Support for LIGO Data Analysis Activities at the University of Texas at Brownsville.

新兴的引力波（GW）天文学领域已经进入了一个令人兴奋的阶段，有几个大型探测器，最敏感的是NSF支持的LIGO探测器，现在正在运行和收集数据。由于GW信号与探测器中的固有噪声相比很弱，因此探测和测量这些信号的成功关键取决于使用强大的数据分析技术。S.D. Mohanty（PI），S. Mukherjee（co-PI）和J. Romano（co-PI）将在三个关键领域开展数据分析项目：（1）从伽马射线暴（GRB）中搜索GW，（2）表征探测器噪声的统计特性和（3）搜索随机GW信号。将在教育和外联方面作出重大努力。将开发与上述研究项目相结合并结合实践活动的讲座模块。除其他地点外，讲座将在“21世纪世纪天文学大使计划”期间举行，在德克萨斯大学布朗斯维尔（UTB），目标是当地高中学生，主要来自布朗斯维尔和邻近地区的西班牙裔人口。上述研究项目的动机是令人兴奋的可能性。伽玛射线暴是宇宙中已知的能量最大的爆炸。由美国宇航局运营的SWIFT使命致力于观测这些神秘的事件。伽玛射线暴的产生是由于一颗星星死亡的最终产物--黑洞的形成。如果我们能够探测和测量GRB的GW签名，我们可以了解很多关于黑洞形成过程的信息。随机GW信号可能来自各种可能的来源，例如许多弱的和未观测到的GRB的叠加。然而，最重要的随机信号是大爆炸本身留下的信号。这个信号的探测将彻底改变我们对宇宙起源的理解。为了检测和测量GW信号，我们必须非常好地了解检测器中的噪声。鉴于数据收集的巨大速度，这项工作需要利用统计学、数据挖掘和机器学习研究的前沿方法。这些研究项目将使UTB（一个少数民族服务机构）的学生接触天文学和天体物理学的前沿。对传统上在科学和技术领域代表性不足的社区进行教育和推广，将有助于提高对这些领域的兴趣。涉及高中生的活动将是帮助招募他们进入物理科学的重要工具，从而有助于推进NSF增加少数民族参与这一领域的使命。

The emerging field of gravitational wave (GW) astronomy has entered an exciting phase with several large-scale detectors, the most sensitive being the NSF supported LIGO detectors, now operating and collecting data. Since GW signals are weak compared to the intrinsic noise in the detectors, success in detecting and measuring these signals depends critically on the use of powerful data analysis techniques. S.D. Mohanty (PI), S. Mukherjee (co-PI) and J. Romano (co-PI) will work on data analysis projects in three key areas: (1) search for GWs from Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), (2) characterizing the statistical properties of detector noise and (3) search for stochastic GW signals. There will be a significant effort directed at education and outreach. Lecture modules anchored to the above research projects and incorporating hands-on activities will be developed. Among other venues, the lectures will be given during "The 21st Century Astronomy Ambassador's Program," at the University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB) which targets local high school students from the predominantly Hispanic population of Brownsville and neighboring areas.The research projects above are motivated by exciting possibilities. GRBs are the most energetic explosions in the Universe yet known. The SWIFT mission operated by NASA is dedicated to observing these enigmatic events. GRBs arise if a black hole is formed as an end product of the death of a star. If we could detect and measure the GW signature of GRBs, we could learn a lot about the formation process of the black hole. Stochastic GW signals could arise from a variety of possible sources, such as the superposition of many weak and otherwise unobserved GRBs. However, the most important stochastic signal is the one left over from the Big Bang itself. The detection of this signal will revolutionize our understanding of the origin of the Universe. In order to detect and measure GW signals, it is critical that we understand the noise in our detectors very well. Given the enormous rate of data collection, this work requires exploiting methods at the frontiers of research in statistics, data mining and machine learning. These research projects will expose students at UTB, a minority serving institution, to the cutting edge of astronomy and astrophysics. Education and outreach to a community that is traditionally under-represented in science and technology will help promote greater interest in these areas. The activities involving high school students will be an essential tool in helping to recruit them into the physical sciences, thus helping to advance NSF's mission of increasing minority participation in this area.