UK Involvement in the advanced LIGO Gravitational Wave Project
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Glasgow
Department Name: School of Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Organisations
- University of Glasgow (Lead Research Organisation)
- GEO collaboration (Collaboration)
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena (FSU) (Collaboration)
- LIGO Scientific Collaboration (Collaboration)
- The Scottish Universities Physics Alliance (SUPA) (Collaboration)
- Russian ET Consortium (Collaboration)
- National Institute for Subatomic Physics Nikhef (Collaboration)
- Max Planck Society (Collaboration)
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) (Collaboration)
- Cardiff University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (Collaboration)
- University of the West of Scotland (Collaboration)
- University of Warsaw (Collaboration)
- European Commission (Collaboration)
Publications
Abbott B
(2008)
Search for Gravitational-Wave Bursts from Soft Gamma Repeaters
in Physical Review Letters
Abbott B
(2017)
On the Progenitor of Binary Neutron Star Merger GW170817
in The Astrophysical Journal
Abbott B
(2017)
Effects of waveform model systematics on the interpretation of GW150914
in Classical and Quantum Gravity
Abbott B
(2017)
Calibration of the Advanced LIGO detectors for the discovery of the binary black-hole merger GW150914
in Physical Review D
Abbott B
(2008)
Astrophysically triggered searches for gravitational waves: status and prospects
in Classical and Quantum Gravity
Abbott B
(2009)
Search for gravitational waves from low mass binary coalescences in the first year of LIGO's S5 data
in Physical Review D
Abbott B
(2009)
LIGO: the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory
in Reports on Progress in Physics
Abbott B
(2009)
All-Sky LIGO Search for Periodic Gravitational Waves in the Early Fifth-Science-Run Data
in Physical Review Letters
Abbott B
(2017)
All-sky search for periodic gravitational waves in the O1 LIGO data
in Physical Review D
| Description | Through the design and construction project Advanced LIGO UK, the UK has succeeded in making fundamental contributions to the Advanced LIGO (aLIGO) detectors in the US by transfer of mirror-suspensions and optical technology originally developed for GEO600. It is expected that these detectors will produce gravitational wave signals soon after they are fully commissioned. As a direct result of our contribution to the project, UK groups are in a position to exploit the rich science data that will be produced over the coming decade. This has created a unique opportunity to ensure that UK scientists maintain leadership in gravitational wave science. It is envisaged that the UK equipment which has been designed to meet all long-term project goals, will remain in place even following such upgrades, and continued UK technical support will help to ensure that is the case. The UK groups are members of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and as such have access to Advanced LIGO data and are able to take part in their exploitation to discover gravitational wave signals from sources such as compact-object inspirals, pulsars, and possibly supernovae. The discovery of gravitational waves, on 14th September 2015, marks a major success of this project. |
| Exploitation Route | Our work resulted in the development and construction of main-mirror suspensions for the Advanced LIGO interferometric gravitational wave detectors, associated control electronics, sensors actuators and optics. This work led directly to installation, commissioning and (in particular, from 2015) data analysis efforts funded by grant ST/J000019/1 at Glasgow and other UK awards for the Operation of Advanced LIGO. Exploitation of the experimental data will follow. |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Electronics,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| URL | http://www.ligo.org/science/Publication-GW150914/index.php |
| Description | The immediate beneficiaries include the UK astronomy community - extending far beyond just the applicant groups, who will gain access to LIGO data at the time when the first gravitational wave signals are most likely to be seen. In the longer term the research will radically alter our understanding of the Universe, including information on the nature of neutron stars and black holes, and through opportunities for precision cosmology. This will benefit the widest astronomy/astrophysics community, internationally. As cosmology and astrophysics are always forefront areas for public outreach, there will be considerable impact resulting from the discovery of gravitational waves and the burgeoning science that will inevitably result. To have a major focus for this new science in the UK should help revitalise public interest at a time when economic pressures could potentially fight against the growth of science in our community. There is no doubt that a discovery of gravitational waves would galvanise public interest at all levels from school pupils up. An improved understanding of cosmology and compact-object astrophysics, of the most impressive and even violent nature, is bound to catch the public imagination, and produce demand for creative works such as television programmes. A concrete example of direct benefit of Advanced LIGO UK to the popular culture exists in the Science Museum, London, where pre-prototype test mass and the metal structural components of an Advanced LIGO test-mass suspension, both made available by the collaboration, are on display. The Advanced LIGO UK construction project brought direct benefit to several areas of UK industry both through the placement of over £3M of contracts, but also by pushing manufacturing techniques to reach higher standards of quality and precision required for our work. Examples include: optics, precision mechanics and electronics. In some cases these companies have subsequently been able to market the resulting technology, nationally and internationally. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2006 |
| Sector | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic |
| Description | (1) Stanford-Scotland Photonics innovation collaboration |
