Proposal for UK Involvement in the Operation of Advanced LIGO

在接下来的五年内，也就是在这一提议所涵盖的时期结束之前，高级LIGO(ALIGO)有望自信地探测到引力波，从而开启天文学的新纪元。在这份提案中，我们要求为必要的基础设施和旅行费用提供支持，以确保英国保持其在该领域的领先地位，并在项目中建立合作伙伴关系。通过设计和建设项目“Advanced LIGO UK”，英国成功地对美国aLIGO引力波探测器的主要方面做出了独特和基本的贡献，主要是通过转让最初为GEO600开发的二氧化硅悬浮技术。由此产生的暂停绝对是使ALIGO达到其敏感性目标的关键。在第一阶段的运行中，英国提供的设备已经安装并集成到两个aLIGO探测器中。直接的结果是，英国的团体能够利用这些探测器及其观测伙伴在当前十年将产生的丰富科学数据。我们建议通过提供全面参与aLIGO探测器运行所需的支持和基础设施，从而最大限度地提高英国的地位，从而保持用户社区小组-LIGO科学合作(LSC)的积极合作伙伴地位，通过该小组获得和分发数据权。同样重要的是需要确保英国交付的aLIGO探测器的设备和设施得到充分利用，以最大限度地发挥潜在的科学产出。无论是它们在aLIGO中的实现，还是后来计划进一步升级aLIGO时，都是如此。LSC的英国成员相当多--目前按作者身份计算为12%。ALUK项目和GEO600的数据交换使我们能够利用数据访问和科学回报，在aLIGO硬件上进行相对较小的投资。正如我们与LIGO签订的谅解备忘录(MOU)所述，我们已被赋予最高级别的项目管理角色，包括STFC代表在项目监督委员会中的一个席位。至关重要的是，我们必须保持这项提议中详细规定的最高级别的参与。因此，我们要求继续为观察任务提供差旅支持，提供资源使我们能够在探测器调试和运行期间提供技术支持，并要求提供计算机基础设施支持，以便为在英国境内利用LIGO科学数据提供坚实的基础。在LIGO站点，对完成的探测器的第一次测试正在进行中，2014年11月，在第一次运行几个月后，LLO探测器实现了对超过50兆秒(MPC)距离的聚合双星中子星的灵敏度--很好地达到了2015年开始的初步科学运行的目标。我们请求为2016年1月1日至2019年12月31日期间提供资金。

Within the next five years, and before the end of the period covered by this proposal, Advanced LIGO (aLIGO) is confidently expected to detect gravitational waves and hence to open a new era in astronomy. In this proposal we request support for essential infrastructure and travel costs required to ensure that the UK maintains its place among the leaders in the field and partnership within the project.Through the design and construction project "Advanced LIGO UK", the UK has succeeded in making unique and fundamental contributions to major aspects of the aLIGO gravitational wave detectors in the US, primarily by transfer of silica suspension technology originally developed for GEO600. The resulting suspensions are absolutely central in enabling aLIGO to meet its sensitivity target. During the first phase of operations, the UK supplied equipment has been installed and integrated into two aLIGO detectors. As a direct result, UK groups are in a position to exploit the rich science data that will be produced by these detectors and their observing partners during the current decade. We propose to maximise the UK position by providing the support and infrastructure necessary for full involvement in the operation of the aLIGO detectors and therefore to remain active partners in the user-community group, the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC), through which data rights are earned and distributed. Of similar importance is the need to ensure that UK-delivered equipment and facilities for the aLIGO detectors are fully exploited to maximise the potential scientific output. This is true both in terms of their implementation within aLIGO, and later when it is planned that aLIGO will be further upgraded. The UK membership of the LSC is considerable - currently 12% by authorship. The ALUK project and exchange of data from GEO600 have allowed us to leverage data access and science return for a relatively small investment in the aLIGO hardware. As set out in our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with LIGO, we have been given top-level project management roles, up to and including a seat on the project Oversight Committee for an STFC representative. It is essential that we maintain involvement at the highest level as set out in detail in this proposal. We therefore request continuation of travel support for observing duties, resources to allow us to provide technical support during detector commissioning and operations, and computer infrastructure support to provide a solid basis for exploitation of aLIGO science data within the UK. At the LIGO sites, first tests of the completed detectors are underway, and in November 2014, just a few months after first operation, the LLO detector achieved sensitivity to coalescing binary neutron stars at over 50 megaparsec (Mpc) distance - well on target for initial science runs to start in 2015. We request funding for the period 01/01/2016 to 31/12/2019.