Gravitational-Wave Astrophysics and Astronomy

NSF资助的LIGO仪器正在迅速接近其设计灵敏度目标。 与此同时，美国航天局正在迅速推进天基天线丽莎的研究和开发，目标是在2010年左右发射。 该奖项将支持休斯在引力波天体物理学和天文学方面的工作，着眼于探测成为常规并且这些探测器可以真正被视为天文台的时间。 该奖项将支持与引力波探测相关的辐射反应、引力波产生、黑洞参数测量、中子星星破裂和恒星坍缩等方面的工作。 鉴于LIGO最近取得的快速进展以及对NASA丽莎使命的兴趣激增，该奖项支持的研究非常及时。 PI定期向广大的科学观众讲述引力波科学的前景及其对天文学研究的重要性。 该奖项的差旅费将使其能够继续开展这一外联活动，并使其能够更广泛地接触感兴趣的公众。 该奖项还将支持研究生和本科生。 受过引力波天文学训练的科学家通常会发展出广泛的技能，使他们成为科学界的宝贵成员。

The NSF-funded LIGO instruments are rapidly approaching their design sensitivity goals. At the same time, NASA is rapidly moving forward with research and development on the space-based antenna LISA, with the goal of a launch around 2010. This award will support Hughes' work in gravitational-wave astrophysics and astronomy, looking to the time when detections are routine and these detectors can truly be regarded as observatories. This award will support work in aspects of radiation reaction, gravitational-wave generation, black hole parameter measurement, neutron star disruption, and stellar collapse relevant to gravitational wave detection. The research supported by this award is very timely in light of the rapid progress that LIGO has recently made, and the explosion of interest in NASA's LISA mission. The PI regularly speaks to broad scientific audiences on the promise of gravitational-wave science and its impending importance for astronomical studies. The travel funds in this award will make it possible to continue this outreach, as well as making it possible to reach out more broadly to the interested public. The award will also support graduate and undergraduate students. Scientists trained in gravitational-wave astronomy typically develop a broad range of skills, making them valuable members of the scientific community.