| Amount | £63,692 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/G042446/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2009 |
| End | 07/2012 |
| Description | (2) Stanford-Scotland Photonics innovation collaboration |
| Amount | £30,358 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/G042446/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2009 |
| End | 08/2012 |
| Description | Atomic modelling of amorphous materials for advanced gravitational wave detectors |
| Amount | £31,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2011 |
| End | 07/2012 |
| Description | Collaboration grant |
| Amount | £160,565 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Max Planck Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | Germany |
| Start | 01/2006 |
| End | 12/2011 |
| Description | Dorothy Hodgkin Research Fellowship "Underexplored properties of hydroxide catalysis bonds " |
| Amount | £476,204 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2013 |
| End | 12/2017 |
| Description | EC Framework 7 Infrastructures program |
| Amount | £219,763 (GBP) |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 05/2008 |
| End | 07/2011 |
| Description | ELiTES-ET-LCGT Telescopes: Exchange of Scientists |
| Amount | £21,840 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 295153 |
| Organisation | Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | Global |
| Start | 03/2012 |
| End | 02/2016 |
| Description | FP7 INFRASTRUCTURES |
| Amount | £219,763 (GBP) |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 05/2008 |
| End | 07/2011 |
| Description | Fellowship |
| Amount | £62,698 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2009 |
| End | 04/2011 |
| Description | Gravitational Waves Partnership |
| Amount | £160,565 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Max Planck Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | Germany |
| Start | 01/2006 |
| End | 12/2011 |
| Description | International Joint Project |
| Amount | £7,570 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2009 |
| End | 03/2011 |
| Description | International Joint Project Award scheme |
| Amount | £7,570 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2009 |
| End | 03/2011 |
| Description | JISC Grant |
| Amount | £109,730 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Jisc |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2009 |
| End | 02/2011 |
| Description | Philip Leverhulme Prize |
| Amount | £44,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Leverhulme Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2006 |
| End | 09/2009 |
| Description | Post-doctoral Fellowship |
| Amount | £217,979 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2008 |
| End | 09/2011 |
| Description | RCUK Fellowship |
| Amount | £125,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/E500366/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2006 |
| End | 09/2012 |
| Description | RCUK Science Bridges |
| Amount | £62,698 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2009 |
| End | 04/2011 |
| Description | RCUK Science Bridges |
| Amount | £30,358 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2009 |
| End | 08/2012 |
| Description | RSE/Scottish Executive Personal Research Fellowship |
| Amount | £247,315 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2008 |
| End | 09/2011 |
| Description | Research Merit Award |
| Amount | £101,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2010 |
| End | 07/2015 |
| Description | Research fellowship |
| Amount | £219,763 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2008 |
| End | 09/2011 |
| Description | Research grant |
| Amount | £13,391 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2009 |
| End | 08/2010 |
| Description | Research grant |
| Amount | £2,120,281 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2009 |
| End | 03/2012 |
| Description | Rolling grant |
| Amount | £4,453,282 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2007 |
| End | 09/2009 |
| Description | Royal Society University Research Fellowship |
| Amount | £442,304 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2011 |
| End | 09/2016 |
| Description | Royal Society of London equipment grant |
| Amount | £149,100 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2011 |
| End | 07/2015 |
| Description | SFC International Max-Planck Partnership (IMPP) - Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit |
| Amount | £500,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 240807458 |
| Organisation | Government of Scotland |
| Department | Scottish Funding Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2013 |
| End | 09/2017 |
| Description | STFC/EPSRC International Max-Planck Partnership (IMPP) - Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit |
| Amount | £243,500 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 4040005193 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2013 |
| End | 04/2018 |
| Description | SUPA Studentship |
| Amount | £14,500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Scottish Universities Physics Alliance (SUPA) |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2008 |
| End | 03/2012 |
| Description | Sagnac Speedmeter: Interferometry beyond the Standard Quantum Limit using a Velocity Sensitive Sagnac Interferometer |
| Amount | £1,166,049 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 307245 |
| Organisation | European Research Council (ERC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 09/2012 |
| End | 08/2017 |
| Description | Science in Society Fellowship |
| Amount | £92,380 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2010 |
| End | 09/2012 |
| Description | Seedcorn grant |
| Amount | £13,391 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2009 |
| End | 08/2010 |
| Description | Standard Grant |
| Amount | £44,388 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2008 |
| End | 07/2010 |
| Description | Towards a new view of the Universe |
| Amount | £101,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | WM100016 |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2010 |
| End | 07/2015 |
| Description | Travel grant |
| Amount | £3,990 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2009 |
