The Next Generation Global Gravitational Wave Observatory: The Science\n Book

The next generation of ground-based gravitational-wave detectors will observe\ncoalescences of black holes and neutron stars throughout the cosmos, thousands\nof them with exceptional fidelity. The Science Book is the result of a 3-year\neffort to study the science capabilities of networks of next generation\ndetectors. Such networks would make it possible to address unsolved problems in\nnumerous areas of physics and astronomy, from Cosmology to Beyond the Standard\nModel of particle physics, and how they could provide insights into workings of\nstrongly gravitating systems, astrophysics of compact objects and the nature of\ndense matter. It is inevitable that observatories of such depth and finesse\nwill make new discoveries inaccessible to other windows of observation. In\naddition to laying out the rich science potential of the next generation of\ndetectors, this report provides specific science targets in five different\nareas in physics and astronomy and the sensitivity requirements to accomplish\nthose science goals.\n This report is the second in a six part series of reports by the GWIC 3G\nSubcommittee: i) Expanding the Reach of Gravitational Wave Observatories to the\nEdge of the Universe, ii) The Next Generation Global Gravitational Wave\nObservatory: The Science Book (this report), iii) 3G R&D: R&D for the Next\nGeneration of Ground-based Gravitational Wave Detectors, iv) Gravitational Wave\nData Analysis: Computing Challenges in the 3G Era, v) Future Ground-based\nGravitational-wave Observatories: Synergies with Other Scientific Communities,\nand vi) An Exploration of Possible Governance Models for the Future Global\nGravitational-Wave Observatory Network.\n