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

该奖项支持LIGO在三个主要领域的研究和开发。首先，将对先进LIGO的输入光学器件进行研究，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。将进行高级LIGO强度水平对光学涂层可能造成的损害的研究。其中一些工作将在LIGO利文斯顿实验室进行。在这些装置中，将探索热透镜的主动补偿方法，并构建系统。热透镜效应将用于自适应模式匹配望远镜的研制。此外，展望未来，将启动一项测量低温冷却镜之间近场辐射传热的实验。我们还将把我们在高功率自适应光学方面的工作扩展到第三代光学元件（衍射光栅）。第三，数据分析和检测器表征算法将继续发展。特别是，将开展工作，开发和实施连贯的网络算法，并对引力波探测器网络收集的数据进行分析。相互关联技术将应用于这些站点的磁力计数据，作为随机引力波搜索的可能背景。最后，将继续为LIGO数据分析和数据监测软件做出贡献。佛罗里达大学LIGO小组的学生可能会根据个人兴趣，学习从噪声中提取信号的复杂方法、处理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、高要求的超高真空技术等等。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。在UF LIGO组的研究生和博士后学生在高需求的领域在外部技术社区工作。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，有可能影响其他技术领域。

This award supports research and development for LIGO in three main areas. First, work will be done on the input optics of Advanced LIGO, including extensive high-power testing of critical optical components such as modulators, Faraday isolators, and other transmissive optics. Studies of possible damage to optical coatings from Advanced LIGO intensity levels will be carried out. Some of this work will take place at the LIGO Livingston Laboratory. Methods for active compensation of thermal lensing in these devices will be explored, and systems constructed. Thermal lensing effects will be exploited to develop an adaptive mode-matching telescope. In addition, looking further into the future, an experiment to measure near-field radiative heat transfer between cryogenically cooled mirrors will be initiated. We will also extend our work on high power adaptive optics to third generation optical components (diffraction gratings). Third, data analysis and detector characterization algorithms will continue to be developed. In particular, work will be done to develop and implement coherent network algorithms and to conduct analysis of data collected by networks of gravitational wave detectors. Cross-correlation techniques will be applied to magnetometer data at the sites, as a likely background for stochastic gravitational wave searches. Finally, contributions to the LIGO data analysis and data monitoring software will continue to be made. Students in the UF LIGO group 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 mechanical engineering, demanding 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 postdoctoral students 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 areasof technology.