| End | 06/2009 |
| Description | Travel grants |
| Amount | £3,990 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2009 |
| End | 06/2009 |
| Title | Bayesian Techniques in gravitational wave data analysis |
| Description | Bayesian methods for parameter estimation in low signal to noise ratio gravitational wave signals from our detectors are of application in other areas of sensing, including at least one of commercial interest. Some classes of gravitational wave signals will be detected by matched filtering. To extract the maximum astrophysical information from a detected event requires parameter estimation, taking into account a model for the signal and resulting in a statistical statement about the system which produced the signals. Methods have been developed to allow optimal estimation of parameters from even quite low signal to noise ratio detections. These methods are being applied to detection of other signal types. |
| Type Of Material | Data handling & control |
| Year Produced | 2010 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The Bayesian detection confidence and parameter estimation techniques are of key importance to the extraction of astrophysical science from gravitational wave signals, and thus core to our research. Starting from an initial application in the detection |
| Title | Bayesian Techniques in precision optical sensing |
| Description | Bayesian methods for parameter estimation in low signal to noise ratio gravitational wave signals from our detectors are of application in other areas of sensing, including at least one of commercial interest. Some classes of gravitational wave signals will be detected by matched filtering. To extract the maximum astrophysical information from a detected event requires parameter estimation, taking into account a model for the signal and resulting in a statistical statement about the system which produced the signals. Methods have been developed to allow optimal estimation of parameters from even quite low signal to noise ratio detections. These methods are applicable in other fields of endeavour. |
| Type Of Material | Data handling & control |
| Year Produced | 2010 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | One application (commercially sensitive and under a non-disclosure agreement), involves applying methods developed during STFC funded gravitational wave data analysis to signal extraction and parameter fitting in infra-red optical sensing. We are curren |
| Description | ALUK |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Department | UK Advanced LIGO Project (ALUK) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The UK Advanced LIGO Project (ALUK) involves transfer of the multiple stage / monolithic silica suspension technology developed for the GEO 600 detector to the LIGO detectors based in the U.S. Along with transfer of enhanced interferometric techniques this will create Advanced LIGO (aLIGO). We have provided all the main suspension systems for the three Advanced LIGO gravitational wave detectors. These complex mechanical systems suspend the core optical components, i.e. mirrors and beam-splitters, which form the interferometer at the heart of each detector. In particular we developed and then provided the ultra-low-dissipation, fused silica suspension technology that enables Advanced LIGO to have excellent sensitivity at low frequencies, plus all the associated production and characterisation equipment necessary to manufacture, install and maintain the suspensions. We provide continuing support for the assembly, characterisation, commissioning and operation of the suspensions and related detector technology. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Membership of the ALUK enabled the associated project to be completed. Intellectual input, and design, procurement and manufacturing effort was shared among the partners. A memorandum of understanding signed by LIGO provides for access to gravitational wave data from aLIGO. The aims of the ALUK collaboration are to design and build detector components, and to assist with their installation and commissioning, and with the operation of the resulting aLIGO detectors. Collaborators provided design input to many subsystems of the project, expertise in procurement and manufacturing of precision electronic and mechanical components, and also project management. |
| Impact | Philip Leverhulme Prize RCUK Fellowship Post-doctoral Fellowship EC Framework 7 Infrastructures program International Joint Project Award scheme Travel grant RCUK Science Bridges RCUK Science Bridges Seedcorn grant Research Merit Award JISC Grant SUPA Studentship Science in Society Fellowship RSE/Scottish Executive Personal Research Fellowship MP FS AH MB SR Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2008 Appearance on Radio 4 programme "In our time" Appearance on BBC One Countryfile Regular visits to local schools Public lectures at Science Centres and Science Festivals Events for International Year of Astronomy 2009 Lectures to amateur astronomical societies Meet the Scientist @ Glasgow Science Centre Science @ the Scottish Parliament Astronomy's New Messengers Icarus at the Edge of Time CPD Training for schoolteachers ScienceFace Scottish Science Advisory Council Technology Development Hydroxy-catalysis bonding for technology applications Hydroxy-catalysis bonding for research Fused silica suspension fibres for application in technology Fused silica suspension fibres for gravitational wave detectors Bayesian Techniques in precision optical sensing Bayesian Techniques in gravitational wave data analysis Amplitude or arbitrary phase sideband optical cavity probes Technology Development Diffractively coupled high finesse optical cavities Silicon Carbide bonding Berlin 2009 GWADW 2009 Amaldi 2009 RAS NAM 2009 GWADW 2009 RAS NAM 2008 Texas 2008 Moscow 2008 Schuster Colloquium Elizabeth Spreadbury Lecture RSE Gunning Victoria Jubilee Prize Lectureship Wolfson Research Merit Award Tannahill Lecture and Medal Fellow ISGRGI FRSE (1) FInstP (1) FRAS (1) FRSE (2) Max-Planck-Society FRAS (2) History and Development of Knowledge IOP Nuclear and Particle Physics Divisional Conference Advanced Detector Workshop Kyoto LISA Symposium Stanford Optical Fibre Sensors