Abstract: Recently, the LIGO Virgo Consortium achieved the first detections
of gravitational waves from binary black holes merging to form single black
holes. The detected waveforms match the predictions of general relativity
for the inspiral and merger of a pair of black holes and the ringdown of
the resulting single black hole. These observations demonstrate the
existence of binary stellar-mass black hole systems. Our observations
provide unique access to the properties of space-time in the strong-field,
high velocity regime and can be used to test the predictions of general
relativity for the nonlinear dynamics of highly disturbed black holes.
The scientific impact of the recent detection will be explained. In
addition key technological aspects will be addresses, such as the
interferometric detection principle, optics, and sensors and actuators.
The lecture will close with a discussion of the largest challenges in the
field, including plans for a detector in space (eLISA), and Einstein
Telescope (ET), a large underground observatory for gravitational waves
astronomy.