Exploring Gravitational Wave Science Frontiers with the SKAO

Abstract

The Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) will be an important component of the global gravitational wave network. This article provides an overview of chapter eight of the Advancing Astrophysics with the SKA II (AASKAII) book, in which gravitational waves are a new addition, since the previous edition preceded the announcement of the first detection of gravitational waves in 2016. The chapter investigates the impact that this new observatory will have on numerous gravitational wave science cases. From testing General Relativity, to measuring the properties of the nanohertz gravitational wave background and exploiting new synergies with other upcoming experiments, the SKAO will play a key role in the next decades of gravitational wave science.

Published in Advancing Astrophysics with the SKA II (AASKAII), 2026 (arXiv:2606.20366). Report-no:AASKAII/Bellomo01. Advancing Astrophysics with the SKA II (AASKAII) outlines the transformative scientific advances that will be enabled by the SKA telescopes