Berlin 2005 – scientific programme

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GR: Gravitation und Relativitätstheorie

GR 11: Gravitationswellen – Detektoren

GR 11.2: Talk

Saturday, March 5, 2005, 16:15–16:30, TU BH262

Tuning GEO600 for best detection of specific signals — •Hans-Peter Nollert — Universität Tübingen, Theoretische Astrophysik, Auf der Morgenstelle 10, 72076 Tübingen

The resonance frequency of the signal recycling cavity of the GEO600 interferometric gravitational wave detector can be changed during operation at a rate up to the order of kHz per second. If the spectrum of a signal is known, the resonance frequency can be adjusted to obtain the largest possible signal-to-noise ratio, or to optimize the detection of certain parts of the spectrum which are considered most interesting for reasons of astrophysics.

This can be done even while the signal is being detected. A prime candidate for such a procedure is the signal of a close compact binary system consisting of neutron stars and/or black holes. The resonance frequency of the signal recycling cavity could be matched to the changing frequency over time of such a system. We discuss the potential and the limitations of this approach, and also consider other signal types as alternatives.