Abstract
The second generation of gravitational-wave (GW) detectors has opened a new window on the cosmos, yet leaves much of the gravitational universe unexplored. A greatly more sensitive third generation of observatories is currently being planned: The Einstein Telescope in Europe and Cosmic Explorer in the USA. The Einstein Telescope is envisaged as an underground observatory in the shape of an equilateral triangle with a side length of 10 km located in Europe. Cosmic Explorer, on the other hand, aims for two above-ground L-shaped detectors with up to 40 -km-long arms in the USA. These detectors will be capable of observing the post-merger phase of neutron star mergers, detecting a large fraction of all of the stellar mass binary black hole (BH) mergers in the universe – including some with incredible precision, and of mapping the stellar evolution of the universe. These projects are currently in the design stage and are expected to start operations around the mid-2030s. The concepts are slightly different but have many technical similarities.
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Lück, H., Smith, J., Punturo, M. (2022). Third-Generation Gravitational-Wave Observatories. In: Bambi, C., Katsanevas, S., Kokkotas, K.D. (eds) Handbook of Gravitational Wave Astronomy. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4306-4_7
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