Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Gravitational Wave Detection via Weak Measurements

Mengjun Hu, Yong-Sheng Zhang

Published Jul 4, 2017• 1 citation
OpenAlex

Abstract

A universal amplification scheme of ultra-small phase based on weak measurements is given and a weak measurements amplification based laser interferometer gravitational-wave observatory (WMA-LIGO) is suggested. The WMA-LIGO has potential to amplify the ultra-small phase signal to at least $10^{3}$ order of magnitude such that the sensitivity and bandwidth of gravitational-wave detector can be further improved. Our results not only shed a new light on the quantum measurement but also open a new way to the gravitational-wave detection.

Related papers

Gravitational Wave Detection via Weak Measurements Amplification

Mengjun Hu, Yong-Sheng Zhang

A universal amplification scheme of ultra-small phase based on weak measurements is given and a weak measurements amplification based laser interferometer gravitational-wave observatory (WMA-LIGO) is suggested. The WMA-LIGO has potential to amplify the ultra-small phase signal to at least $10^{3}$ order of magnitude such that the sensitivity and bandwidth of gravitational-wave detector can be further improved. Our results not only shed a new light on the quantum measurement but also open a new way to the gravitational-wave detection.

arXiv:1707.00886•Jul 4, 2017•5 citations

Gravitational Wave Detection and Squeezed Light

David H. Sliski

Among the revolutionary predictions of Einstein’s theory of general relativity is the existence of gravitational waves, which are perturbations in the fabric of spacetime that travel at the speed of light. The first indirect evidence pointing to their existence came from the observation of the Hulse-Taylor pulsar in 1974[4]. More recently, gravitational wave observatories like the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) and Virgo have been built with the purpose of detecting gravitational waves (GW) directly, providing not only further evidence in support of general relativity, but also a whole new way of viewing the cosmos. The strain produced by a passing gravitational wave (namely, the relative change in the length of the matter a gravitational wave passes through) is so small that the best sensitivity achieved by the detectors has not produced a positive detection as of today. With a clear understanding that there should be gravitational waves, scientists are working on improving the sensitivity of the detectors to increase the likelihood of a detection. One of the main sources of noise for the next generation gravitational wave detectors, such as advanced LIGO, is shot noise. Shot noise dominates the noise spectrum above a few hundred Hz. This noise is due to uncertainties in quantum statistics, according to the generalized uncertainty principle. There are two ways to reduce the shot noise. The first way is to increase the intensity of the

•Jan 1, 2009•0 citations

Quantum noise reduction for gravitational wave detectors: developing realistic interferometer schemes

Mengyao Wang

Gravitational waves are a predication of Einstein's theory of general relativity. After nearly 50 years of effort by the scientific community to construct a detector capable of directly measuring gravitational waves, we expect a breakthrough, the first ever direct measurement of a gravitational wave within the next 5 years. The Advanced LIGO detectors currently under construction are predicted to achieve not only the first detection but to open the field of gravitational-wave astronomy: as an observational window on astrophysics and with an impart on other areas such as cosmology, strong-field gravity, general relativity, and nuclear physics. \n \nThe Advanced LIGO detectors are large-scale laser interferometers that have been designed for very low technical noise so that quantum noise will be limiting their sensitivity over a wide range of their spectrum. Planning for future gravitational wave observatories is already underway and reducing the fundamental quantum noise is considered to be one of the main experimental challenges. My work over the last 4 years has focused on possible new techniques to reduce or circumvent the quantum noise in laser interferometers. \n

•Dec 1, 2013•0 citations

Squeezed vacuum states of light for gravitational wave detectors

L. Barsotti, J. Harms, Roman Schnabel

A century after Einstein's formulation of general relativity, the detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) made the first direct detection of gravitational waves. This historic achievement was the culmination of a world-wide effort and decades of instrument research. While sufficient for this monumental discovery, the current generation of gravitational-wave detectors represent the least sensitive devices necessary for the task; improved detectors will be required to fully exploit this new window on the Universe. In this paper, we review the application of squeezed vacuum states of light to gravitational-wave detectors as a way to reduce quantum noise, which currently limits their performance in much of the detection band.

Reports on Progress in Physics•Mar 23, 2018•139 citations

Enhanced sensitivity of the LIGO gravitational wave detector by using squeezed states of light

L. Barsotti, S. Biscans, Timothy P. Bodiya +26 more

Nearly a century after Einstein first predicted the existence of gravitational waves, a global network of Earth-based gravitational wave observatories 1-4 is seeking to directly detect this faint radiation using precision laser interferometry. Photon shot noise, due to the quantum nature of light, imposes a fundamental limit on the attometre-level sensitivity of the kilometre-scale Michelson interferometers deployed for this task. Here, we inject squeezed states to improve the performance of one of the detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) beyond the quantum noise limit, most notably in the frequency region down to 150 Hz, critically important for several astrophysical sources, with no deterioration of performance observed at any frequency. With the injection of squeezed states, this LIGO detector demonstrated the best broadband sensitivity to gravitational waves ever achieved, with important implications for observing the gravitational-wave Universe with unprecedented sensitivity.

