RUI: Stochastic Background Searches with the LIGO and ALLEGRO Detectors

RUI：使用 LIGO 和 ALLEGRO 探测器进行随机背景搜索

• 批准号: 0355372
• 负责人: Martin McHugh
• 金额: $ 10.5万
• 依托单位: Loyola University New Orleans
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-06-01 至 2008-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0355372&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Stochastic; Background; Searches; LIGO

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory (LIGO) is currently in a phase of sci-entific data collecting interspersed with commissioning activities that are incrementally improvingthe sensitivities. The ALLEGRO resonant mass gravitational wave detector operated by Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge is located about 40 kilometers from the LIGO Livingston Observatory (LLO). The detector has undergone major renovation since being moved to a new laboratory and has also had periods of data collection interspersed with this activity. The proximity of the LLO and ALLEGRO detectors allows for a unique opportunity in the search for gravitational radiation. The primary focus of this research is to exploit this proximity to search for a stochastic background of gravitational waves. ALLEGRO has the ability to rotate the detector with a minimum of disruption. This will allow a modulation of the signal by aligning and mis-aligning the detector with the LLO interferometer arms. This allows for the removal of any correlated noise that does not have the expected quadrupolar spatial dependence of the gravitational radiation. This project represents the continuation of research to pursue the data analysis challenges in searching for stochastic background of gravitational waves with the ALLEGRO-LLO pair of detectors as a complement to other such searches in LIGO.If our current understanding of the Universe is correct, there almost certainly exists a stochastic background of gravitational waves at some level, originating as a remnant of inflation, a phase transition in the early universe, or from the confusion limit of a large number of discrete sources. An observation or upper limit placed on such a background brings us new information about the Universe. The project will have an impact on the educational environment at Loyola University New Orleans, a primarily undergraduate institution in Louisiana. This project will maintain a vibrant research activity at Loyola, while incorporating undergraduate students as research assistants.

激光干涉引力波天文台（LIGO）目前正处于科学数据收集阶段，其间穿插着调试活动，这些活动正在逐步提高灵敏度。位于巴吞鲁日的路易斯安那州立大学运营的ALLEGRO共振质量引力波探测器位于距离LIGO利文斯顿天文台（LLO）约40公里处。该探测器在搬到新实验室后进行了重大改造，并在此期间进行了数据收集。LLO和ALLEGRO探测器的接近为寻找引力辐射提供了独特的机会。这项研究的主要重点是利用这种接近性来寻找引力波的随机背景。ALLEGRO能够以最小的干扰旋转探测器。这将允许通过将检测器与LLO干涉仪臂对准和未对准来调制信号。这允许去除任何不具有预期的引力辐射的四极空间依赖性的相关噪声。该项目代表了研究的继续，以应对使用ALLEGRO-LLO探测器对寻找引力波随机背景的数据分析挑战，作为LIGO中其他此类搜索的补充。如果我们目前对宇宙的理解是正确的，几乎可以肯定存在某种程度上的引力波随机背景，起源于暴胀的残余，早期宇宙的相变，或者来自大量离散源的混淆极限。在这样的背景下进行观察或上限，会给我们带来关于宇宙的新信息。该项目将对路易斯安那州主要本科院校新奥尔良洛约拉大学的教育环境产生影响。该项目将保持在洛约拉一个充满活力的研究活动，同时将本科生作为研究助理。