Technologies for Future Gravitational-Wave Observatories: Lasers, Optics, Materials, Cryogenics, and Simulations

该奖项支持相对论和相对论天体物理学的研究，并阐述了美国国家科学基金会“宇宙之窗”宏伟构想的优先领域。从2015年9月开始，两个高级LIGO天文台与处女座一起开展了引力波观测活动，报告了O1和O2观测中报告的10多个致密天体的灵感。刚刚结束的臭氧运行探测到了50多个额外的信号，其中大部分看起来很可能是黑洞和/或中子星的灵感。一份关于新奇消息来源的报告已经发布，预计还会有其他非常有趣的公告。灵敏度和性能的改进仍在继续，佛罗里达州的研究旨在为这些改进和第三代引力波探测器的设计做出贡献。这项工作将通过佛罗里达大学LIGO小组直接参与LIGO天文台的研究和运作来发展国家和国际科学基础设施。这项研究将超越引力波科学。本项目研制的高功率光隔离器已在激光和光学行业得到了商业应用。单频2.1千兆赫可调谐的μm激光器可以影响精密科学的许多领域。佛罗里达小组还为学生和博士后科学家提供机会，培养他们在激光和光学、电子学和反馈控制系统、真空和低温以及大规模探测器调试和操作等不同学科中的科学技能。此外，该组织高度重视本科生的教育，每年都有本科生参与研究。高级LIGO的设计目的是将灵敏度提高10倍，并比最初的LIGO有更好的低频响应。随着挤压和A+升级的引入，敏感度将进一步提高。这些收益需要提高探测器各方面的性能，包括佛罗里达LIGO集团多年来负责的输入光学器件。工作将涉及高功率光学隔离、RF调制、用于模式匹配的自适应元件、用于感测和控制悬浮镜和平台的阴影传感器，以及改进的输入光学和功率/信号循环腔的模拟。它还涉及下一代探测器所需的基础研究，以扩大天文台的科学覆盖范围。这项范围较长的研究包括对硅中杂质的研究，硅是低温探测器、低温阴影传感器测试质量的近乎理想的材料，以及开发工作在2.1μm波长的单频非平面环形振荡器激光器。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award supports research in relativity and relativistic astrophysics and it addresses the priority areas of NSF's "Windows on the Universe" Big Idea. Beginning in September 2015, the two Advanced LIGO observatories, in conjunction with Virgo, have carried out observational campaigns for gravitational waves, with more than 10 inspirals of compact objects reported from observing runs O1 and O2. The just-ended O3 run detected more than 50 additional signals, most of which appear likely to be inspirals of black holes and/or neutron stars. One report of a novel source has been published, with other very interesting announcements expected. Improvements in sensitivity and performance are continuing, and Florida’s research aims at contributing to these improvements as well as to designs of third-generation gravitational-wave detectors. This work will develop national and international scientific infrastructure through the direct participation of the University of Florida LIGO group in research and operations at the LIGO Observatories. The research will go beyond gravitational-wave science. High-power optical isolators developed in this project have commercial applications to the laser and optics industries. A single-frequency 2.1 μm laser, tunable over GHz of frequency, can affect many areas of precision science. The Florida group also gives students and postdoctoral scientists the opportunity to develop scientific skills from a diverse set of disciplines spanning lasers and optics, electronics and feedback control systems, vacuum and cryogenics, and large-scale detector commissioning and operation. In addition, the group places high value on the education of undergraduate students and each year has involved undergraduates in research.Advanced LIGO was designed for a 10x sensitivity improvement and much better low-frequency response than initial LIGO. With the introduction of squeezing and the A+ upgrade, the sensitivity will be increased further. These gains require improved performance in all aspects of the detector, including the Input Optics, a responsibility of the Florida LIGO group for many years. Work will address high-power optical isolation, RF modulation, adaptive elements for mode matching, shadow sensors for sensing and control of suspended mirrors and platforms, and improved simulations of the input optics and power/signal recycling cavities. It also addresses basic research needed for next generation detectors to increase the science reach of the observatories. This longer-ranged research includes studies of impurities in silicon, a nearly ideal material for the test masses of cryogenic detectors, cryogenic shadow sensors, and the development of a single-frequency non-planar ring oscillator laser operating at 2.1 μm wavelength.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.