Support of LIGO Data Analysis Activities at the University of Texas at Brownsville

利用LIGO具有里程碑意义的第五次和第六次科学运行进行的引力波(GW)搜索已经产生了重要的观测结果，包括已经开始超过电磁或粒子观测的天体物理约束。目前，高级探测器时代的准备工作正在紧锣密鼓地进行，LIGO、处女座和GEO600正处于过渡期，新的干涉仪正在建造中。这些先进的探测器预计将于2015年左右上线，灵敏度将提高~10倍，搜索的宇宙体积将比目前大~1000倍，几乎保证了首次探测到GWS。该奖项支持在这一过渡期内与LIGO数据分析相关的领域的研究，这将为高级探测器时代所需的技术奠定基础：(I)搜索宇宙学或天体物理学GW背景，(Ii)从伽马射线暴统计搜索GW，(Iii)开发从超新星搜索GW的新方法，以及(Iv)探测器特性。第一个项目将使用LIGO和室女座探测器的最新数据提高我们对GW背景的灵敏度。第二个将开发在GW搜索中优化使用天体物理事件的电磁或粒子签名中包含的信息的方法(例如来自NASA任务如Swift和Fermi的伽马射线数据)。第三个将探索提高搜索涉及超新星等弱来源的GW的灵敏度的方法，第四个将研究探测器数据，以表征低频非平稳噪声，并追踪可能的仪器人工制品。这笔助学金资助的研究生将接受GW数据分析方面的直接培训，从而增加该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。

Gravitational-wave (GW) searches using LIGO's landmark fifth and sixth science runs have led to major observational results, including astrophysical constraints that have begun to surpass those from electromagnetic or particle observations. Preparations for the start of the advanced detector era are now eagerly underway, with LIGO, Virgo and GEO600 in a transition period and new interferometers under construction. These advanced detectors, expected to come on-line starting around 2015, will be ~10 times more sensitive, searching a volume of the Universe ~1000 times larger than at present, virtually guaranteeing the first detection of GWs. This award supports research in areas that are relevant to LIGO data analysis during this transition period, and that will build the foundation for techniques required in the advanced detector era: (i) searches for a cosmological or astrophysical GW background, (ii) statistical searches for GWs from gamma-ray bursts, (iii) developing new methods to search for GWs from supernovae, and (iv) detector characterization.The first project will improve our sensitivity to GW backgrounds using the most recent data from both the LIGO and Virgo detectors. The second will develop methods to optimally use the information contained in the electromagnetic or particle signature of an astrophysical event (such as gamma-ray data from NASA missions like Swift and Fermi) in GW searches. The third will explore methods to enhance the sensitivity of searches involving GWs from weak sources like supernovae, and the fourth will look into the detector data to characterize low-frequency non-stationary noise and track possible instrumental artefacts as well. The graduate students supported by this grant will receive direct training in GW data analysis, thus adding to the growing community of researchers in this 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.