Edinburgh Advanced Detector Workshop Florida Gravitational Wave Bursts meeting Mexico ILIAS Dresden IoP NPPD conference Glasgow 12th Marcel Grossman meeting Paris Lomonosov conference Moscow Advanced Detector Workshop Florida GR19 Meeting Mexico LISA International Symposium Stanford OECD Global Science Forum India IAU Rio de Janeiro Amaldi NY Fujihara Seminar Tokyo OECD Global Science Forum Cracow NEB X111 Thessaloniki New Worlds Portugal PASCOS 07 London LEOS Montreal XX1X Spanish Relativity Meeting Mallorca Rencontres de Moriond Italy Texas Symposium Heidelberg Aspera Workshop Paris IoP HEPP and AP Annual Meeting Frontiers in Optics, OSA, San Jose Amaldi NY Fujiwara Foundation Seminar Japan Advanced Detector Workshop Florida IoP Astroparticle meeting Oxford Cosmo 07 Sussex Aspera Workshop Paris Workshop on Charging Issues MIT IoP NPPD Annual conference Surrey RAS ordinary meeting London ILIAS Italy IAU General Assembly Prague NPPD Conference Glasgow Statistical Challenges Penn State Amaldi student talk Visiting Professorship Jena STFC Particle Astrophysics Advisory panel Physical and Engineering Committee of ESF SSAC Chair GWIC Chair STFC Panels Royal Society Research Grants Panel Aspera/ApPEC Science Advisory Committee Trustee RSE RSE Fellowship Committee IoP Awards Committee Chair LIGO Election & Membership GWIC Deputy Chair PPAN RSE Grants Committee RSE Sectional Committee Stanford-Scotland Photonics GEO Executive Committee FP7 ET Design Study Member STFC Science Committee PPAN GWIC Roadmap committee STFC Oversight Committee Zeplin III Aspera/ApPEC Peer Review Committee Governing Council FP6 ILIAS Aspera/ApPEC Roadmap Committee Advanced Detector committee LSC Publication Policy committee LSC LSC CW Group co-Chair reelected SUPA Astro theme leader LSC CW Group co-chair LSC Detection Committee LSC Data Analysis Council FRSE Aspen Center for Physics 2008 Aspen Center for Physics 2011 Advanced Detectors Workshop Kyoto Cosmic Co-Motion Queensland SAMSI North Carolina Center for Astrostatistics Penn State RAS NAM Llandudno Cosmology and Machine Learning UCL ILIAS Dresden PF PhD FB PhD KC Ugrad LO Ugrad RD Ugrad LM Ugrad LMac Ugrad AB Ugrad EWB Ugrad DF PhD ST Staff BL Staff HW PhD KB RA SF Staff KS staff LSF staff ZP Ugrad DH PhD RU Ugrad NH Ugrad MC Ugrad SL Ugrad NG Ugrad CS PhD OB PhD OB PhD MB PhD EJ Ugrad RM Ugrad RW Ugrad SJ Ugrad SL Ugrad BL Staff BG Ugrad AP PhD PS staff VM staff LG Staff CC PhD SZ Ugrad NM PhD MJ staff AG PhD FGC PhD |
| Description | Advanced LIGO UK |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Department | UK Advanced LIGO Project (ALUK) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The UK Advanced LIGO Project (ALUK) involves transfer of the multiple stage / monolithic silica suspension technology developed for the GEO 600 detector to the LIGO detectors based in the U.S. Along with transfer of enhanced interferometric techniques this will create Advanced LIGO (aLIGO). We have provided all the main suspension systems for the three Advanced LIGO gravitational wave detectors. These complex mechanical systems suspend the core optical components, i.e. mirrors and beam-splitters, which form the interferometer at the heart of each detector. In particular we developed and then provided the ultra-low-dissipation, fused silica suspension technology that enables Advanced LIGO to have excellent sensitivity at low frequencies, plus all the associated production and characterisation equipment necessary to manufacture, install and maintain the suspensions. We provide continuing support for the assembly, characterisation, commissioning and operation of the suspensions and related detector technology. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Membership of the ALUK enabled the associated project to be completed. Intellectual input, and design, procurement and manufacturing effort was shared among the partners. A memorandum of understanding signed by LIGO provides for access to gravitational wave data from aLIGO. The aims of the ALUK collaboration are to design and build detector components, and to assist with their installation and commissioning, and with the operation of the resulting aLIGO detectors. Collaborators provided design input to many subsystems of the project, expertise in procurement and manufacturing of precision electronic and mechanical components, and also project management. |
| Impact | Silica suspension and coating developments for Advanced LIGO Characterisation of mechanical loss in synthetic fused silica ribbons Increased Brownian Force Noise from Molecular Impacts in a Constrained Volume Finite element modelling of the mechanical loss of silica suspension fibres for advanced gravitational wave detectors Investigation of mechanical dissipation in CO2 laser-drawn fused silica fibres and welds AIGO: a southern hemisphere detector for the worldwide array of ground-based interferometric gravitational wave detectors Precision engineering for astronomy and gravity science Violin mode amplitude glitch monitor for the presence of excess noise on the monolithic silica suspensions of GEO 600 Re-evaluation of the mechanical loss factor of hydroxide-catalysis bonds and its significance for the next generation of gravitational wave detectors Perspective: Gravitational waves: ``Invited article: CO2 laser production of fused silica fibers for use in interferometric gravitational wave detector mirror suspensions'' [Rev. Sci. Instrum. 82, 011301 (2011)] Invited Article: CO2 laser production of fused silica fibers for use in interferometric gravitational wave detector mirror suspensions Hydroxy-catalysis bonding for technological applications Fused silica suspension fibres for technological application Particle Astrophysics - GEO , Particle Astrophysics - LIGOParticle Astrophysics - GEO , Particle Astrophysics - LIGO Fused silica suspension fibres for gravitational wave detectors Hydroxy-catalysis bonding for research |
