Showing papers in "Classical and Quantum Gravity in 2010"

The Einstein Telescope: a third-generation gravitational wave observatory

Abstract: Advanced gravitational wave interferometers, currently under realization, will soon permit the detection of gravitational waves from astronomical sources. To open the era of precision gravitational wave astronomy, a further substantial improvement in sensitivity is required. The future space-based Laser Interferometer Space Antenna and the third-generation ground-based observatory Einstein Telescope (ET) promise to achieve the required sensitivity improvements in frequency ranges. The vastly improved sensitivity of the third generation of gravitational wave observatories could permit detailed measurements of the sources' physical parameters and could complement, in a multi-messenger approach, the observation of signals emitted by cosmological sources obtained through other kinds of telescopes. This paper describes the progress of the ET project which is currently in its design study phase.

Advanced LIGO: the next generation of gravitational wave detectors

Abstract: The Advanced LIGO gravitational wave detectors are next generation instruments which will replace the existing initial LIGO detectors. They are currently being constructed and installed. Advanced LIGO strain sensitivity is designed to be about a factor 10 better than initial LIGO over a broad band and usable to 10 Hz, in contrast to 40 Hz for initial LIGO. This is expected to allow for detections and significant astrophysics in most categories of gravitational waves. To achieve this sensitivity, all hardware subsystems are being replaced with improvements. Designs and expected performance are presented for the seismic isolation, suspensions, optics and laser subsystems. Possible enhancements to Advanced LIGO, either to resolve problems that may arise and/or to allow for improved performance, are now being researched. Some of these enhancements are discussed along with some potential technology being considered for detectors beyond Advanced LIGO.

Predictions for the rates of compact binary coalescences observable by ground-based gravitational-wave detectors

Abstract: We present an up-to-date, comprehensive summary of the rates for all types of compact binary coalescence sources detectable by the initial and advanced versions of the ground-based gravitational-wave detectors LIGO and Virgo. Astrophysical estimates for compact-binary coalescence rates depend on a number of assumptions and unknown model parameters and are still uncertain. The most confident among these estimates are the rate predictions for coalescing binary neutron stars which are based on extrapolations from observed binary pulsars in our galaxy. These yield a likely coalescence rate of 100 Myr−1 per Milky Way Equivalent Galaxy (MWEG), although the rate could plausibly range from 1 Myr−1 MWEG−1 to 1000 Myr−1 MWEG−1 (Kalogera et al 2004 Astrophys. J. 601 L179; Kalogera et al 2004 Astrophys. J. 614 L137 (erratum)). We convert coalescence rates into detection rates based on data from the LIGO S5 and Virgo VSR2 science runs and projected sensitivities for our advanced detectors. Using the detector sensitivities derived from these data, we find a likely detection rate of 0.02 per year for Initial LIGO–Virgo interferometers, with a plausible range between 2 × 10−4 and 0.2 per year. The likely binary neutron–star detection rate for the Advanced LIGO–Virgo network increases to 40 events per year, with a range between 0.4 and 400 per year.

Quantum Measurement and Control

Abstract: In the last two decades there has been an enormous progress in the experimental investigation of single quantum systems. This progress covers fields such as quantum optics, quantum computation, quantum cryptography, and quantum metrology, which are sometimes summarized as `quantum technologies'. A key issue there is entanglement, which can be considered as the characteristic feature of quantum theory. As disparate as these various fields maybe, they all have to deal with a quantum mechanical treatment of the measurement process and, in particular, the control process. Quantum control is, according to the authors, `control for which the design requires knowledge of quantum mechanics'. Quantum control situations in which measurements occur at important steps are called feedback (or feedforward) control of quantum systems and play a central role here. This book presents a comprehensive and accessible treatment of the theoretical tools that are needed to cope with these situations. It also provides the reader with the necessary background information about the experimental developments. The authors are both experts in this field to which they have made significant contributions. After an introduction to quantum measurement theory and a chapter on quantum parameter estimation, the central topic of open quantum systems is treated at some length. This chapter includes a derivation of master equations, the discussion of the Lindblad form, and decoherence – the irreversible emergence of classical properties through interaction with the environment. A separate chapter is devoted to the description of open systems by the method of quantum trajectories. Two chapters then deal with the central topic of quantum feedback control, while the last chapter gives a concise introduction to one of the central applications – quantum information. All sections contain a bunch of exercises which serve as a useful tool in learning the material. Especially helpful are also various separate boxes presenting important background material on topics such as the block representation or the feedback gain-bandwidth relation. The two appendices on quantum mechanics and phase-space and on stochastic differential equations serve the same purpose. As the authors emphasize, the book is aimed at physicists as well as control engineers who are already familiar with quantum mechanics. It takes an operational approach and presents all the material that is needed to follow research on quantum technologies. On the other hand, conceptual issues such as the relevance of the measurement process for the interpretation of quantum theory are neglected. Readers interested in them may wish to consult instead a textbook such as Decoherence and the Quantum-to-Classical Transition by Maximilian Schlosshauer. Although the present book does not contain applications to gravity, part of its content might become relevant for the physics of gravitational-wave detection and quantum gravity phenomenology. In this respect it should be of interest also for the readers of this journal.

