WOU-MMA: Maximizing Science Output of LIGO: Data Analysis and Improved Detectors

该奖项支持相对论和相对论天体物理学的研究，并阐述了美国国家科学基金会“宇宙之窗”宏伟构想的优先领域。该项目旨在通过制定改进探测器的战略以及开发和实施新的数据分析算法，最大限度地提高激光干涉仪引力波观测站的科学产出。该项目将有助于精密测量技术的进步，加深对广义相对论的理解，并在引力物理和量子物理的交界处推动实验物理的前沿。它还支持观测和解释多信使天体物理源。这个项目将作为早期职业物理学家和天体物理学家的培训基地，教授他们各种各样的研究技术。通过与更广泛的量子计量学社区进行互动，该项目将使引力波社区以外的其他精密测量实验受益。该计划的主要科学目标是推动LIGO灵敏度的持续改善，使LIGO数据能够得到最有效的分析，并从即将到来的LIGO探测中提取基础物理。更具体地说：(A)拟议的研究计划将制定和评估提高LIGO灵敏度的创新方法，方法是发明用于未来探测器的新量子计量技术，并研究降低热噪声、光束散射噪声和使用辅助通道进行非线性回归的策略。该计划还将探索GW检测的新方法，例如原子干涉测量和无位移噪声干涉测量。通过与实验者合作，参与者将试图取得理论上的进步，最终在真实的实验中产生影响。(B)对含有中子星的双星黑洞和双星进行的数值相对论模拟将用于LIGO数据分析：(1)对LIGO探测的后续模拟将用于验证唯象波形模型的准确性，探索这些模型的参数偏差，并根据需要采取替代参数估计策略；(2)替代波形模型--它在数值相对论波形之间进行内插，以产生要求参数的高精度波形--将被纳入LALSuite，并用于对未来事件的参数估计研究。(C)将使用LIGO数据测试和演示广义相对论的各个方面，包括：测试地平线附近非GR结构的存在，并使用来自多个来源的波形的相干叠加来重建单一来源的发射模式。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award supports research in relativity and relativistic astrophysics and it addresses the priority areas of NSF's "Windows on the Universe" Big Idea. This project aims at maximizing the scientific output of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory, via formulating strategies for detector improvements and the development and implementation of new data analysis algorithms. This project will contribute to the advancement of precision measurement technology, deepen understandings of general relativity, and push the frontier of experimental physics at the interface between gravitational and quantum physics. It also supports the observation and interpretation of multi-messenger astrophysical sources. This project will serve as a training ground for early career physicists and astrophysicists, teaching them a wide variety of research techniques. By interacting with the broader quantum metrology community, this project will benefit other precision measurement experiments outside the gravitational-wave community. Participants of this project will also vigorously pursue a wide range of activities that reach out to the the general public.The primary scientific objective of this program is to drive the continued improvement of LIGO sensitivity, to enable the most efficient analysis of LIGO data, and to extract fundamental physics from upcoming LIGO detections. More specifically: (A) The proposed research program will formulate and evaluate innovative approaches to improving LIGO's sensitivity, by inventing new quantum metrology techniques for use in future detectors, and by studying strategies toward lowering thermal noise, beam-scattering noise, and toward nonlinear regression using auxiliary channels. The program will also explore new approaches toward GW detection, e.g., atom interferometry and displacement-noise-free interferometry. By collaborating with experimentalists, participants will attempt to make theoretical progress that will eventually make impacts in real experiments. (B) Numerical relativity simulations of binary black holes and binaries containing neutron stars will be used for LIGO data analysis: (i) Simulations following up on LIGO detections will be used to verify the accuracy of phenomenological waveform models, to explore parameter biases of these models, and to perform alternative parameter estimation strategies as needed; and (ii) Surrogate waveform models, which interpolate between numerical relativity waveforms to produce a waveform at requested parameters to high accuracy, will be implemented into LALSuite and be used in parameter estimation studies on future events. (C) Aspects of general relativity will be tested and demonstrated using LIGO data, including: testing the existence of non-GR structures near the horizon, and using the coherent stacking of waveforms from multiple sources to reconstruct the emission pattern of a single source.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.