Gravitational Radiation and Relativistic Astrophysics

该奖项支持一项关于引力波物理和天体物理的研究计划，主要是为了支持激光干涉仪引力波天文台(LIGO)。这项研究的主要科学目标是帮助LIGO取得成功，(I)通过增加其从各种来源探测引力波的前景，以及(Ii)通过提高其从观测到的波中提取波应该携带的丰富信息的能力。更一般的目标是促进高精度测量技术和技术的进步，有助于我们理解天体物理系统是引力波的来源，并有助于开发能够对高度动态弯曲时空进行稳健和准确模拟的数值方法和计算机代码。更具体地说：(1)拟议的研究将在近期和长期内制定和评估提高Advanced LIGO敏感性的创新方法。这项研究还将探索如何使用引力波干涉仪来探索人类大小物体的量子行为，并寻找新的未知物理。(2)继续完善谱爱因斯坦编码(SPEC)及其求解爱因斯坦广义相对论方程的能力。(3)将分析技术与SPEC数值模拟相结合：(I)将产生用于LIGO数据分析的双星黑洞的引力波形；(Ii)将探索高度弯曲时空的非线性动力学行为。将制定使用LIGO数据绘制引力波源内部弯曲时空图的策略。(4)将利用数值和分析工具研究具有物质的引力波源(中星双星、中子星/黑洞双星、恒星崩塌)，有助于更深入地了解：(1)它们的引力波、中微子和电磁发射；(2)它们在短时和长程伽马射线爆发和超新星爆炸中的可能作用。(5)支持的小组将为(I)LSC在LIGO数据中搜索引力波事件，(Ii)改进LIGO数据分析基础设施，以及(Iii)提高LIGO未来数据分析能力和效率的算法做出贡献。该研究计划将作为年轻物理学家和天体物理学家的培训基地。它将教授他们各种各样的研究技术，从实验设计和分析，到开发和使用数据分析算法，到引力波源的天体物理现象学，以及通过分析技术和3+1维数值模拟研究天体物理系统。这项建议的高级人员将积极开展广泛的活动，接触更广泛的科学界和普通公众，方法是：(I)通过出版物、讲座和互联网传播研究成果和科学数据；(Ii)与K-12教育工作者和学生互动，例如通过LIGO外联计划；(Iii)公开讲座，以及(Iv)积极参与以科学为基础的好莱坞电影、纪录片、教育广播节目和多媒体节目的设计和制作。

This award supports a research program on the physics and astrophysics of gravitational waves, largely in support of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO). The primary scientific objective of this research is to help make LIGO a success, (i) by increasing its prospects of detecting gravitational waves from a wide variety of sources, and (ii) by improving its ability to extract from observed waves the rich information that the waves should carry. More general objectives are to contribute to the advance of the technology and techniques for high-precision measurements, contribute to our understanding of astrophysical systems as sources of gravitational waves, and contribute to the development of numerical methods and computer codes capable of carrying out robust and accurate simulations of highly dynamical curved spacetime. More specifically: (1) The proposed research will formulate and evaluate innovative approaches to improving Advanced LIGO's sensitivity, both in the near future and longer term. The research will also explore how gravitational-wave interferometers can be used to explore the quantum behavior of human-sized objects and search for new, unknown physics. (2) The research will continue to improve the Spectral Einstein Code (SpEC) and its ability to solve Einstein's general relativity equations. (3) By combined analytical techniques and numerical simulations with SpEC: (i) gravitational waveforms for binary black holes will be generated for use in LIGO data analysis; and (ii) the nonlinear dynamical behavior of highly curved spacetime will be explored. Strategies will be developed for using LIGO data to map the curved spacetime inside gravitational-wave sources. (4) Numerical and analytical tools will be applied to the study of gravitational-wave sources with matter (neutron-star binaries, neutron-star/black-hole binaries, stellar collapse), contributing to a deeper understanding of: (i) their gravitational-wave, neutrino, and electromagnetic emissions, and (ii) their possible roles in short and long gamma-ray bursts and supernova explosions. (5) The supported group will contribute to (i) the LSC's searches for gravitational-wave events in LIGO data, (ii) the improvement of LIGO data analysis infrastructure, and (iii) algorithms that will enhance LIGO's data-analysis capability and efficiency in the future.This research program will serve as a training ground for young physicists and astrophysicists. It will teach them a wide variety of research techniques, ranging from experimental design and analysis, through development and use data-analysis algorithms, to the astrophysical phenomenology of gravitational-wave sources and the study of astrophysical systems by analytic techniques and 3+1-dimensional numerical simulations. Senior personnel on this proposal will vigorously pursue a wide range of activities that reach out to the broader scientific community and the general public, through: (i) dissemination of research results and scientific data via publications, lectures and the internet; (ii) interacting with K-12 educators and students, e.g. via the LIGO outreach program, (iii) public lecturing, and (iv) active participation in the design and production of science-based Hollywood movies, documentaries, educational radio programs and multi-media shows.