The International Pulsar Timing Array project: using pulsars as a gravitational wave detector

Abstract: The International Pulsar Timing Array project combines observations of pulsars from both northern and southern hemisphere observatories with the main aim of detecting ultra-low frequency (similar to 10(-9)-10(-8) Hz) gravitational waves. Here we introduce the project, review the methods used to search for gravitational waves emitted from coalescing supermassive binary black-hole systems in the centres of merging galaxies and discuss the status of the project.

Exact Space-Times in Einstein's General Relativity

Abstract: The title immediately brings to mind a standard reference of almost the same title [1]. The authors are quick to point out the relationship between these two works: they are complementary. The purpose of this work is to explain what is known about a selection of exact solutions. As the authors state, it is often much easier to find a new solution of Einstein's equations than it is to understand it. Even at first glance it is very clear that great effort went into the production of this reference. The book is replete with beautifully detailed diagrams that reflect deep geometric intuition. In many parts of the text there are detailed calculations that are not readily available elsewhere. The book begins with a review of basic tools that allows the authors to set the notation. Then follows a discussion of Minkowski space with an emphasis on the conformal structure and applications such as simple cosmic strings. The next two chapters give an in-depth review of de Sitter space and then anti-de Sitter space. Both chapters contain a remarkable collection of useful diagrams. The standard model in cosmology these days is the ICDM model and whereas the chapter on the Friedmann-Lema?tre?Robertson?Walker space-times contains much useful information, I found the discussion of the currently popular a representation rather too brief. After a brief but interesting excursion into electrovacuum, the authors consider the Schwarzschild space-time. This chapter does mention the Swiss cheese model but the discussion is too brief and certainly dated. Space-times related to Schwarzschild are covered in some detail and include not only the addition of charge and the cosmological constant but also the addition of radiation (the Vaidya solution). Just prior to a discussion of the Kerr space-time, static axially symmetric space-times are reviewed. Here one can find a very interesting discussion of the Curzon?Chazy space-time. The chapter on rotating black holes is rather brief and, for example, does not contain reference to the insights found by Pretorius and Israel [2]. This is perhaps justifiable in view of the many specialized texts devoted to the Kerr space-time (e.g. [3]). The large clear diagrams that one becomes accustomed to in this book show off the Taub-NUT (and related) space-times in the next chapter. After perhaps a somewhat standard discussion of stationary axially symmetric space-times, there is a very informative discussion of accelerating black holes. For example, the global structure of the C-metric is considered in detail. This is followed by a brief discussion of solutions for uniformly accelerating particles. The discussion of the Pleba?ski-Demia?ski solutions contains two very useful flow charts that help to systematize two rather complex families of solutions. After a somewhat brief discussion of plane and pp-waves, the authors give an extensive discussion of the Kunt solutions. I note here that after this text was in production the importance of the Kunt space-times as regards the characterization of space-times by scalar curvature invariants was made clear [4]. The discussion of the Robinson-Trautman solutions that follows is extensive, containing, for example, details of the singularity structure and of the global structure. The final formal chapter in this text covers colliding plane waves. This contains, for example, discussions of the Khan?Penrose, Ferrari?Iba?ez and Chandrasekhar?Xanthopoulos solutions. The text ends with a `final miscellany'. This covers a number of interesting topics, but I found the discussion of the Lema?tre?Tolman solutions rather weak (compare e.g. [5]). The book has two quite useful appendices covering 2-spaces and 3-spaces of constant curvature. To conclude, I will quote from the dust jacket: `The book is an invaluable resource for both graduate students and academic researchers working in gravitational physics'. I highly recommend it. References [1] Stephani H, Kramer D, MacCallum M, Hoenselaers C and Herlt E 2003 Exact Solutions of Einstein's Field Equations (Second Edition) (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) [2] Pretorius F and Israel W 1998 Class. Quantum Grav.15 2289 [3] Wiltshire D, Visser M and Scott S (ed) 2008 The Kerr Spacetime: Rotating Black Holes in General Relativity (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) [4] Coley A, Hervik S and Pelavas N 2009 Class. Quantum Grav. 26 025013 [5] Pleba?ski J and Krasi?ski A 2006 An Introduction to General Relativity and Cosmology (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press)

