Detection of Gravitational Waves: Instrument Science and Data Analysis for LIGO

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。在不久的将来，通过直接探测两个黑洞碰撞等宇宙中最剧烈的事件所产生的引力波（时空中的动态涟漪），我们对宇宙的理解将大大提高。 激光干涉引力波天文台（LIGO）以异常灵敏的灵敏度探测这些遥远天体物理事件的扰动。 佛罗里达大学LIGO小组将在四个主要领域开展LIGO的研发工作。首先，将致力于提高增强型LIGO探测器的性能，并设计方法以确保高级LIGO干涉仪上线时关键任务光学组件的高性能运行。 第二，将开发新的方法来搜索天空中来自大质量黑洞和明亮伽马射线爆发的局部引力波发射。 第三，展望未来，将开发和测试用于冷却未来引力波探测器的重镜的增强传热方法。最后，将继续为LIGO科学运行、LIGO数据分析和数据监控软件提供人力支持。本研究的更广泛影响包括培养一批受过科学训练的工作人员，从本科生到博士。这些科学家将接受各种科学技能的培训，从激光和光学到电子和反馈控制系统，再到复杂的软件和算法开发。 这项工作将通过佛罗里达大学LIGO小组直接参与LIGO天文台的研究和运营，对国家和国际科学基础设施产生积极影响。最后，这项研究将产生超越引力波天文学的技术影响。该计划开发的高平均功率光学器件在激光和光学工业中具有商业应用。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). In the near future, our understanding of the universe will be greatly enhanced through the direct detection of gravitational waves (dynamic ripples in space-time) generated from the most violent events in the universe such as the collision of two black holes. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) operates with exceptional sensitivity to detect perturbations from these distant astrophysical events. The University of Florida LIGO group will carry out research and development for LIGO in four main areas. First, work will be done on improving the performance of the Enhanced LIGO detectors and on devising ways to insure the high-performance operation of mission-critical optical components when the Advanced LIGO interferometers come online. Second, new methods for searching the sky for localized gravitational wave emissions form massive black holes and bright gamma ray bursts will be developed. Third, looking further into the future, methods to enhance heat transfer for cooling heavy mirrors to be used in future gravitational wave detectors will be developed and tested. Finally, manpower contributions to the LIGO science runs, LIGO data analysis, and data monitoring software will continue to be made.Broader impacts from this research include the development of a scientifically trained work force spanning from undergraduate students through Ph. D. level scientists which will be trained in a diverse set of scientific skills from spanning from lasers and optics to electronics and feedback control systems to sophisticated software and algorithm development. This work will positively impact the national and international scientific infrastructure through the University of Florida LIGO group's direct participation in research and operations at the LIGO Observatories. Finally, this research will have technological impacts that go beyond gravitational wave astronomy. High-average-power optical devices developed by this program have commercial applications to the laser and optics industries.