Detection of Gravitational Waves: Interferometry, Devices, Materials, and Analysis for LIGO

LIGO的研究和开发将在三个主要领域进行。首先，将开发先进LIGO输入光学器件的详细设计，包括对关键光学元件（如调制器、法拉第隔离器和其他透射光学器件）进行广泛的高功率测试。其中一些工作将在LIGO利文斯顿实验室进行。在这些器件中，热透镜的无源补偿方法将被开发，器件将被构造。其次，将研究干涉仪的配置。在与格拉斯哥大学的合作下，一个悬挂的信号循环干涉仪将被用作先进的LIGO干涉仪的测试平台。此外，还将研究光栅作为色散元件在光学腔中的应用。第三，数据分析和探测器表征算法将继续发展，特别是用于随机引力波搜索的相互关联技术、用于“类爆发”信号搜索的基于小波的算法、持续发展的去线算法和相关噪声研究。与LIGO相关的学生可能会涉及到从噪声中提取信号的复杂方法，操作庞大数据集的计算方案，控制和稳定激光波长和光束质量的复杂技术，复杂的机械工程，先进的超高真空技术等等，这取决于个人的兴趣。此外，该项目的性质使得本科生以及研究生和博士后都可以获得这些经验。佛罗里达大学LIGO小组的研究生和博士后学生在外部技术社区的高需求领域工作。最后，高性能调制器、隔离器和干涉测量技术的研究，以及为LIGO开发的先进计算技术，有可能以有利的方式影响其他技术领域。

Research and development for LIGO will be carried out in three main areas. First, the detailed design for the input optics of advanced LIGO will be developed, including extensive high-power testing of critical optical components such as modulators, Faraday isolators, and other transmissive optics. Some of this work will take place at the LIGO Livingston Laboratory. Methods for passive compensation of thermal lensing in these devices will be exploited, and devices constructed. Second, interferometer configurations will be studied. In collaboration with the University of Glasgow, a suspended, signal-recycled interferometer will be used as a testbed for the advanced LIGO interferometer. In addition the use of gratings as dispersive elements in optical cavities will be investigated. Third, data analysis and detector characterization algorithms will continue to be developed, in particular cross-correlation techniques for stochastic gravitational wave searches, wavelet-based algorithms for ``burst-like'' signal searches, continuing development of line-removal algorithms, and correlated noise studies. Students associated with LIGO may become involved with sophisticated methods for extraction of signals from noise, computational schemes for manipulation of huge data sets, sophisticated techniques for control and stabilization of laser wavelength and beam quality, complex mechanicalengineering, advanced ultra high vacuum techniques, and many more, depending on individual interests. Moreover, the nature of the project makes these experiences available to undergraduate students as well as to graduate and postdoctoral students. Graduate students and postdoctoralstudents in the UF LIGO group are working in areas of high demand in the outside technical community. Finally, the research in high performance modulators, isolators, and interferometric techniques, and the advanced computational techniques being developed for LIGO have the potential to impact other areas of technology in a favorable way.