The third generation of gravitational wave observatories and their science reach

Abstract: Large gravitational wave interferometric detectors, like Virgo and LIGO, demonstrated the capability to reach their design sensitivity, but to transform these machines into an effective observational instrument for gravitational wave astronomy a large improvement in sensitivity is required. Advanced detectors in the near future and third-generation observatories in more than one decade will open the possibility to perform gravitational wave astronomical observations from the Earth. An overview of the possible science reaches and the technological progress needed to realize a third-generation observatory are discussed in this paper. The status of the project Einstein Telescope (ET), a design study of a third-generation gravitational wave observatory, will be reported.

Hořava–Lifshitz cosmology: a review

Abstract: Here we review the basic construction and cosmological implications of a power-counting renormalizable theory of gravitation, recently proposed by Hořava. We explain that (i) at low energy this theory does not exactly recover general relativity but instead mimics general relativity plus dark matter; (ii) higher spatial curvature terms allow bouncing and cyclic universes as regular solutions; (iii) the anisotropic scaling with the dynamical critical exponent z = 3 solves the horizon problem and leads to scale-invariant cosmological perturbations even without inflation. We also comment on issues related to an extra scalar degree of freedom called scalar graviton. In particular, for spherically-symmetric, static, vacuum configurations we prove non-perturbative continuity of the λ → 1 + 0 limit, where λ is a parameter in the kinetic action and general relativity has the value λ = 1. We also derive the condition under which linear instability of the scalar graviton does not show up.

Emergent geometry and gravity from matrix models: an introduction

Abstract: An introductory review to emergent noncommutative gravity within Yang–Mills matrix models is presented. Spacetime is described as a noncommutative brane solution of the matrix model, i.e. as a submanifold of . Fields and matter on the brane arise as fluctuations of the bosonic resp. fermionic matrices around such a background, and couple to an effective metric interpreted in terms of gravity. Suitable tools are provided for the description of the effective geometry in the semi-classical limit. The relation to non-commutative gauge theory and the role of UV/IR mixing are explained. Several types of geometries are identified, in particular 'harmonic' and 'Einstein' types of solutions. The physics of the harmonic branch is discussed in some detail, emphasizing the non-standard role of vacuum energy. This may provide a new approach to some of the big puzzles in this context. The IKKT model with D = 10 and close relatives are singled out as promising candidates for quantum theory of fundamental interactions including gravity.

A new approach to static numerical relativity and its application to Kaluza–Klein black holes

Abstract: We propose a framework for solving the Einstein equation for static and Euclidean metrics. First, we address the issue of gauge-fixing by borrowing from the Ricci-flow literature the so-called DeTurck trick, which renders the Einstein equation strictly elliptic and generalizes the usual harmonic-coordinate gauge. We then study two algorithms, Ricci-flow and Newton's method, for solving the resulting Einstein–DeTurck equation. We illustrate the use of these methods by studying localized black holes and non-uniform black strings in five-dimensional Kaluza–Klein theory, improving on previous calculations of their thermodynamic and geometric properties. We study spectra of various operators for these solutions, in particular finding the negative modes of the Lichnerowicz operator. We classify the localized solutions into two branches that meet at a minimum temperature. We find good evidence for a merger between the localized and non-uniform solutions. We also find a narrow window of localized solutions that possess negative modes yet have positive specific heat.

