ABSTRACT
The prediction of the existence of gravitational waves dates back to the publication of Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity in 1915. However, the first attempts to detect such waves came many years later with the pioneering experiments of Joseph Weber in the 1960’s using resonant bar detectors. All methods of detection rely in some way on being able to measure the strain in space, but may differ in sensitivity level, frequency band of operation and bandwidth of detection. The major division of frequency band of operation is between ground based detectors, which should operate in the few hertz to few kilohertz region, and space based detectors which will be sensitive at much lower frequencies. The original type of detector as pioneered by Weber consisted of a large aluminium bar suspended around its circumference and hanging in a vacuum system to isolate it from external disturbances. Bonded to the bar around its centre were piezoelectric transducers.
