Detection of Gravitational Waves: Interferometry, Devices, Materials, and Analysis for LIGO

LIGO的研究和开发将在三个主要领域进行。首先，将制定先进LIGO输入光学系统的详细设计，包括对调制器、法拉第隔离器和其他透射式光学系统等关键光学部件进行广泛的高功率测试。其中一些工作将在LIGO利文斯顿实验室进行。将探索在这些器件中对热透镜进行被动补偿的方法，并建造器件。其次，对干涉仪结构进行了研究。与格拉斯哥大学合作，一个悬浮的、信号回收的干涉仪将被用作先进的LIGO干涉仪的试验台。此外，还将研究在光学谐振腔中使用光栅作为色散元件。第三，将继续开发数据分析和探测器表征算法，特别是用于随机引力波搜索的互相关技术、用于“类突发”信号搜索的基于小波的算法、继续开发直线去除算法以及相关噪声研究。与LIGO相关的学生可能会学习从噪声中提取信号的复杂方法、处理海量数据集的计算方案、控制和稳定激光波长和光束质量的复杂技术、复杂的机械工程、先进的超高真空技术等，具体取决于个人的兴趣。此外，该项目的性质使得本科生以及研究生和博士后都可以获得这些经验。UF LIGO小组的研究生和博士后都在外部技术社区高需求的领域工作。最后，对高性能调制器、隔离器和干涉技术的研究，以及正在为LIGO开发的先进计算技术，都有可能以有利的方式影响其他技术领域。

Research and development for LIGO will be carried out in three main areas. First, the detailed design for the input optics of advanced LIGO will be developed, including extensive high-power testing of critical optical components such as modulators, Faraday isolators, and other transmissive optics. Some of this work will take place at the LIGO Livingston Laboratory. Methods for passive compensation of thermal lensing in these devices will be exploited, and devices constructed. Second, interferometer configurations will be studied. In collaboration with the University of Glasgow, a suspended, signal-recycled interferometer will be used as a testbed for the advanced LIGO interferometer. In addition the use of gratings as dispersive elements in optical cavities will be investigated. Third, data analysis and detector characterization algorithms will continue to be developed, in particular cross-correlation techniques for stochastic gravitational wave searches, wavelet-based algorithms for ``burst-like'' signal searches, continuing development of line-removal algorithms, and correlated noise studies. Students associated with LIGO may become involved with sophisticated methods for extraction of signals from noise, computational schemes for manipulation of huge data sets, sophisticated techniques for control and stabilization of laser wavelength and beam quality, complex mechanicalengineering, advanced ultra high vacuum techniques, and many more, depending on individual interests. Moreover, the nature of the project makes these experiences available to undergraduate students as well as to graduate and postdoctoral students. Graduate students and postdoctoralstudents in the UF LIGO group are working in areas of high demand in the outside technical community. Finally, the research in high performance modulators, isolators, and interferometric techniques, and the advanced computational techniques being developed for LIGO have the potential to impact other areas of technology in a favorable way.