Investigations in gravitational radiation

Lead Research Organisation: CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
Department Name: School of Physics and Astronomy

Abstract

See award number ST/I000887/1

Publications

10 25 50
 
Title Gravitational Wave Artwork Infinite LIGO Dreams 
Description Painting inspired by first detection of gravitational waves. 
Type Of Art Image 
Year Produced 2016 
Impact The Institute of Physics Scotland will be awarding 5 special edition prints 'Infinite LIGO Dreams' to winners of a science award that will be presented in the summer of 2017. Featured by Physics World http://blog.physicsworld.com/2016/11/24/the-beauty-of-gravitational-waves/ Featured by CERN Courier http://cerncourier.com/cws/download/Jan-Feb17 
 
Description Analysis algorithms and pipelines for the detection of gravitational aves. Simulation and modelling of gravitational wave sources such binary black holes and binary neutron stars.
Exploitation Route Developed algorithms will be used in the analysis of LIGO data.
Sectors Education

 
Description Long Term Attachment
Amount £4,882 (GBP)
Funding ID ST/N504002/1 
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2016 
End 04/2019
 
Description Long Term Attachment
Amount £9,702 (GBP)
Funding ID ST/K501931/1 
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2014 
End 03/2017
 
Description Royal Society University Research Fellowship
Amount £803,198 (GBP)
Funding ID 516002.K5869/R OG 
Organisation The Royal Society 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2007 
End 09/2014
 
Description STFC Advanced Fellowship
Amount £548,111 (GBP)
Funding ID ST/H008438/1 
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2010 
End 09/2015
 
Description GEO600 
Organisation University of Glasgow
Department Physics and Astronomy Department
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Detector characterisation and data analysis; strategic plans, scientific motivation for improving detector sensitivity.
Collaborator Contribution Building the detector, maintaining the detector, detector characterisation and data analysis.
Impact A working gravitational wave detector, development of advanced technology for advanced and third generation detectors.
 
Description LIGO Scientific Collaboration 
Organisation LIGO
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Search algorithms and software, data analysis and astrophysical interpretation, scientific motivation for improvement in detector sensitivity
Collaborator Contribution Building and maintaining the LIGO detectors
Impact Publications, conference plenaries, conference contributions
 
Title Gravitational Wave Search Software 
Description Software to perform searches for gravitational waves associated with astrophysical triggers. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2010 
Open Source License? Yes  
Impact Used for many observational results publications by LIGO. 
URL https://trac.ligo.caltech.edu/xpipeline/
 
Title Gravitational Wave Search Software 
Description Software to perform searches for gravitational waves emitted by merging black holes and neutron stars. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2015 
Open Source License? Yes  
Impact This software was used in the detection of gravitational waves. 
URL https://github.com/ligo-cbc/pycbc
 
Description "Star Attractions at the Museum" at National Museum Cardiff 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Public talk on gravitational waves.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Ascoltare le voci dell'Universo (Listening the voices of the Universe) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Ascoltare le voci dell'Universo (Listening the voices of the Universe), a two-hour invited outreach talk on gravitational waves and their first detection given at the liceo scientifico statale Nomentano (Nomentano high school), Rome, Italy [01/06/2016]
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Black Hole Hunter 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This is an on-line game that is on display at every major/minor outreach activity undertaken by members of the 1000-strong LIGO Scientific Collaboration.

It has been translated to German, French and Spain and attracts of 1000's of unique hits every year.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2008
 
Description Black hole hunter 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation Workshop Facilitator
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Developed the Black Hole Hunter game to give the public insight into how gravitational wave searches are performed. The game was updated at the time of the first gravitational wave detection. It has had over 50000 page views since the detectio, and 14000 unique visitors since the detection.


Tens of thousands of members of the public have played the game. It is widely used in outreach exhibits around the world and has been translated into French, Spanish and German
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017
URL http://blackholehunter.org/
 
Description Can you hear black holes 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact AThis was a Royal Society Summer exhibition. An estimated 4000 people passed through our stand in 3 days.

Exhibits were developed and in particular the online black hole hunger game was developed for the exhibition.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2008
 
Description Hay Festival, 30 June 2016, Hay-on-Wye, UK 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Talk on gravitational wave discovery at Hay Festival, 30 June 2016, Hay-on-Wye, UK.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Interview - LIGO detects whispers of another black-hole merger, Nature, 15 June 2016 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Quoted in Nature article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Interview - The black-hole collision that reshaped physics, Nature, 23 March 2016 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Interview for Nature article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Relativita, Festival Delle Scienze, 22 May 2016 Rome, Italy 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Participated in science festival.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Scienceface interview 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact 2017.09.22 Einstein's former summer house, Caputh, Germany: Interviewed on film for a new episode of the Scienceface series; film presently being edited for publication later in 2017.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016,2017
 
Description The First Ever Detection of Gravitational Waves 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Short video describing the first observation of gravitational waves. Posted on YouTube and viewed by over 10,000 people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lcxt097G4Ps
 
Description The First Sounds of the Cosmic Symphony 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact The First Sounds of the Cosmic Symphony, a stand-up talk on gravitational-wave research activity for the general public, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff [14/10/2016]
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Video - LIGO: past, present and future 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact LIGO scientists at Cardiff talk about the historic first ever detection of gravitational waves. Looking to the future, they speak about the prospect of a new era of "gravitational wave astronomy". Viewed by more than 1200 people to date.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNhI57b9JOc