Gravitational Wave Burst Searches and Signal Validation

激光干涉仪引力波天文台（LIGO）现在能够以一种全新的方式探索天空，准备探测由遥远的天体物理物体（如黑洞、中子星和超新星）产生的时空几何中极其微小的涟漪。在2009-2010年，一个新的“科学运行”将与法国-意大利的处女座探测器合作，为引力波信号的搜索提供最敏感的数据。该项目将引力波探测工作与主流天文学联系起来，通过进行引力波爆发搜索，并在2009-2010年的科学运行期间领导一项快速光学望远镜（可能还有x射线和射电望远镜）后续观测引力波爆发候选者的运动。此外，它还支持数据质量诊断和端到端测试系统，使用探测器中的模拟信号，为建立检测到的任何引力波信号的有效性做准备。这个项目通过增加在2009-2010年科学运行中探测到独特的引力波信号的机会，有助于最大限度地提高NSF对LIGO的投资。与引力波爆发候选者相关的快速光学瞬变将有助于确定引力波信号的真实性，并提供有关其来源的宝贵附加信息。开发和运用这种能力是为未来做准备，届时先进的LIGO将定期探测引力波信号，这些信号可以与天文观测联系起来。除了对天体物理学有益之外，该项目还加强了引力波科学家之间的国际合作，建立了与光学天文学界的联系，并通过为学生提供研究经验来促进教育。

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) is now able to explore the sky in a whole new way, poised to detect extremely tiny ripples in the geometry of spacetime that are generated by distant astrophysical objects such as black holes, neutron stars, and supernovas. A new "science run" in 2009-2010, coordinated with the French-Italian VIRGO detector, will provide the most sensitive data yet to be searched for gravitational wave signals. This project connects the gravitational-wave detection effort with mainstream astronomy by carrying out gravitational-wave burst searches and by leading a campaign of prompt optical telescope (and potentially X-ray and radio telescope) follow-up observations of gravitational-wave burst candidates during the 2009-2010 science run. In addition, it supports data quality diagnostics and an end-to-end test system using simulated signals in the detectors, in preparation for establishing the validity of any gravitational-wave signal that is detected.This project helps to maximize NSF's investment in LIGO by increasing the chance of detecting a distinct gravitational-wave signal in the 2009-2010 science run. A prompt optical transient, associated with a gravitational-wave burst candidate, would help establish the reality of the gravitational-wave signal and also provide valuable additional information about its source. Developing and exercising this capability now prepares for the future, when Advanced LIGO will detect gravitational-wave signals regularly that can be connected to astronomical observations. Besides the benefits to astrophysics, this project strengthens international cooperation among gravitational-wavescientists, builds connections with the optical astronomy community, and contributes to education by providing research experience for students.