Our group is developing new technologies aimed at extending the astrophysical reach of gravitational wave detectors, at the frontier of precision optical measurement. The lab is led by Prof. Jonathan Richardson in the Department of Physics & Astronomy and the Center for Experimental Cosmology & Instrumentation (CECI) at the University of California, Riverside.
Observing gravitational radiation with higher fidelity will enable precision tests of gravity under the most extreme conditions and probe the nature of black holes. It will also independently measure cosmological expansion to high redshift, probe the interiors of neutron stars, and detect or constrain a variety of dark matter candidates. Ultimately, future space-borne detectors may resolve the Universe to its earliest moments after the Big Bang.
Check out the Research page to learn more about gravitational waves, their detection, and the research being carried out in our lab.
Funding provided by:
August 11, 2026
Richardson Lab's research featured in Physics World
Thermal imaging technique helps overcome a major problem for gravitational-wave astronomy
July 21, 2026
Richardson receives RED seed grant for AI-accelerated gravitational wave detector design techniques
July 21, 2026
Full-aperture wavefront sensing concept published in Classical and Quantum Gravity
Error signals for overcoming the laser power limits of gravitational-wave detectors
July 6, 2026