United States/New Zealand Cooperative Effort in Ringlaser Construction

该奖项将支持俄克拉荷马州立大学的Hans R. Bilger博士和基督城坎特伯雷大学的G. E. Stedman博士之间的合作研究。研究人员打算在坎特伯雷大学完成高分辨率环形激光器的建造和运行，并使用该仪器测量地震作用和潮汐等地球物理效应。这次合作是Bilger博士的实验技能与Stedman博士在使用环形激光测量地球物理、原子光谱和广义相对论效应方面的理论兴趣的有效结合。通过使用激光来感知和记录潮汐和地震活动是新颖的，该项目将大大促进对这些应用的仪器评估。此外，环形激光的位置应该可以更精确地测量附近非常活跃的太平洋板块边界的地震活动。//

This award will support collaborative research between Dr. Hans R. Bilger of Oklahoma State University and Dr. G. E. Stedman of the University of Canterbury, Christchurch. The investigators intend to complete construction and attain operation of a high-resolution ringlaser at the University of Canterbury, and to use the instrument to measure geophysical effects such as seismic action and earth tides. The collaboration is a productive blend of the experimental skills of Dr. Bilger with more theoretical interests of Dr. Stedman regarding the use of ringlasers to measure geophysical, atomic spectroscopic, and general relativistic effects. Sensing and recording earth tides and seismic activity through the use of lasers is novel, and this project should significantly advance assessment of the instrument to these applications. In addition, the site of the ringlaser should allow more exact measurement of seismic activities from the nearby, very active Pacific Plate boundary.//