The world’s three principal gravitational-wave detectors - LIGO in the U.S., Virgo in Italy, and now KAGRA in Japan - have signed a memorandum of agreement that covers scientific collaboration, including joint observation of gravitational waves and data sharing, for the coming years. This agreement also foresees expanding the collaboration to welcome new partners in the future.

Gravitational waves are ripples in space and time caused by cataclysmic events such as supernovas and the mergers of black holes. Predicted by Albert Einstein over a century ago, detection of the first gravitational waves was made by LIGO interferometers in 2015 and announced by the LIGO/Virgo collaboration in 2016. Gravitational-wave observation opens up a whole new window onto our universe.

KAGRA is a gravitational-wave observatory developed in Kamioka, Gifu Prefecture, Japan under the leadership of the University of Tokyo’s Institute for Cosmic Ray Research (ICRR) with contributions from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) and the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK). Construction started in 2010, and now the highly-sensitive instrument is nearing readiness to enter use. “We are very pleased to hold today's ceremony to celebrate the completion of the construction of the large-scale, cryogenic, gravitational-wave detector, KAGRA,” said Takaaki Kajita, KAGRA’s principal investigator. “We hope to begin the observation by the end of the year, join the global network of gravitational-wave detectors and produce various important scientific results. On this occasion, we would like to thank the many people who helped this project in various ways.”

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC) in the US are composed of more than 100 institutions worldwide. LIGO detected the first gravitational-wave in 2015. Having multiple detectors working together has several scientific benefits. “Having KAGRA join our network of gravitational-wave observatories will significantly enhance the science in the coming decade,” said David Reitze, LIGO executive director and principal investigator. “The KAGRA detector will enable us to more precisely locate gravitational-wave sources on the sky, a key goal of gravitational-wave astronomy.”

Virgo (the Virgo Collaboration and the European Gravitational Observatory (EGO) Consortium) is composed of 96 institutions in the European Union (EU). As a multinational collaboration itself, Virgo already has experience of working with multiple partners. “With KAGRA joining, gravitational-wave science will become a global collaborative effort. The Virgo Collaboration looks forward to learning from the new and innovative approach of using an underground and cryogenic interferometer,” said Jo van den Brand, Virgo Collaboration spokesperson.

KAGRA will now join the third observing run (O3), which started on April 1, 2019 and is planned to continue for one calendar year.

Related Links

• Large-scale Cryogenic Gravitational Wave Telescope Project KAGRA (ICRR, University of Tokyo)
• KAGRA gravitational-wave observatory completes construction (University of Tokyo)
• Gravitational Wave Project Office
• KAGRA to Join LIGO and Virgo in Hunt for Gravitational Waves (LIGO)
• VIRGO, LIGO and KAGRA sign agreement to begin joint observation (Virgo)