Andri M. Gretarsson

Title
Professor of Physics
Email
Department
Physics and Astronomy Department
College
College of Arts & Sciences

Areas of Expertise

  • Laser optics and optical coatings
  • Methods and tools of long baseline interferometric gravitational wave detection
  • Methods and tools of radio interferometry for cosmology
  • Instrumentation for low noise "table-top" experiments in physics and "backyard" radio astronomy. 

Andri M. Gretarsson


Since 1996, Dr. Gretarsson has been part of the multi-institution team effort to detect gravitational waves which led to the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics awarded to three leaders and founders of LIGO: Rainer Weiss, Kip Thorne, and Barry Barish. Dr. Gretarsson built and operates the LIGO Optics Research Laboratory, and with Mr. Ramon Fobes he built and operated the Embry-Riddle Radio Observatory. With his students,  Dr. Gretarsson investigates the properties of extremely high-performance mirrors for use in gravitational wave detectors and other ultra-high-sensitivity instruments. Dr. Gretarsson and his students publish regularly. He is an author on >200 peer-reviewed articles.


  • Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Physics, Syracuse University
  • M.S. - Master of Science in Physics, Syracuse University

  • PS 315: Modern Physics Lab
  • PS 380: Optics Laboratory
  • PS 250: Physics for Engineers III
  • PS 216: Physics I Laboratory
  • PS 253: Physics Lab for Engineers
  • PS 490: Senior Research Thesis, Part I