LIGOssa

LIGOssa is a hypothetical next-generation program envisioned to extend the capabilities of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). The name is used for a proposed initiative called LIGO Source Synthesis and Statistical Analysis, which would combine instrument upgrades, data-processing advancements, and rapid alert systems to enable more detailed and timely characterization of gravitational-wave sources.

The concept envisions enhancements to the detector network, including increased laser power, improved seismic isolation, and optics configurations that could preserve or extend sensitivity across key frequency bands. It also emphasizes advances in data analysis, with real-time low-latency processing, Bayesian parameter estimation, and automated sky localization to support electromagnetic follow-up in multi-messenger astronomy. A central aim is to raise the detectable population of compact-object mergers and to improve localization accuracy from hundreds of square degrees to tens or even a few square degrees for many events, enabling more efficient follow-up observations.

Governance and status: LIGOssa remains a hypothetical concept discussed in scientific proposals and simulations. It has not been funded as a standalone project, but its ideas inform planning for future upgrades considered by the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and partner institutions. If pursued, the program would aim to deepen tests of general relativity, refine measurements of neutron-star properties, and enhance cosmological inferences through improved distance estimation and source characterization.