Support of LIGO data analysis activities at the University of Texas at Brownsville

引力波天文学的新兴领域已经进入了一个令人兴奋的阶段，大规模的引力波探测器(LIGO、GEO600、TAMA300和VIGO)在科学或工程运行中获取数据。LIGO项目在2007年完成了具有里程碑意义的第五次科学运行(S5)，并将在2009年夏天开始新的一次科学运行(S6)。该奖项支持与LIGO数据分析相关的三个关键领域的研究：(I)搜索宇宙学或天体物理GW背景，(Ii)从伽马射线暴统计搜索GW，以及(Iii)探测器特性。第一个项目将提高我们对天空中能量分布不均匀的GW背景的敏感度。第二个项目将开发最佳利用NASA任务(SWIFT和费米)在全球搜索中提供的信息的方法。第三个将使用先进的数据挖掘方法来更好地理解真实数据，这将有利于所有GW搜索的敏感性。三名研究生将接受GW数据分析方面的直接培训，从而增加这一新兴领域日益增长的研究人员群体。由于德克萨斯大学布朗斯维尔分校(UTB)是一所西班牙裔服务机构，研究活动将使那些在科学和技术领域传统上代表性不足的学生接触到前沿的科学研究。UTB正在进行的主要推广计划将能够利用这项研究，在高中生中培养对LIGO等令人兴奋的科学项目的认识。

The emerging field of gravitational-wave (GW) astronomy has entered an exciting phase with large-scale interferometric GW detectors (LIGO, GEO600, TAMA300, and Virgo) taking data in either science or engineering runs. The LIGO project completed its landmark fifth science run (S5) in 2007 and will begin a new one (S6) in summer 2009. This award supports research in three critical areas relevant to LIGO data analysis: (i) searches for a cosmological or astrophysical GW background, (ii) a statistical search for GWs from gamma-ray bursts, and (iii) detector characterization.The first project will improve our sensitivity to GW backgrounds that have a non-uniform distribution of power on the sky. The second will develop methods to optimally use the information provided by NASA missions (Swift and Fermi) in GW searches. The third will use advanced data mining methods to develop a better understanding of real data, which will benefit the sensitivity of all GW searches. Three graduate students will receive direct training in GW data analysis, thus adding to the growing community of researchers in this emerging field. Since the University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB) is an Hispanic serving institution, the research activities will expose students who are traditionally under-represented in the areas of science and technology to forefront scientific research. On-going major outreach programs at UTB will be able to leverage this research, creating awareness among high-school students about exciting scientific projects such as LIGO.