Gravitational Waves from Compact Objects

这项提议支持将致密恒星作为引力波源的工作，以及利用LIGO(激光干涉仪引力波观测站)搜索引力波的工作。这项工作延续了之前的结果，表明中子星可以通过初始LIGO(现在正在运行的组态)探测到，而不是等待几年才能发现高级LIGO，特别是如果这样的恒星是由比中子更奇怪的东西组成的话。探讨了奇异物质模型，并评价了它们对初始LIGO探测引力波的影响。这项工作还包括参与正在进行的和新的LIGO对致密恒星引力波的搜索，特别是爱因斯坦@Home项目，该项目使用世界各地普通公众捐赠的计算时间。LIGO的贡献包括运行搜索的代码和在哪里寻找的天体物理指导。LIGO探测到这样的信号将提供中子星中奇怪物质的证据，产生关于高密度物质的新信息，这将补充和加强从光子天文学和实验室核物理中获得的洞察力。学生们将接受引力波天文学方面的培训，就在这一领域准备开花之际。首席调查员将继续并扩大他与爱因斯坦@Home的公共外联活动。

This proposal supports work on compact stars as sources of gravitational waves and on searches for the waves with LIGO (the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory). The work follows up on previous results showing that neutron stars could be detectable by initial LIGO (theconfiguration running now) rather than waiting several years for advanced LIGO, especially if such stars are made of things stranger than neutrons. Strange matter models are explored and their effect on detectability of gravitational waves by initial LIGO is evaluated. The work also includesparticipation in ongoing and new LIGO searches for gravitational waves from compact stars, especially the Einstein@Home project which uses computing time donated by members of the general public all over the world. LIGO contributions include code to run the searches and astrophysical guidance on where to look.Detection of such signals by LIGO would provide evidence for strange matter in neutron stars, yielding new information on matter at high densities which will complement and enhance the insights gained from photon astronomy and laboratory nuclear physics. Students will be trained in gravitational wave astronomy just as the field is preparing to blossom. The principal investigator will continue and expand his public outreach activities with Einstein@Home.