Stanford Program in Support of LIGO

斯坦福大学引力波研究计划通过其在LIGO科学合作中的成员资格，为LIGO(激光干涉仪引力波天文台)计划从事引力波探测的研究和开发。斯坦福大学团队目前的目标是以LIGO 2008仪器科学优先列表为指导，几乎完全致力于降低风险和确保Advanced LIGO的成功。它的主要重点是高灵敏度光学涂层和整体光学吸收损耗测量的发展，紫外线照射对LIGO光学涂层的影响，介质涂层和测试质量弹性耗散的研究，以及先进隔震系统和悬架的设计。高级LIGO正在寻求这些领域的持续改进，以提高其灵敏度并改善探测引力波的可能性。正在进行了解探测器核心光学部件中的热噪声并将其降至最低程度的研究，以提高Advanced LIGO在关键中频频段的灵敏度。正在开发改进的核心光学悬架和隔离平台，以在目前地面振动限制性能的低频下实现更高的灵敏度。近90年前，爱因斯坦的广义相对论就预言了引力波，但由于所需的极端敏感性，引力波尚未被直接探测到。相互作用的黑洞、凝聚的致密双星系统、恒星崩塌、脉冲星和低质量X射线双星都可能是引力波的来源，早期宇宙辐射的随机背景也是如此。第一代激光干涉仪探测器通过测量引力波产生的时空结构中的应变来操作，已经收集了几年的数据。第二代，更高性能的探测器，如正在建设中的高级LIGO，应该可以让我们发展引力波天文学，作为了解宇宙的新窗口。斯坦福大学的团队在开发这种探测器的技术方面有一个强大的、多学科的项目。参与者包括机械、电气和控制工程师、物理学家和材料研究人员。该计划为未来的科学家和工程师提供本科和研究生水平的培训，它将基础科学研究与科学教育相结合，并开发和资助向更广泛的社区提供信息和教育的外展计划。

The Stanford gravitational wave research program is engaged in research and development on gravitational wave detection for the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory) program through its membership in the LIGO Scientific Collaboration. The Stanford group's current objectives are guided by the LIGO 2008 Instrument Science Priority Matrix, and are devoted almost entirely to reducing risk and insuring the success of Advanced LIGO. Its major focus is on the development of highly sensitive optical coating and bulk optical absorption loss measurements, the effects of ultra-violet illumination on LIGO optical coatings, studies of dielectric coating and test-mass elastic dissipation, and the design of advanced seismic isolation systems and suspensions. Continuing improvements in these areas are sought for Advanced LIGO to increase its sensitivity and improve the likelihood for detections of gravitational waves. Studies on understanding and minimizing thermal noise in the detector's core optics are being pursued to enhance Advanced LIGO's sensitivity in the critical intermediate frequency band. Improved core optic suspensions and isolation platforms are being developed to enable higher sensitivity at low frequencies where ground vibrations currently limit performance. Gravitational waves were predicted almost 90 years ago in Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, but they have not yet been directly detected due to the extreme sensitivity required. Interacting black holes, coalescing compact binary stellar systems, stellar collapses, pulsars and low mass X-ray binaries are all possible sources of gravitational waves, as is the random background of radiation from the early universe. The first generation of laser interferometer detectors, which operate by measuring strains in the fabric of space-time expected to be produced by gravitational waves, have collected data for several years. Second generation, higher performance detectors, such as Advanced LIGO now under construction, should allow us to develop gravitational wave astronomy as a new window on the Universe. The Stanford group has a strong, multidisciplinary program in developing the technology for such detectors. Participants include mechanical, electrical and control engineers, physicists and materials researchers. The program provides training for future scientists and engineers at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, it integrates basic scientific research with scientific education, and it develops and funds outreach programs that inform and educate the broader community.