Jan Harms
Jan Harms is a physicist known for his contributions to gravitational-wave physics, in particular to instrument science and data analysis. His work spans environmental-noise modelling and mitigation, quantum-measurement schemes, and multi-band gravitational-wave detection.
Education and career
Jan Harms received his doctoral degree in physics from Leibniz Universität Hannover under the supervision of Karsten Danzmann, where his research focused on the quantum optics of gravitational-wave detectors and searches for primordial gravitational-wave backgrounds.[1] He has held positions at several research institutions in Europe and the USA, where he has been involved in both theoretical and experimental aspects of gravitational-wave detection.[2]
He has been associated with major international gravitational-wave projects, including second- and third-generation ground-based detectors, and has contributed to long-term planning efforts for future observatories. He is a member of the Virgo and Einstein Telescope collaborations. [3]
Research
Harms’ research focuses on fundamental limitations to gravitational-wave detectors at low frequencies.[4][5] His work has addressed mitigation strategies for several noise sources, including underground detector concepts,[6] machine-learning control techniques,[7] advanced quantum-measurement schemes,[8][9] and sensor-based subtraction techniques.[10]
He has also contributed to studies of next-generation and alternative gravitational-wave detectors, including concepts extending gravitational-wave observations to lower frequencies than currently accessible. This includes work on the scientific potential and technical challenges of detectors operating in the millihertz to decihertz frequency range.[11] More recently, his research has expanded to include multi-messenger and time-domain aspects of gravitational-wave astronomy, with an emphasis on early-warning observations and synergies with electromagnetic facilities.[12]
He is a full professor at the Gran Sasso Science Institute.[3]
Lunar Gravitational Wave Antenna
Jan Harms is one of the proponents of the Lunar Gravitational Wave Antenna (LGWA), a proposed gravitational-wave observatory that would use the Moon as a natural test mass to detect gravitational waves in the millihertz to hertz frequency band.[12] The LGWA concept aims to bridge the gap between space-based detectors such as LISA and ground-based observatories, enabling long-baseline observations of compact binaries and new opportunities for multi-messenger astronomy.[13]
He has contributed to the development of the LGWA science case and mission studies, including analyses of sensitivity, noise sources, and potential scientific returns.[12][13][14]
Selected publications
Harms has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications in gravitational-wave physics and related fields.[2]
- Harms, J. et al. (2013). ‘‘Low-frequency terrestrial gravitational-wave detectors’’, Geophysical Journal International, vol. 201, Issue 3, p.1416-1425. doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.88.122003
- Harms, J., et al. (2015). ‘‘Transient gravity perturbations induced by earthquake rupture’’, Physical Review , vol. 88, Issue 12, id. 122003. doi:10.1093/gji/ggv090
- Harms, J. (2019). ‘‘Terrestrial gravity fluctuations, vol. 22, Issue 1, id. 6. doi:10.1007/s41114-019-0022-2
- Harms, J., et al. (2021). ‘‘Lunar Gravitational-wave Antenna’’, The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 910, Issue 1, id.1, 22 pp. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/abe5a7
- Harms, J. (2022). ‘‘Seismic Background Limitation of Lunar Gravitational-Wave Detectors’’, Physical Review Letters, vol. 129, Issue 7, id. 071102. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.129.071102
Other activities
Outside his scientific work, Harms has participated in competitive memory events. In 2007, he set a world record in the discipline known as the “Everest of Memory Test,” reciting digits of π for 20 minutes and 30 seconds.[15] In the same year, he also set a German national record by reciting 9,140 digits of π.[16] Earlier, in 2003, he won the North German Memory Championship.[17]
See also
- Gravitational-wave astronomy
- Gravitational-wave observatories
- Gravitational waves
- Lunar Gravitational Wave Antenna
References
- ↑ Harms, Jan (2006). Terrestrial Gravity Fluctuations (PhD thesis). Leibniz Universität Hannover. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "INSPIRE-HEP author profile: Jan Harms". INSPIRE-HEP. SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Jan Harms". Gran Sasso Science Institute. GSSI. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
- ↑ Harms, J.; et al. (2007). "Quantum-noise power spectrum of fields with discrete classical components". Physical Review A. 76 (2): 023803. arXiv:quant-ph/0703119. Bibcode:2007PhRvA..76b3803H. doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.76.023803.
- ↑ Harms, J.; et al. (2008). "Subtraction-noise projection in gravitational-wave detector networks". Physical Review D. 77 (12): 123010. arXiv:0803.0226. Bibcode:2008PhRvD..77l3010H. doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.77.123010.
- ↑ Amann, F.; et al. (2020). "Site-selection criteria for the Einstein Telescope". Review of Scientific Instruments. 91 (9): 094504. arXiv:2003.03434. Bibcode:2020RScI...91i4504A. doi:10.1063/5.0018414.
- ↑ Buchli, J.; et al. (2025). "Improving cosmological reach of a gravitational wave observatory using Deep Loop Shaping". Science. 389 (6764): 1012–1015. arXiv:2509.14016. Bibcode:2025Sci...389.1012B. doi:10.1126/science.adw1291. PMID 40906851 Check
|pmid=value (help). - ↑ Ma, Y.; et al. (2016). "Proposal for Gravitational-Wave Detection Beyond the Standard Quantum Limit via EPR Entanglement". Nature Physics. 13 (8): 776–780. arXiv:1612.06934. doi:10.1038/nphys4118.
- ↑ Barsotti, L.; Harms, J.; Schnabel, R. (2018). "Squeezed vacuum states of light for gravitational wave detectors". Reports on Progress in Physics. 82 (1): 016905. doi:10.1088/1361-6633/aab906. PMID 29569572.
- ↑ Harms, J.; et al. (2009). "Simulation of underground gravity gradients from stochastic seismic fields". Physical Review D. 80 (12): 122001. arXiv:0909.3341. Bibcode:2009PhRvD..80l2001H. doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.80.122001.
- ↑ Harms, J.; et al. (2015). "Low-frequency terrestrial gravitational-wave detectors". Geophysical Journal International. 201 (3): 1416–1425. doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.88.122003.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Harms, J.; et al. (2021). "Lunar Gravitational-wave Antenna". The Astrophysical Journal. 910 (1): 1. arXiv:2010.13726. Bibcode:2021ApJ...910....1H. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/abe5a7.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Ajith, P.; et al. (2025). "The Lunar Gravitational-Wave Antenna". Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics. 2025 (1): 108. doi:10.1088/1475-7516/2025/01/108.
- ↑ Harms, J. (2022). "Seismic Background Limitation of Lunar Gravitational-Wave Detectors". Physical Review Letters. 129 (7). arXiv:2205.07255. Bibcode:2022PhRvL.129g1102H. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.129.071102. PMID 36018695 Check
|pmid=value (help). Unknown parameter|article-number=ignored (help) - ↑ "Pi World Ranking List – Everest of Memory Test". Pi World Ranking List. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ↑ "Pi World Ranking List – National records". Pi World Ranking List. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ↑ "North German Memory Championship 2003 – Results". Memocamp. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
External links
This article "Jan Harms" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Jan Harms. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
