RUI: LIGO Detector Characterization and Optical Scatter Research

人类的大部分天文知识都是通过电磁辐射获得的。引力波是爱因斯坦广义相对论最具戏剧性的预言之一，它将提供一种观察宇宙的全新方式。该奖项支持加州州立大学富勒顿分校(CSUF)引力波小组利用激光干涉仪引力波天文台(LIGO)研究引力波。这项研究将集中于i)通过减少探测器数据中的非平稳噪声来提高LIGO对黑洞碰撞和超新星爆炸等瞬变天文事件的灵敏度，以及ii)通过研究其核心和辅助光学样品的光学性质来加速Advanced LIGO的成功。这些项目将有大量的学生参与，并有助于培养下一代物理学家。CSUF是一家西班牙裔服务机构。该奖项资助的研究活动将为传统上在科学研究中代表性较低的学生提供更多机会。

Most of humanity's astronomical knowledge has been obtained through electromagnetic radiation. Gravitational waves, one of the most dramatic predictions of Einstein's theory of general relativity, will provide an entirely new way to observe the Universe. This award supports research by the Gravitational-Wave Group at California State University Fullerton (CSUF) contributing to the search for gravitational waves with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). The research will focus on i) improving LIGO's sensitivity to transient astronomical events such as black hole collisions and supernovae explosions through a reduction of non-stationary noise in the detector data, and ii) expediting the success of Advanced LIGO by studying the optical properties of samples of its core and auxiliary optics. These projects will have significant student involvement and help train the next generation of physicists. CSUF is a hispanic serving institution. The research activities funded by this award will provide enhanced opportunities to students traditionally underrepresented in scientific research.