| Description | ET Design Study |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Department | Einstein Telescope |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We contributed design concepts in two main areas: low-noise suspensions for the optical components in gravitational wave detectors, including cryogenic suspension technology; and optical configurations and layouts for potential future interferometers. These concepts were evaluated during the design study. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The aim of this project is the realization of the conceptual design of a future European third generation gravitational wave detector It concerns the study and the conceptual design for a new research infrastructure that will bring Europe to the forefront of the most promising new development in our quest to understand the history and future of the Universe, the emergence of the field of Gravitational Wave Astronomy. Membership of the ET design group provided opportunities for future developments in the field of gravitational wave detection in Europe. It has provided avenues through which our technology developments may be applied. Through regular meetings and co-authoring of reports there was exchange of ideas on all aspects of detector design, sufficient to evaluate many of the technical challenges involved in making a detector an order of magnitude more sensitive than earlier designs. |
| Impact | Post-doctoral Fellowship EC Framework 7 Infrastructures program International Joint Project Award scheme RCUK Science Bridges RCUK Science Bridges Research Merit Award JISC Grant SUPA Studentship Science in Society Fellowship RSE/Scottish Executive Personal Research Fellowship MP FS AH MB SR Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2008 Appearance on Radio 4 programme "In our time" Appearance on BBC One Countryfile Regular visits to local schools Public lectures at Science Centres and Science Festivals Events for International Year of Astronomy 2009 Lectures to amateur astronomical societies Meet the Scientist @ Glasgow Science Centre Science @ the Scottish Parliament Astronomy's New Messengers Icarus at the Edge of Time CPD Training for schoolteachers ScienceFace Scottish Science Advisory Council Technology Development Hydroxy-catalysis bonding for technology applications Hydroxy-catalysis bonding for research Fused silica suspension fibres for application in technology Fused silica suspension fibres for gravitational wave detectors Bayesian Techniques in precision optical sensing Bayesian Techniques in gravitational wave data analysis Diffractively coupled high finesse optical cavities Berlin 2009 GWADW 2009 Amaldi 2009 RAS NAM 2009 GWADW 2009 RAS NAM 2008 Texas 2008 Moscow 2008 Schuster Colloquium Elizabeth Spreadbury Lecture RSE Gunning Victoria Jubilee Prize Lectureship Wolfson Research Merit Award Tannahill Lecture and Medal Fellow ISGRGI FRSE (1) FInstP (1) FRAS (1) FRSE (2) Max-Planck-Society FRAS (2) History and Development of Knowledge IOP Nuclear and Particle Physics Divisional Conference Advanced Detector Workshop Kyoto LISA Symposium Stanford Advanced Detector Workshop Florida Gravitational Wave Bursts meeting Mexico ILIAS Dresden IoP NPPD conference Glasgow 12th Marcel Grossman meeting Paris Lomonosov conference Moscow Advanced Detector Workshop Florida GR19 Meeting Mexico LISA International Symposium Stanford OECD Global Science Forum India IAU Rio de Janeiro Amaldi NY Fujihara Seminar Tokyo OECD Global Science Forum Cracow NEB X111 Thessaloniki New Worlds Portugal PASCOS 07 London LEOS Montreal XX1X Spanish Relativity Meeting Mallorca Rencontres de Moriond Italy Texas Symposium Heidelberg Aspera Workshop Paris IoP HEPP and AP Annual Meeting Frontiers in Optics, OSA, San Jose Amaldi NY Fujiwara Foundation Seminar Japan Advanced Detector Workshop Florida IoP Astroparticle meeting Oxford Cosmo 07 Sussex Aspera Workshop Paris Workshop on Charging Issues MIT IoP NPPD Annual conference Surrey RAS ordinary meeting London ILIAS Italy IAU General Assembly Prague NPPD Conference Glasgow Statistical Challenges Penn State Amaldi student talk Visiting Professorship Jena STFC Particle Astrophysics Advisory panel Physical and Engineering Committee of ESF SSAC Chair GWIC Chair STFC Panels Royal Society Research Grants Panel Aspera/ApPEC Science Advisory Committee Trustee RSE RSE Fellowship Committee IoP Awards Committee Chair LIGO Election & Membership GWIC Deputy Chair PPAN RSE Grants Committee RSE Sectional Committee Stanford-Scotland Photonics GEO Executive Committee FP7 ET Design Study Member STFC Science Committee PPAN GWIC Roadmap committee STFC Oversight Committee Zeplin III Aspera/ApPEC Peer Review Committee Governing Council FP6 ILIAS Aspera/ApPEC Roadmap Committee Advanced Detector committee LSC Publication Policy committee LSC LSC CW Group co-Chair reelected SUPA Astro theme leader LSC CW Group co-chair LSC Detection Committee LSC Data Analysis Council FRSE Aspen Center for Physics 2008 Aspen Center for Physics 2011 Advanced Detectors Workshop Kyoto Cosmic Co-Motion Queensland SAMSI North Carolina Center for Astrostatistics Penn State RAS NAM Llandudno Cosmology and Machine Learning UCL ILIAS Dresden PF PhD FB PhD KC Ugrad LO Ugrad RD Ugrad LM Ugrad LMac Ugrad AB Ugrad EWB Ugrad DF PhD ST Staff BL Staff HW PhD KB RA SF Staff KS staff LSF staff ZP Ugrad DH PhD RU Ugrad NH Ugrad MC Ugrad SL Ugrad NG Ugrad CS PhD OB PhD OB PhD MB PhD EJ Ugrad RM Ugrad RW Ugrad SJ Ugrad SL Ugrad BL Staff BG Ugrad AP PhD PS staff VM staff LG Staff CC PhD SZ Ugrad NM PhD MJ staff AG PhD FGC PhD |
| Start Year | 2007 |
| Description | ET-R&D collaboration |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are contributing experimental and modelling expertise to three of the working groups (WG) in this project. In WG1 we will develop methods of parameter estimation for transient signals detected by ET, through application of our existing expertise in gravitational wave data analysis. In WG3 we will develop apparatus for measuring the birefringence of coated silicon samples and apply our expertise in finite element modelling to assist in the interpretation of cryogenic birefringence measurements carried out in collaboration with Hannover and Jena. In WG4 we will carry out studies and simulations of sensing and control issues for ET and carry out detailed modelling of the quantum noise and optical configuration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The aim of this project is to carry out essential collaborative research and development on key out-standing topics of the technical design of the Einstein Telescope, a 3rd generation underground gravitational wave detector. The three working groups we are participating in aim to study the scientific potential of ET, investigate key optical properties of silicon mirrors and study the advanced interferometer control systems required for ET. Each of these areas requires close collaboration with our European partners and the combination of the facilities and expertise of the participating groups. This will be facilitated by regular teleconferences, meetings and research visits between us and our partners, ensuring effective management of the joint projects and regular exchange of idea and results. Participation in this project provides opportunities for us to continue to contribute strongly to the technical development of ET and ensures that we continue to be an integral part of future developments in the field of gravitational wave detection in Europe. |
