Gravitational wave astronomy with LIGO and similar detectors in the next decade

Abstract

We describe the plans for gravitational-wave observations and astrophysics that will be carried out by the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC) in the next decade using data from the LIGO Observatories in the US, and sister facilities abroad in Europe, Japan and India. We provide an overview of gravitational wave signal types that we are targeting, and the role of gravitational waves in time-domain multi-messenger astronomy. We briefly summarize what we can infer from the properties of detected signals, including astrophysical event rates and populations, tests of gravitational-wave properties, highly-dynamical and strong-field tests of General Relativity, probing matter under extreme conditions in neutron stars, and making cosmological measurements with gravitational-wave sources.