Status of LCGT

Abstract: LCGT shall be planned to be the first-generation detector with an advanced technique for employing a cryogenic mirror in order to firstly detect a gravitational wave, and after detection, the detector will serve as an astronomical tool to observe the Universe through gravitational wave radiation. In collaborative observation with the LIGO, GEO and Virgo projects, LCGT desires to contribute to the enterprise of detecting gravitational wave events by earlier funding. This paper summarizes the LCGT project.

Hunting for primordial non-Gaussianity in the cosmic microwave background

Abstract: Since the first limit on the (local) primordial non-Gaussianity parameter, fNL, was obtained from the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) data in 2002, observations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) have been playing a central role in constraining the amplitudes of various forms of non-Gaussianity in primordial fluctuations. The current 68% limit from the 7-year data of the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) is fNL = 32 ? 21, and the Planck satellite is expected to reduce the uncertainty by a factor of 4 in a few years from now. If fNL 1 is found by Planck with high statistical significance, all single-field models of inflation would be ruled out. Moreover, if the Planck satellite finds fNL ~ 30, then it would be able to test a broad class of multi-field models using the 4-point function (trispectrum) test of ?NL ? (6fNL/5)2. In this paper, we review the methods (optimal estimator), results (WMAP 7-year) and challenges (secondary anisotropy, second-order effect and foreground) of measuring primordial non-Gaussianity from the CMB data, present a science case for the trispectrum and conclude with future prospects.

ΛCDM epoch reconstruction from F(R, G) and modified Gauss–Bonnet gravities

Abstract: Dark energy cosmology is considered in a modified Gauss?Bonnet model of gravity with and without a scalar field. It is shown that these generalizations of general relativity endow it with a very rich cosmological structure: it may naturally lead to an effective cosmological constant, quintessence or phantom cosmic acceleration, with the possibility of describing the transition from a decelerating to an accelerating phase explicitly. It is demonstrated here that these modified GB and scalar-GB theories are perfectly viable as cosmological models. They can describe the ?CDM cosmological era without any need for a cosmological constant. The specific properties of these theories of gravity in different particular cases, such as the de Sitter one, are studied.

Smarr formula and an extended first law for Lovelock gravity

Abstract: We study properties of static, asymptotically AdS black holes in Lovelock gravity. Our main result is a Smarr formula that gives the mass in terms of geometrical quantities together with the parameters of the Lovelock theory. As in Einstein gravity, the Smarr formula follows from applying the first law to an infinitesimal change in the overall length scale. However, because the Lovelock couplings are dimensionful, we must first prove an extension of the first law that includes their variations. Key ingredients in this construction are the Killing–Lovelock potentials associated with each of the higher curvature Lovelock interactions. Geometric expressions are obtained for the new thermodynamic potentials conjugate to the variation of the Lovelock couplings.

Lectures on F-theory compactifications and model building

Abstract: These lecture notes are devoted to formal and phenomenological aspects of F-theory. We begin with a pedagogical introduction to the general concepts of F-theory, covering classic topics such as the connection to type IIB orientifolds, the geometry of elliptic fibrations and the emergence of gauge groups, matter and Yukawa couplings. As a suitable framework for the construction of compact F-theory vacua we describe a special class of Weierstrass models called Tate models, whose local properties are captured by the spectral cover construction. Armed with this technology we proceed with a survey of F-theory grand unified theory (GUT) models, aiming at an overview of basic conceptual and phenomenological aspects, in particular in connection with GUT breaking via hypercharge flux.

