Challenges and Discoveries of LIGO's Fourth Observing Run
Speaker
Date
Time
Place
Cosmology Hall (Room 7S1)
Abstract
The fourth observing run (O4) of the LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA network, which began in May 2023, marked the most sensitive and sustained period of gravitational-wave observation to date. Over this period, the two 4-km LIGO detectors continuously measured minute spacetime distortions from astrophysical sources, expanding the reach of gravitational-wave astronomy. In this talk, I will mainly focus on the operational and technical challenges addressed by the Taiwan team during O4. These include maintaining long-term detector stability, improving real-time calibration and signal reconstruction methods, and enhancing the robustness of data quality monitoring. Such developments were essential to ensure the reliability of gravitational-wave data products and to support the high observing efficiency achieved throughout O4. I will also highlight several scientific discoveries and candidate events from O4, including compact binary coalescences and multi-messenger follow-ups. Finally, I will describe how the experience gained from O4 is guiding preparations for the next observing run (O5) and how these efforts are paving the way for the next era of gravitational-wave discoveries.
Biography
Yuki Inoue is an Associate Professor in the Physics Department at National Central University in Taiwan. He obtained his PhD at the Graduate University for Advanced Study in Japan and was then a postdoctoral researcher at Academia Sinica. He works on experimental cosmology and gravitational-wave physics.