| Impact | TBC - activity started last month |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | ET-R&D collaboration |
| Organisation | Friedrich Schiller University Jena (FSU) |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are contributing experimental and modelling expertise to three of the working groups (WG) in this project. In WG1 we will develop methods of parameter estimation for transient signals detected by ET, through application of our existing expertise in gravitational wave data analysis. In WG3 we will develop apparatus for measuring the birefringence of coated silicon samples and apply our expertise in finite element modelling to assist in the interpretation of cryogenic birefringence measurements carried out in collaboration with Hannover and Jena. In WG4 we will carry out studies and simulations of sensing and control issues for ET and carry out detailed modelling of the quantum noise and optical configuration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The aim of this project is to carry out essential collaborative research and development on key out-standing topics of the technical design of the Einstein Telescope, a 3rd generation underground gravitational wave detector. The three working groups we are participating in aim to study the scientific potential of ET, investigate key optical properties of silicon mirrors and study the advanced interferometer control systems required for ET. Each of these areas requires close collaboration with our European partners and the combination of the facilities and expertise of the participating groups. This will be facilitated by regular teleconferences, meetings and research visits between us and our partners, ensuring effective management of the joint projects and regular exchange of idea and results. Participation in this project provides opportunities for us to continue to contribute strongly to the technical development of ET and ensures that we continue to be an integral part of future developments in the field of gravitational wave detection in Europe. |
| Impact | TBC - activity started last month |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | ET-R&D collaboration |
| Organisation | Max Planck Society |
| Department | Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are contributing experimental and modelling expertise to three of the working groups (WG) in this project. In WG1 we will develop methods of parameter estimation for transient signals detected by ET, through application of our existing expertise in gravitational wave data analysis. In WG3 we will develop apparatus for measuring the birefringence of coated silicon samples and apply our expertise in finite element modelling to assist in the interpretation of cryogenic birefringence measurements carried out in collaboration with Hannover and Jena. In WG4 we will carry out studies and simulations of sensing and control issues for ET and carry out detailed modelling of the quantum noise and optical configuration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The aim of this project is to carry out essential collaborative research and development on key out-standing topics of the technical design of the Einstein Telescope, a 3rd generation underground gravitational wave detector. The three working groups we are participating in aim to study the scientific potential of ET, investigate key optical properties of silicon mirrors and study the advanced interferometer control systems required for ET. Each of these areas requires close collaboration with our European partners and the combination of the facilities and expertise of the participating groups. This will be facilitated by regular teleconferences, meetings and research visits between us and our partners, ensuring effective management of the joint projects and regular exchange of idea and results. Participation in this project provides opportunities for us to continue to contribute strongly to the technical development of ET and ensures that we continue to be an integral part of future developments in the field of gravitational wave detection in Europe. |
| Impact | TBC - activity started last month |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | ET-R&D collaboration |
| Organisation | National Institute for Subatomic Physics Nikhef |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are contributing experimental and modelling expertise to three of the working groups (WG) in this project. In WG1 we will develop methods of parameter estimation for transient signals detected by ET, through application of our existing expertise in gravitational wave data analysis. In WG3 we will develop apparatus for measuring the birefringence of coated silicon samples and apply our expertise in finite element modelling to assist in the interpretation of cryogenic birefringence measurements carried out in collaboration with Hannover and Jena. In WG4 we will carry out studies and simulations of sensing and control issues for ET and carry out detailed modelling of the quantum noise and optical configuration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The aim of this project is to carry out essential collaborative research and development on key out-standing topics of the technical design of the Einstein Telescope, a 3rd generation underground gravitational wave detector. The three working groups we are participating in aim to study the scientific potential of ET, investigate key optical properties of silicon mirrors and study the advanced interferometer control systems required for ET. Each of these areas requires close collaboration with our European partners and the combination of the facilities and expertise of the participating groups. This will be facilitated by regular teleconferences, meetings and research visits between us and our partners, ensuring effective management of the joint projects and regular exchange of idea and results. Participation in this project provides opportunities for us to continue to contribute strongly to the technical development of ET and ensures that we continue to be an integral part of future developments in the field of gravitational wave detection in Europe. |
