Searching for Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background with LIGO: Data Analysis and Detector Development

使用 LIGO 搜索随机引力波背景：数据分析和探测器开发

• 批准号: 0758036
• 负责人: Vuk Mandic
• 金额: $ 30万
• 依托单位: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-11-01 至 2012-10-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0758036&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Searching; Stochastic; Gravitational; Wave; Background

This project focuses on searches for the stochastic gravitational-wave background (SGWB). In particular, searches will be conducted by cross-correlating the data acquired by the LIGO observatories during the latest LIGO science run (S5), and during the upcoming science run (S6) which will take advantage of the better sensitivity of LIGO detectors. These searches will establish the world's most sensitive measurements of the energy density of gravitational waves. Moreover, a study will be performed to assess the gravity gradient noise for Advanced LIGO: the gravity gradient noise is expected to limit the sensitivity of Advanced LIGO detectors at lowest frequencies, which are most sensitive to the SGWB.The SGWB is expected to be produced in the earliest stages in the history of the Universe. Hence, direct observation of the SGWB would provide a glimpse of a very young Universe, much younger than what is possible using other astrophysical techniques. It would also represent a very rare probe of the particle physics of the highest energies, currently not accessible to accelerator-based particle physics experiments. The SGWB could also be produced by a large number of violent astrophysical events, such as gamma ray bursts or supernovae. Hence, direct observation of the SGWB would provide information about these exotic events as well. This project will allow undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars to be directly involved in this very exciting field of cosmology and astrophysics, and to make significant contributions to them. The project also includes building a web-accessible archive of models and experiments in the field of SGWB, hence providing a broader educational impact on the cosmology and astrophysics communities, as well as on non-scientific audience.

该项目的重点是搜索随机引力波背景（SGWB）。特别是，搜索将通过交叉关联 LIGO 天文台在最新的 LIGO 科学运行 (S5) 和即将到来的科学运行 (S6) 期间获取的数据来进行，这将利用 LIGO 探测器的更高灵敏度。这些研究将建立世界上最灵敏的引力波能量密度测量方法。此外，还将进行一项研究来评估Advanced LIGO的重力梯度噪声：重力梯度噪声预计会限制Advanced LIGO探测器在最低频率下的灵敏度，而这些频率对SGWB最为敏感。SGWB预计将产生在宇宙历史的最早阶段。因此，直接观测 SGWB 将提供对非常年轻的宇宙的一瞥，比使用其他天体物理技术可能看到的要年轻得多。它还代表了一种非常罕见的最高能量粒子物理探测器，目前基于加速器的粒子物理实验无法实现。 SGWB也可能是由大量剧烈的天体物理事件产生的，例如伽马射线爆发或超新星。因此，直接观测 SGWB 也将提供有关这些奇异事件的信息。该项目将使本科生、研究生以及博士后学者直接参与宇宙学和天体物理学这个非常令人兴奋的领域，并为其做出重大贡献。该项目还包括建立一个可通过网络访问的 SGWB 领域的模型和实验档案，从而为宇宙学和天体物理学界以及非科学受众提供更广泛的教育影响。