Virgo and the worldwide search for gravitational waves

Abstract

Large interferometric detectors of gravitational waves are approaching their design sensitivities and the plans for second generation detectors, expected to start the gravitational wave astronomy, are already under way. The goal of this paper is to give an overview of the status and perspectives of gravitational wave research with ground-based interferometric detectors in the world, with special attention to the French-Italian detector Virgo. The main design features and the status of largest detectors are reviewed, the main upgrades to the first generation detectors foreseen in the next years are outlined. © 2005 American Institute of Physics.