Instrument Transients in LIGO and Thermal Noise Issues in Advanced Interferometers

该奖项支持Embry-Riddle引力波小组与LIGO实验室密切合作，测量和改善Advanced LIGO测试涂层的热噪声性能。还将进行建模研究，以确保能够准确评估高级LIGO噪声预算的影响。来自光学涂层的热噪声限制了Advanced LIGO的峰值灵敏度。因此，光学涂层热噪声的任何改善都会直接导致天文事件探测距离的增加。该项目建立在PI在Advanced LIGO材料和悬浮液背景下热噪声表征的丰富经验以及用于估计涂层热噪声对探测器噪声预算贡献的模型开发的基础上。 目前的项目将涉及几个本科研究人员在任何给定的时间。与一线研究项目的直接互动，如这是非常重要的学生，并有助于推动他们沿着的道路上终身职业生涯的科学。 涂层热噪声研究特别令人兴奋，因为所取得的成果直接影响Advanced LIGO对引力波的探测率。如果涂层项目的科学目标得到满足，则在由涂层热噪声大致（50-250 Hz）限制的频带中的信号的检测率预计将从当前估计提高两倍或更多。

This award supports the Embry-Riddle Gravitational Wave Group to work closely with the LIGO Laboratory to measure and improve the thermal noise performance of test-coatings for Advanced LIGO. Modeling studies will also be performed to ensure that implications for the Advanced LIGO noise budget can be accurately assessed. Thermal noise from optical coatings limits the peak sensitivity of Advanced LIGO. Therefore, any improvement in thermal noise from optical coatings leads directly to an increase in the distance to which an astronomical event could be detected.This project builds on the PI's extensive experience with the characterization of thermal noise in the context of materials and suspensions for Advanced LIGO and development of the models for estimating the contribution of coating thermal noise to the detector noise budget. The current project will involve several undergraduate researchers at any given time. Direct interaction with front-line research projects such as this is of great importance to students and helps propel them along the path to a lifelong career in science. Coating thermal noise research is particularly exciting, since gains made have direct impact on Advanced LIGO's detection rate for gravitational waves. If the scientific goals of the coating project are met, the detection rate for signals in the frequency band limited by coating thermal noise roughly (50-250 Hz) is expected to rise from current estimates by a factor of two or more.