| Impact | TBC - activity started last month |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | ET-R&D collaboration |
| Organisation | Russian ET Consortium |
| Country | Russian Federation |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We are contributing experimental and modelling expertise to three of the working groups (WG) in this project. In WG1 we will develop methods of parameter estimation for transient signals detected by ET, through application of our existing expertise in gravitational wave data analysis. In WG3 we will develop apparatus for measuring the birefringence of coated silicon samples and apply our expertise in finite element modelling to assist in the interpretation of cryogenic birefringence measurements carried out in collaboration with Hannover and Jena. In WG4 we will carry out studies and simulations of sensing and control issues for ET and carry out detailed modelling of the quantum noise and optical configuration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The aim of this project is to carry out essential collaborative research and development on key out-standing topics of the technical design of the Einstein Telescope, a 3rd generation underground gravitational wave detector. The three working groups we are participating in aim to study the scientific potential of ET, investigate key optical properties of silicon mirrors and study the advanced interferometer control systems required for ET. Each of these areas requires close collaboration with our European partners and the combination of the facilities and expertise of the participating groups. This will be facilitated by regular teleconferences, meetings and research visits between us and our partners, ensuring effective management of the joint projects and regular exchange of idea and results. Participation in this project provides opportunities for us to continue to contribute strongly to the technical development of ET and ensures that we continue to be an integral part of future developments in the field of gravitational wave detection in Europe. |
| Impact | TBC - activity started last month |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | ET-R&D collaboration |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are contributing experimental and modelling expertise to three of the working groups (WG) in this project. In WG1 we will develop methods of parameter estimation for transient signals detected by ET, through application of our existing expertise in gravitational wave data analysis. In WG3 we will develop apparatus for measuring the birefringence of coated silicon samples and apply our expertise in finite element modelling to assist in the interpretation of cryogenic birefringence measurements carried out in collaboration with Hannover and Jena. In WG4 we will carry out studies and simulations of sensing and control issues for ET and carry out detailed modelling of the quantum noise and optical configuration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The aim of this project is to carry out essential collaborative research and development on key out-standing topics of the technical design of the Einstein Telescope, a 3rd generation underground gravitational wave detector. The three working groups we are participating in aim to study the scientific potential of ET, investigate key optical properties of silicon mirrors and study the advanced interferometer control systems required for ET. Each of these areas requires close collaboration with our European partners and the combination of the facilities and expertise of the participating groups. This will be facilitated by regular teleconferences, meetings and research visits between us and our partners, ensuring effective management of the joint projects and regular exchange of idea and results. Participation in this project provides opportunities for us to continue to contribute strongly to the technical development of ET and ensures that we continue to be an integral part of future developments in the field of gravitational wave detection in Europe. |
| Impact | TBC - activity started last month |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | ET-R&D collaboration |
| Organisation | University of Warsaw |
| Department | Polish ET Consortium |
| Country | Poland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are contributing experimental and modelling expertise to three of the working groups (WG) in this project. In WG1 we will develop methods of parameter estimation for transient signals detected by ET, through application of our existing expertise in gravitational wave data analysis. In WG3 we will develop apparatus for measuring the birefringence of coated silicon samples and apply our expertise in finite element modelling to assist in the interpretation of cryogenic birefringence measurements carried out in collaboration with Hannover and Jena. In WG4 we will carry out studies and simulations of sensing and control issues for ET and carry out detailed modelling of the quantum noise and optical configuration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The aim of this project is to carry out essential collaborative research and development on key out-standing topics of the technical design of the Einstein Telescope, a 3rd generation underground gravitational wave detector. The three working groups we are participating in aim to study the scientific potential of ET, investigate key optical properties of silicon mirrors and study the advanced interferometer control systems required for ET. Each of these areas requires close collaboration with our European partners and the combination of the facilities and expertise of the participating groups. This will be facilitated by regular teleconferences, meetings and research visits between us and our partners, ensuring effective management of the joint projects and regular exchange of idea and results. Participation in this project provides opportunities for us to continue to contribute strongly to the technical development of ET and ensures that we continue to be an integral part of future developments in the field of gravitational wave detection in Europe. |
