Mississippi Participation in LIGO's Search for Gravitational Waves: Getting Ready for Advanced LIGO

激光干涉仪引力波天文台（LIGO）探测器正在进行为期三年的重大升级。新的先进LIGO将大大提高最初LIGO实验的灵敏度，并增加科学家直接观察阿尔伯特·爱因斯坦在大约世纪前首次预测的“时空涟漪”的机会。先进的LIGO有望为宇宙打开一扇令人兴奋的新窗口，预示着引力波天文学作为一个革命性的新观测领域的开始。该奖项为密西西比大学的LIGO小组提供支持。密西西比的研究人员将在探测器表征、数据分析和公众宣传等领域为先进的LIGO奋进做出贡献。探测器表征和数据分析活动将侧重于研究和开发用于高级LIGO引力波搜索的新工具和方法。与引力波天文学和基础科学相关的新的创新推广计划将激发密西西比和全国公众对科学之美的好奇心。通过该奖项资助的研究活动将为Advanced LIGO的主要目标做出重大贡献：i）进行引力波的第一次探测，ii）进入引力波的阶段-波信号将用于常规天文观测和测试引力的基本性质。该项目将增加密西西比学生和年轻研究人员的培训和指导机会，并扩大该地区的公共宣传机会。除了让公众对科学感到兴奋之外，外联活动还将通过妇女和少数民族发言人访问密西西比教育机构的方案，促进传统上代表性不足的学生的多样性和参与。

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors are undergoing a three year-long major upgrade. The new Advanced LIGO will significantly improve the sensitivity of the initial LIGO experiment and increase scientists' chances of directly observing the ``ripples in space-time'' first predicted by Albert Einstein almost a century ago. Advanced LIGO is expected to open a new exciting window on the Universe, heralding the beginning of gravitational-wave astronomy as a revolutionary, new observational field. This award provides support for the LIGO group at the University of Mississippi. Mississippi researchers will contribute to the Advanced LIGO endeavor in the areas of detector characterization, data analysis and public outreach. Detector characterization and data analysis activities will focus on research and development of new tools and methods for use in Advanced LIGO gravitational-wave searches. New innovative outreach programs related to gravitational-wave astronomy and fundamental science will inspire the wonder and beauty of science among the general public in Mississippi and nationwide.Research activities funded through this award will significantly contribute to the main goals of Advanced LIGO: i) make the first detection of gravitational waves and ii) move into a phase where gravitational-wave signals will be used for routine astronomical observations and for testing the fundamental nature of gravitation. This project will increase training and mentoring opportunities for Mississippi students and young researchers, as well as expand public outreach opportunities in the region. In addition to bringing the excitement of science to the general public, the outreach activities will promote diversity and engagement of students from traditionally underrepresented populations through a program of visits of women and minority speakers to Mississippi's educational institutions.