Other repository•Jul 1, 2013•0 citations

Quantum-Enhanced Advanced LIGO Detectors in the Era of Gravitational-Wave Astronomy

M. Tse, Haocun Yu, N. Kijbunchoo +97 more

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) has been directly detecting gravitational waves from compact binary mergers since 2015. We report on the first use of squeezed vacuum states in the direct measurement of gravitational waves with the Advanced LIGO H1 and L1 detectors. This achievement is the culmination of decades of research to implement squeezed states in gravitational-wave detectors. During the ongoing O3 observation run, squeezed states are improving the sensitivity of the LIGO interferometers to signals above 50 Hz by up to 3 dB, thereby increasing the expected detection rate by 40% (H1) and 50% (L1).

Physical Review Letters•Dec 5, 2019•663 citations
A universal amplification scheme of ultra-small phase based on weak measurements is given and a weak measurements amplification based laser interferometer gravitational-wave observatory (WMA-LIGO) is suggested. The WMA-LIGO has potential to amplify the ultra-small phase signal to at least 10310^{3}103 order of magnitude such that the sensitivity and bandwidth of gravitational-wave detector can be further improved. Our results not only shed a new light on the quantum measurement but also open a new way to the gravitational-wave detection.
A universal amplification scheme of ultra-small phase based on weak measurements is given and a weak measurements amplification based laser interferometer gravitational-wave observatory (WMA-LIGO) is suggested. The WMA-LIGO has potential to amplify the ultra-small phase signal to at least 10310^{3}103 order of magnitude such that the sensitivity and bandwidth of gravitational-wave detector can be further improved. Our results not only shed a new light on the quantum measurement but also open a new way to the gravitational-wave detection.
Among the revolutionary predictions of Einstein’s theory of general relativity is the existence of gravitational waves, which are perturbations in the fabric of spacetime that travel at the speed of light. The first indirect evidence pointing to their existence came from the observation of the Hulse-Taylor pulsar in 1974[4]. More recently, gravitational wave observatories like the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) and Virgo have been built with the purpose of detecting gravitational waves (GW) directly, providing not only further evidence in support of general relativity, but also a whole new way of viewing the cosmos. The strain produced by a passing gravitational wave (namely, the relative change in the length of the matter a gravitational wave passes through) is so small that the best sensitivity achieved by the detectors has not produced a positive detection as of today. With a clear understanding that there should be gravitational waves, scientists are working on improving the sensitivity of the detectors to increase the likelihood of a detection. One of the main sources of noise for the next generation gravitational wave detectors, such as advanced LIGO, is shot noise. Shot noise dominates the noise spectrum above a few hundred Hz. This noise is due to uncertainties in quantum statistics, according to the generalized uncertainty principle. There are two ways to reduce the shot noise. The first way is to increase the intensity of the
Gravitational waves are a predication of Einstein's theory of general relativity. After nearly 50 years of effort by the scientific community to construct a detector capable of directly measuring gravitational waves, we expect a breakthrough, the first ever direct measurement of a gravitational wave within the next 5 years. The Advanced LIGO detectors currently under construction are predicted to achieve not only the first detection but to open the field of gravitational-wave astronomy: as an observational window on astrophysics and with an impart on other areas such as cosmology, strong-field gravity, general relativity, and nuclear physics. \n \nThe Advanced LIGO detectors are large-scale laser interferometers that have been designed for very low technical noise so that quantum noise will be limiting their sensitivity over a wide range of their spectrum. Planning for future gravitational wave observatories is already underway and reducing the fundamental quantum noise is considered to be one of the main experimental challenges. My work over the last 4 years has focused on possible new techniques to reduce or circumvent the quantum noise in laser interferometers. \n
A century after Einstein's formulation of general relativity, the detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) made the first direct detection of gravitational waves. This historic achievement was the culmination of a world-wide effort and decades of instrument research. While sufficient for this monumental discovery, the current generation of gravitational-wave detectors represent the least sensitive devices necessary for the task; improved detectors will be required to fully exploit this new window on the Universe. In this paper, we review the application of squeezed vacuum states of light to gravitational-wave detectors as a way to reduce quantum noise, which currently limits their performance in much of the detection band.
Nearly a century after Einstein first predicted the existence of gravitational waves, a global network of Earth-based gravitational wave observatories 1-4 is seeking to directly detect this faint radiation using precision laser interferometry. Photon shot noise, due to the quantum nature of light, imposes a fundamental limit on the attometre-level sensitivity of the kilometre-scale Michelson interferometers deployed for this task. Here, we inject squeezed states to improve the performance of one of the detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) beyond the quantum noise limit, most notably in the frequency region down to 150 Hz, critically important for several astrophysical sources, with no deterioration of performance observed at any frequency. With the injection of squeezed states, this LIGO detector demonstrated the best broadband sensitivity to gravitational waves ever achieved, with important implications for observing the gravitational-wave Universe with unprecedented sensitivity.
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) has been directly detecting gravitational waves from compact binary mergers since 2015. We report on the first use of squeezed vacuum states in the direct measurement of gravitational waves with the Advanced LIGO H1 and L1 detectors. This achievement is the culmination of decades of research to implement squeezed states in gravitational-wave detectors. During the ongoing O3 observation run, squeezed states are improving the sensitivity of the LIGO interferometers to signals above 50 Hz by up to 3 dB, thereby increasing the expected detection rate by 40% (H1) and 50% (L1).