Stanford Program in Support of LIGO

斯坦福大学支持 LIGO 的计划

• 批准号: 1068596
• 负责人: Robert Byer
• 金额: $ 420万
• 依托单位: Stanford University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-09-01 至 2014-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1068596&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Stanford; Program; Support; LIGO

The Stanford gravitational wave research program is engaged in research and development on gravitational wave detection for the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory) program through its membership in the LIGO Scientific Collaboration. The Stanford group's current objectives are guided by the LIGO 2008 Instrument Science Priority Matrix, and are devoted almost entirely to reducing risk and insuring the success of Advanced LIGO. Its major focus is on the development of highly sensitive optical coating and bulk optical absorption loss measurements, the effects of ultra-violet illumination on LIGO optical coatings, studies of dielectric coating and test-mass elastic dissipation, and the design of advanced seismic isolation systems and suspensions. Continuing improvements in these areas are sought for Advanced LIGO to increase its sensitivity and improve the likelihood for detections of gravitational waves. Studies on understanding and minimizing thermal noise in the detector's core optics are being pursued to enhance Advanced LIGO's sensitivity in the critical intermediate frequency band. Improved core optic suspensions and isolation platforms are being developed to enable higher sensitivity at low frequencies where ground vibrations currently limit performance. Gravitational waves were predicted almost 90 years ago in Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, but they have not yet been directly detected due to the extreme sensitivity required. Interacting black holes, coalescing compact binary stellar systems, stellar collapses, pulsars and low mass X-ray binaries are all possible sources of gravitational waves, as is the random background of radiation from the early universe. The first generation of laser interferometer detectors, which operate by measuring strains in the fabric of space-time expected to be produced by gravitational waves, have collected data for several years. Second generation, higher performance detectors, such as Advanced LIGO now under construction, should allow us to develop gravitational wave astronomy as a new window on the Universe. The Stanford group has a strong, multidisciplinary program in developing the technology for such detectors. Participants include mechanical, electrical and control engineers, physicists and materials researchers. The program provides training for future scientists and engineers at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, it integrates basic scientific research with scientific education, and it develops and funds outreach programs that inform and educate the broader community.

斯坦福大学引力波研究计划通过其在LIGO科学合作组织中的成员资格，为LIGO（激光干涉引力波天文台）计划从事引力波探测的研究和开发。斯坦福大学小组目前的目标是以LIGO 2008仪器科学优先矩阵为指导，几乎完全致力于降低风险和确保先进LIGO的成功。其主要重点是高灵敏度光学涂层和体光学吸收损耗测量的发展，紫外线照射对LIGO光学涂层的影响，介电涂层和测试质量弹性耗散的研究，以及先进的地震隔离系统和悬架的设计。先进LIGO正在寻求这些领域的持续改进，以提高其灵敏度并提高探测引力波的可能性。 目前正在研究如何理解和最大限度地减少探测器核心光学器件中的热噪声，以提高Advanced LIGO在关键中频波段的灵敏度。 正在开发改进的核心光学悬架和隔离平台，以在地面振动目前限制性能的低频下实现更高的灵敏度。 引力波在大约90年前就在爱因斯坦的广义相对论中被预测到了，但由于所需的极端灵敏度，它们尚未被直接探测到。相互作用的黑洞、合并的致密双星系统、恒星坍缩、双星和低质量X射线双星都可能是引力波的来源，早期宇宙辐射的随机背景也是如此。第一代激光干涉仪探测器通过测量引力波产生的时空结构中的应变来工作，已经收集了几年的数据。第二代，更高性能的探测器，如正在建设中的先进LIGO，应该使我们能够发展引力波天文学作为宇宙的新窗口。斯坦福大学小组在开发这种探测器的技术方面有一个强大的多学科计划。 参与者包括机械，电气和控制工程师，物理学家和材料研究人员。该计划为未来的科学家和工程师提供本科和研究生水平的培训，它将基础科研与科学教育相结合，并开发和资助宣传和教育更广泛社区的推广计划。