MacDowell-Mansouri gravity and Cartan geometry

Abstract: The geometric content of the MacDowell–Mansouri formulation of general relativity is best understood in terms of Cartan geometry. In particular, Cartan geometry gives clear geometric meaning to the MacDowell–Mansouri trick of combining the Levi-Civita connection and coframe field, or soldering form, into a single physical field. The Cartan perspective allows us to view physical spacetime as tangentially approximated by an arbitrary homogeneous 'model spacetime', including not only the flat Minkowski model, as is implicitly used in standard general relativity, but also de Sitter, anti-de Sitter or other models. A 'Cartan connection' gives a prescription for parallel transport from one 'tangent model spacetime' to another, along any path, giving a natural interpretation of the MacDowell–Mansouri connection as 'rolling' the model spacetime along physical spacetime. I explain Cartan geometry, and 'Cartan gauge theory', in which the gauge field is replaced by a Cartan connection. In particular, I discuss MacDowell–Mansouri gravity, as well as its more recent reformulation in terms of BF theory, in the context of Cartan connections.

A new cubic theory of gravity in five dimensions: black hole, Birkhoff's theorem and C-function

Abstract: We present a new cubic theory of gravity in five dimensions which has second-order traced field equations, analogous to BHT new massive gravity in three dimensions. Moreover, for static spherically symmetric spacetimes all the field equations are of second order, and the theory admits a new asymptotically locally flat black hole. Furthermore, we prove the uniqueness of this solution, study its thermodynamical properties and show the existence of a C-function for the theory following the arguments of Anber and Kastor (2008 J. High Energy Phys. JHEP05(2008)061 (arXiv:0802.1290 [hep-th])) in pure Lovelock theories. Finally, we include the Einstein–Gauss–Bonnet and cosmological terms and find new asymptotically AdS black holes at the point where the three maximally symmetric solutions of the theory coincide. These black holes may also possess a Cauchy horizon.

Accurate evolutions of unequal-mass neutron-star binaries: properties of the torus and short GRB engines

Abstract: We present new results from accurate and fully general-relativistic simulations of the coalescence of unmagnetized binary neutron stars with various mass ratios. The evolution of the stars is followed through the inspiral phase, the merger, and the prompt collapse to a black hole, up until the appearance of a thick accretion disc, which is studied as it enters and remains in a regime of quasi-steady accretion. Although a simple ideal-fluid equation of state with Γ = 2 is used, this work presents a systematic study within a fully general-relativistic framework of the properties of the resulting black-hole–torus system produced by the merger of unequal-mass binaries. More specifically, we show that (1) the mass of the torus increases considerably with the mass asymmetry, and equal-mass binaries do not produce significant tori if they have a total baryonic mass Mtot 3.7 M⊙; (2) tori with masses Mtor ~ 0.2 M⊙ are measured for binaries with Mtot ~ 3.4 M⊙ and mass ratios q ~ 0.75–0.85; (3) the mass of the torus can be estimated by the simple expression , involving the maximum mass for the binaries and coefficients constrained from the simulations, and suggesting that the tori can have masses as large as for Mtot ~ 2.8 M⊙ and q ~ 0.75–0.85; (4) using a novel technique to analyze the evolution of the tori, we find no evidence for the onset of non-axisymmetric instabilities and that very little, if any, of their mass is unbound; (5) finally, for all the binaries considered, we compute the complete gravitational waveforms and the recoils imparted to the black holes, discussing the prospects of the detection of these sources for a number of present and future detectors.

A new open-source code for spherically symmetric stellar collapse to neutron stars and black holes

Abstract: We present the new open-source spherically symmetric general-relativistic (GR) hydrodynamics code GR1D. It is based on the Eulerian formulation of GR hydrodynamics (GRHD) put forth by Romero–Ibanez–Gourgoulhon and employs radial-gauge, polar-slicing coordinates in which the 3+1 equations simplify substantially. We discretize the GRHD equations with a finite-volume scheme, employing piecewise-parabolic reconstruction and an approximate Riemann solver. GR1D is intended for the simulation of stellar collapse to neutron stars and black holes and will also serve as a testbed for modeling technology to be incorporated in multi-D GR codes. Its GRHD part is coupled to various finite-temperature microphysical equations of state in tabulated form that we make available with GR1D. An approximate deleptonization scheme for the collapse phase and a neutrino-leakage/heating scheme for the postbounce epoch are included and described. We also derive the equations for effective rotation in 1D and implement them in GR1D. We present an array of standard test calculations and also show how simple analytic equations of state in combination with presupernova models from stellar evolutionary calculations can be used to study qualitative aspects of black hole formation in failing rotating core-collapse supernovae. In addition, we present a simulation with microphysical equations of state and neutrino leakage/heating of a failing core-collapse supernova and black hole formation in a presupernova model of a 40 M_⊙ zero-age main-sequence star. We find good agreement on the time of black hole formation (within 20%) and last stable protoneutron star mass (within 10%) with predictions from simulations with full Boltzmann neutrino radiation hydrodynamics.

