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

该项目旨在通过制定探测器改进策略以及开发和实施新的数据分析算法，最大限度地提高美国国家科学基金会激光干涉仪引力波天文台（LIGO）的科学产出。该项目将有助于推进精密测量技术，加深对广义相对论的理解，并在引力和量子物理的界面上推动实验物理的前沿。它还支持对多信使天体物理源的观测和解释。该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界的互动，该项目将有利于引力波界之外的其他精密测量实验。该项目的参与者还将积极开展一系列活动，通过以下方式接触更广泛的科学界和公众：(i)通过出版物、讲座和互联网（包括YouTube）传播研究成果和科学数据；（ii）与K-12教育工作者和学生互动，例如通过LIGO和加州理工学院天文学外展项目；（三）公开讲座。该项目的主要科学目标是推动LIGO灵敏度的持续提高，实现对LIGO数据的最有效分析，并为即将到来的LIGO探测提取基础物理。更普遍的目标是为精密测量技术的进步做出贡献，为我们对广义相对论的理解做出贡献，并在引力和量子物理的界面上推动实验物理的前沿。更具体地说：(A)该项目将制定和评估提高LIGO灵敏度的创新方法。对于量子噪声，该计划将：更好地理解波形检测的基本量子极限，设计反作用规避量子放大技术，并探索可能规避量子噪声的新读出策略。该项目还将研究降低热噪声的策略。通过与实验学家合作，我们试图取得理论进展，最终影响实际实验。(B)本项目将把数值相对性模拟应用于LIGO数据分析：(i) LIGO探测后续模拟将用于验证半解析波形模型的准确性，探索这些模型的参数偏差，并根据需要执行替代参数估计策略；改进的替代波形模型将在LALSuite中实施，并用于对未来事件的参数估计研究。这些模型在数值相对波形之间进行插值，以产生符合要求参数的高精度波形。该项目还将更好地理解双黑洞衰荡波的内容，并应用一种新的滤波技术来分析数值相对论波形和LIGO数据的模式内容。(C)该项目将利用LIGO数据探索黑洞视界附近，包括更好地描述引力波从视界附近反射的方式及其可能引起的回声，并制定由量子引力效应引起的随机度量扰动的测试。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project aims at maximizing the scientific output of NSF's Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) via formulating strategies for detector improvements and the development and implementation of new data analysis algorithms. This project will contribute to advancing precision measurement technology, deepen understanding 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 broader scientific community and the general public through (i) dissemination of research results and scientific data via publications, lectures, and the internet (including YouTube); (ii) interacting with K-12 educators and students, e.g., via the LIGO and Caltech Astronomy outreach programs; and (iii) public lecturing.The primary scientific objective of this project is to drive the continued improvement of LIGO sensitivity, to enable the most efficient analysis of LIGO data, and to extract fundamental physics for upcoming LIGO detections. More general objectives are to contribute to the advancement of precision measurement technology, to contribute to our understanding of general relativity, and to push the frontier of experimental physics at the interface between gravitational and quantum physics. More specifically: (A) This project will formulate and evaluate innovative approaches to improving LIGO’s sensitivity. For quantum noise, this program will: better understand the Fundamental Quantum Limit for waveform detection, design back-action evading quantum amplification techniques, and explore new readout strategies that potentially circumvent quantum noise. This project will also study strategies for lowering thermal noise. By collaborating with experimentalists, we attempt to make theoretical progress that will eventually impact real experiments. (B) This project will apply numerical relativity simulations to LIGO data analysis: (i) Simulations following up on LIGO detections will be used to verify the accuracy of semi-analytic waveform models, to explore parameter biases of these models, and to perform alternative parameter estimation strategies as needed; and (ii) Improved 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. This project will also better understand the content of binary black hole ringdown waves and apply a new filtering technique to analyze the mode contents of numerical relativity waveforms and LIGO data. (C) This project will use LIGO data to explore the vicinity of black hole horizons, including better describing the ways gravitational waves can be reflected from the vicinity of the horizon and the echoes they might cause, and formulate tests for stochastic metric perturbations caused by effects of quantum gravity.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.