Gravitational Wave Data Analysis For LIGO

该项目将开展LIGO科学合作(LSC)研究活动，与NSF资助的激光干涉仪引力波天文台(LIGO)的数据分析有关。这包括开发和测试从已知天体物理源搜索引力波的算法和数据分析技术。由于这些信号会产生非常弱的信号，因此数据分析的问题是在噪声数据流中找到这些信号，其中噪声的统计特性不是直接表征的。UWM小组正在开发和测试数据分析策略和算法，这些策略和算法不会受到仪器异常的不利影响。这项工作包括编写原型和生产代码，然后进行测试并与其他技术进行比较。然后，最好的方法被移植到LIGO数据分析系统中，在那里它们可以在非常大的数据集上运行。这项工作对LIGO的成功至关重要，LIGO是一个由NSF资助的探测天体物理起源的引力波的项目。这样的波是由天体物理源发出的，例如聚合的双星中子星、超新星和脉冲星，但非常弱，从未被直接观测到。这就是为什么需要新的和专业化的数据分析方法。直接观测将证实物理学的一个基本预测--引力波的存在--并为观察外部天体物理现象提供独特的工具。这两个LIGO天文台分别位于华盛顿州的汉福德和洛杉矶的利文斯顿，自1995年以来一直在建设中；它们将在2001年的某个时候建成并投入使用。

This project will carry out LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC) researchactivities related to the analysis of data from the NSF-funded LaserInterferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO). This includesthe development and testing of algorithms and data analysis techniquesto search for gravitational waves from known astrophysicalsources. Since these will produce extremely weak signals, the dataanalysis problem is to find these signals in a noisy data stream,where the statistical properties of the noise are not straightforwardto characterize. The UWM group is developing and testing dataanalysis strategies and algorithms which are not adversely affected byinstrumental anomalies. This work includes the writing of bothprototype and production codes, which are then tested and comparedwith other techniques. The best methods are then migrated into theLIGO Data Analysis System where they can be run on very large datasets.This work is crucial to the success of LIGO, which is an NSF-fundedproject to detect gravitational waves of astrophysical origin. Suchwaves are emitted by astrophysical sources such as coalescing pairs ofbinary neutron stars, supernovae, and pulsars, but are very weak andhave never been directly observed. This is why new and specializedtypes of data analysis methods are needed. Direct observation wouldconfirm a fundamental prediction of physics -- the existence ofgravitational waves -- and provide a unique tool for observing exoticastrophysical phenomena. The two LIGO observatories are located inHanford, WA and Livingston, LA, and have been under construction since1995; they will be completed and operating sometime during 2001.