Lorentzian spin foam amplitudes: graphical calculus and asymptotics

Abstract: The amplitude for the 4-simplex in a spin foam model for quantum gravity is defined using a graphical calculus for the unitary representations of the Lorentz group. The asymptotics of this amplitude are studied in the limit when the representation parameters are large, for various cases of boundary data. It is shown that for boundary data corresponding to a Lorentzian simplex, the asymptotic formula has two terms, with phase plus or minus the Lorentzian signature Regge action for the 4-simplex geometry, multiplied by an Immirzi parameter. Other cases of boundary data are also considered, including a surprising contribution from Euclidean signature metrics.

Spin-foams for all loop quantum gravity

Abstract: The simplicial framework of Engle–Pereira–Rovelli–Livine spin-foam models is generalized to match the diffeomorphism invariant framework of loop quantum gravity. The simplicial spin-foams are generalized to arbitrary linear 2-cell spin-foams. The resulting framework admits all the spin-network states of loop quantum gravity, not only those defined by triangulations (or cubulations). In particular, the notion of embedded spin-foam we use allows us to consider knotting or linking spin-foam histories. Also the main tools, the vertex structure and the vertex amplitude, are naturally generalized to an arbitrary valency case. The correspondence between all the SU(2) intertwiners and the SU(2)×SU(2) EPRL intertwiners is proved to be 1–1 in the case of the Barbero–Immirzi parameter |γ| ≥ 1.

Thermodynamics of interacting holographic dark energy with the apparent horizon as an IR cutoff

Abstract: As soon as an interaction between holographic dark energy and dark matter is taken into account, the identification of an IR cutoff with the Hubble radius H−1, in a flat universe, can simultaneously drive accelerated expansion and solve the coincidence problem. Based on this, we demonstrate that in a non-flat universe the natural choice for the IR cutoff could be the apparent horizon radius, . We show that any interaction of dark matter with holographic dark energy, whose infrared cutoff is set by the apparent horizon radius, implies an accelerated expansion and a constant ratio of the energy densities of both components thus solving the coincidence problem. We also verify that for a universe filled with dark energy and dark matter, the Friedmann equation can be written in the form of the modified first law of thermodynamics, dE = ThdSh + WdV, at the apparent horizon. In addition, the generalized second law of thermodynamics is fulfilled in a region enclosed by the apparent horizon. These results hold regardless of the specific form of dark energy and interaction term. Our study might reveal that in an accelerating universe with spatial curvature, the apparent horizon is a physical boundary from the thermodynamical point of view.

Cosmography with the Einstein Telescope

Abstract: The Einstein Telescope, a third-generation gravitational-wave detector under a design study, could detect millions of binary neutron star inspirals each year. A small fraction of these events might be observed as gamma-ray bursts, helping to measure both the luminosity distance DL to and redshift of the source. By fitting these measured values of DL and to a cosmological model, it would be possible to infer the dark energy equation of state to within 1.5% without the need to correct for errors in DL caused by weak lensing. This compares favourably with 0.3–10% accuracy that can be achieved with the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (where weak lensing will need to be dealt with) as well as with dedicated dark energy missions that have been proposed, where 3.5–11% uncertainty is expected.

Relativistic viscous fluid dynamics and non-equilibrium entropy

Abstract: Fluid dynamics corresponds to the dynamics of a substance in the long wavelength limit. Writing down all terms in a gradient (long wavelength) expansion up to second order for a relativistic system at vanishing charge density, one obtains the most general (causal) equations of motion for a fluid in the presence of shear and bulk viscosity, as well as the structure of the non-equilibrium entropy current. Requiring positivity of the divergence of the non-equilibrium entropy current relates some of its coefficients to those entering the equations of motion. I comment on possible applications of these results for conformal and non-conformal fluids.

