravitational waves,
Advanced LIGO, Virgo, LIGO and Virgo reflecting mirrors, history of laser interferometers to detect gravitational waves.
PACS:04.30.-w, 04.80.Nn, 95.55.Ym
Received:August 26, 2016 Accepted: September 20, 2016
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