Scientific Goals and Missions - Gravitational Wave Science Project

Purpose

The Gravitational Wave Science project (GWSP) aims to contribute to international collaborative observations of gravitational waves through the large-scale cryogenic gravitational wave telescope KAGRA, pioneering gravitational wave astronomy and multi-messenger astronomy, and to promote the development of advanced technologies for gravitational wave telescopes using the interferometric gravitational wave antenna TAMA300.

Missions

The mission of this project is to contribute to the operation of KAGRA in cooperation with the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo, and the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, to participate in international joint observations of gravitational waves, and to upgrade and formulate future plans for KAGRA. In addition, we aim to make TAMA300 a center for developing cutting-edge technologies for gravitational wave telescopes, and to promote technological development through international joint research.

Primary Scientific Goals

The primary scientific goals of this project are:

1. Participate in the fifth gravitational wave observations (O5), scheduled to begin in around 2027-2028. However, there is uncertainty as to when O5 will begin, and if O5 does not begin during the NINS’s fourth mid-term plan period, the goal will be to achieve a readiness worthy of participating in O5, specifically, to achieve or expect to achieve sensitivity equivalent to the binary neutron star merger distance of 10-25 Mpc.
2. Promote the development of the quantum light source, Squeezer, for KAGRA, which is scheduled to be introduced after O5, through international collaboration.
3. Formulate a plan for the development of advanced interferometer technology using the TAMA300 facility, and begin development through international collaboration.

Target Date

End of March 2028