Infrared effects in inflationary correlation functions

Abstract: In this paper, I briefly review the status of infrared effects which occur when using inflationary models to calculate initial conditions for a subsequent hot, dense plasma phase. Three types of divergences have been identified in the literature: secular, 'time-dependent' logarithms, which grow with time spent outside the horizon; 'box-cutoff' logarithms, which encode a dependence on the infrared cutoff when calculating in a finite-size box; and 'quantum' logarithms, which depend on the ratio of a scale characterizing new physics to the scale of whatever process is under consideration, and whose interpretation is the same as the conventional field theory. I review the calculations in which these divergences appear, and discuss the methods which have been developed to deal with them.

The GEO 600 status

Abstract: The British–German gravitational wave detector GEO 600 has concluded a long observational period called Astrowatch, which lasted from November 2007 to July 2009. Together with the LIGO-H2 detector, GEO 600 was kept observing, while other detectors of the world-wide network of laser-interferometers like LIGO(L1 and H1) and Virgo were upgraded. A fraction of the time during the astrowatch period was set apart for noise investigations and experiments preparing future upgrades. Even with these investigations GEO 600 reached an observation time of 86.0% of the overall time, such that a total of 522 days worth of data were collected. The average sensitivity was roughly a factor of 2 lower than that of the LIGO-H2 detector for frequencies above 500 Hz. In July 2009 GEO 600 has started an upgrade program called GEO-HF. Within this program we aim at improving the sensitivity by a number of sequential upgrades, like tuned signal recycling, DC readout, output mode-cleaning, injection of squeezed vacuum states and the increase of circulating light power. Tuned signal recycling and DC readout have already been implemented and can be operated robustly, due to a new technique associated with the automatic alignment system.

Compact binary coalescences in the band of ground-based gravitational-wave detectors

Abstract: As the ground-based gravitational-wave telescopes LIGO, Virgo and GEO 600 approach the era of first detections, we review the current knowledge of the coalescence rates and the mass and spin distributions of merging neutron-star and black-hole binaries. We emphasize the bi-directional connection between gravitational-wave astronomy and conventional astrophysics. Astrophysical input will make possible informed decisions about optimal detector configurations and search techniques. Meanwhile, rate upper limits, detected merger rates and the distribution of masses and spins measured by gravitational-wave searches will constrain astrophysical parameters through comparisons with astrophysical models. Future developments necessary to the success of gravitational-wave astronomy are discussed.

Shape and position of the shadow in the δ = 2 Tomimatsu–Sato spacetime

Abstract: Within 5?10 years, very long baseline interferometry facilities will be able to observe the 'shadow' of super-massive black hole candidates. This will allow us, for the first time, to test gravity in the strong field regime. In this paper, we numerically study the photon orbits in the ? = 2 Tomimatsu?Sato spacetime. The ? = 2 Tomimatsu?Sato spacetime is a stationary, axisymmetric and asymptotically flat exact solution of the vacuum Einstein equations. We compare the associated shadow with the one of Kerr black holes. The shape of the shadow in the ? = 2 Tomimatsu?Sato spacetime is oblate and the difference between the two axes can be as high as 6% when viewed on the equatorial plane. We argue that future space sub-mm interferometers (e.g. VSOP-3) may distinguish the two cases, and thus are able to test the cosmic censorship conjecture.

Algebraic quantum gravity (AQG): IV. Reduced phase space quantization of loop quantum gravity

Abstract: We perform a canonical, reduced phase space quantization of general relativity by loop quantum gravity (LQG) methods. The explicit construction of the reduced phase space is made possible by the combination of (a) the Brown–Kuchař mechanism in the presence of pressure-free dust fields which allows to deparametrize the theory and (b) Rovelli's relational formalism in the extended version developed by Dittrich to construct the algebra of gauge-invariant observables. Since the resulting algebra of observables is very simple, one can quantize it using the methods of LQG. Basically, the kinematical Hilbert space of non-reduced LQG now becomes a physical Hilbert space and the kinematical results of LQG such as discreteness of spectra of geometrical operators now have physical meaning. The constraints have disappeared; however, the dynamics of the observables is driven by a physical Hamiltonian which is related to the Hamiltonian of the standard model (without dust) and which we quantize in this paper.