Search and validation of transient gravitational wave events in LIGO

引力波是由加速质量产生的时空结构中的涟漪，最早由爱因斯坦的广义相对论在1916年预测。它们是来自宇宙的难以捉摸的信使，因为它们携带着来自黑洞碰撞、超新星爆炸和大爆炸等灾难性事件的信息，但它们极其难以测量。到目前为止，我们只有间接的证据证明它们的存在，但它们的探测将提供一种新的方式来倾听宇宙，并开启引力波天文学的新纪元。LIGO项目有一个雄心勃勃的目标，即使用三个具有公里级基线的激光干涉仪来探测引力波，其中两个位于华盛顿州汉福德，一个位于洛杉矶利文斯顿。LIGO最近完成了为期两年的设计灵敏度测试，LIGO科学合作(LSC)正在分析数据。同时，探测器的增强将使LIGO在当前初始配置中对源敏感的距离增加一倍。该奖项支持马萨诸塞大学Amherst LSC小组参与这一努力。该小组将参与LIGO数据的分析，特别关注来自黑洞合并的信号和意外发现的未建模引力波爆发。该项目还将专注于从数据分析到探测器表征的桥梁，使用数据分析工具为仪器专员提供天体物理反馈，并制定战略以区分探测器中的引力波候选和杂散噪声瞬变。该奖项促进多样性，因为它支持一个由初级女性PI创建的新研究小组。学生将成为知识前沿令人兴奋的研究的一部分，国际科学协会将参加以科学领域的妇女和少数群体为主题的外联活动。

Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of space-time produced by accelerating masses, first predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity in 1916. They are elusive messengers from the Universe, as they carry information from such catastrophic events as the collision of black holes, supernova explosions and the Big Bang, but they are extremely hard to measure. To date, we only have indirect proof of their existence, but their detection will provide a new way to listen to the Universe, and initiate a new era of gravitational wave astronomy. The LIGO project has the ambitious goal to detect gravitational waves using three laser interferometers with km-scale baselines, two located in Hanford, WA and one in Livingston, LA.LIGO recently completed a 2-year run at design sensitivity, and the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC) is analyzing the data. At the same time detector enhancements will double the distance of sources LIGO is sensitive to, in the current, initial configuration.This award supports the participation to this effort of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst LSC group. The group will be involved in the analysis of LIGO data, with particular attention to the signals from the coalescence of black holes and to the serendipitous discovery of unmodeled bursts of gravitational waves. The project will also focus on the bridge from data analysis to detector characterization, using data analysis tools to provide astrophysical feedback for instrument commissioners and developing strategies to discriminate between gravitational wave candidates and spurious noise transients in the detector.This award promotes diversity, as it supports a new research group, founded by a junior female PI. Students will be part of exciting research at the frontiers of knowledge and the PI will participate in outreach activities centered on the theme of women and minorities in science.