LIGO Reactivated with Enhanced Sensitivity to Detect More Black Hole Collisions
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) has resumed its search for gravitational waves after a three-year hiatus and a multimillion-dollar upgrade. The improvements should allow the facility to pick up signals from colliding black holes every two to three days. The Virgo detector near Pisa, Italy, which has undergone its own €8.4-million (US$9-million) upgrade, was meant to join in, but technical issues are forcing its team to extend its shutdown and perform further maintenance. KAGRA, another gravitational-wave detector located under Mount Ikenoyama, Japan, is also restarting on 24 May.