| Impact | TBC - activity started last month |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | ET-R&D collaboration |
| Organisation | University of the West of Scotland |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are contributing experimental and modelling expertise to three of the working groups (WG) in this project. In WG1 we will develop methods of parameter estimation for transient signals detected by ET, through application of our existing expertise in gravitational wave data analysis. In WG3 we will develop apparatus for measuring the birefringence of coated silicon samples and apply our expertise in finite element modelling to assist in the interpretation of cryogenic birefringence measurements carried out in collaboration with Hannover and Jena. In WG4 we will carry out studies and simulations of sensing and control issues for ET and carry out detailed modelling of the quantum noise and optical configuration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The aim of this project is to carry out essential collaborative research and development on key out-standing topics of the technical design of the Einstein Telescope, a 3rd generation underground gravitational wave detector. The three working groups we are participating in aim to study the scientific potential of ET, investigate key optical properties of silicon mirrors and study the advanced interferometer control systems required for ET. Each of these areas requires close collaboration with our European partners and the combination of the facilities and expertise of the participating groups. This will be facilitated by regular teleconferences, meetings and research visits between us and our partners, ensuring effective management of the joint projects and regular exchange of idea and results. Participation in this project provides opportunities for us to continue to contribute strongly to the technical development of ET and ensures that we continue to be an integral part of future developments in the field of gravitational wave detection in Europe. |
| Impact | TBC - activity started last month |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | GEO |
| Organisation | GEO collaboration |
| Country | Global |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have provided fused silica suspensions for the GEO 600 gravitational wave detector. These complex mechanical systems suspend the core optical components, i.e. mirrors and beam-splitters, which form the interferometer at the heart of each detector. We have also contributed to almost every other area of detector development, construction, installation and operation, and also to analysis of the resulting data. Examples include contributions to: detector topology and layout; interferometer sensing and control; digital control sub-systems; radio-frequency electro-optic modulation equipment; efficient photo-detection; seismic isolation; seismic monitoring; feed-forward seismic sensing and control; detector supervisory control infrastructure; detector calibration systems; low-level data collection and processing algorithms and systems; laser stabilisation and monitoring; environmental monitoring; data searches for continuous signals (pulsars) and data searches for burst signals (black hole formation). |
| Collaborator Contribution | The GEO600 team collaborates with the GW groups in the USA (LIGO), in France/Italy (Virgo) and in Japan (TAMA300). As a member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC) and the Virgo Collaboration, GEO600 has performed several long-term data runs together with the other gravitational wave detectors, in the search for the first observations. Financial support for the GEO project has been supplied by the State of Lower Saxony, the Max Planck Society, the Science and Technology Facilities Council, the Volkswagen Foundation, and the Federal Republic of Germany. Personnel costs are supplied by the Max Planck Society and the Leibniz University Hannover, running costs by the Max Planck Society Membership of the GEO is core to our research. It provides access to gravitational wave data, opportunities to contribute to instrument upgrades, training for our graduate students and PDRAs, and is the first destination for many of our technology developments. Membership of GEO was a step towards membership of the LSC (q.v.). Collaborators operate the GEO 600 detector to produce data. They archive this and enable us to access it for analysis and carry out joint analysis with us. Collaborators host our equipment at the detector, which we built jointly with them. Through exchange visits and regular meetings there is exchange of ideas on all aspects of gravitational wave detector design. |
| Impact | Violin mode amplitude glitch monitor for the presence of excess noise on the monolithic silica suspensions of GEO 600 Bayesian techniques in precision optical sensing Hydroxy-catalysis bonding for technological applications Fused silica suspension fibres for technological application Bayesian techniques in gravitational wave data analysis Particle Astrophysics - GEO , Particle Astrophysics - LIGOParticle Astrophysics - GEO , Particle Astrophysics - LIGO Fused silica suspension fibres for gravitational wave detectors Hydroxy-catalysis bonding for research |
| Description | GEO600 |
| Organisation | GEO collaboration |
| Country | Global |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have provided fused silica suspensions for the GEO 600 gravitational wave detector. These complex mechanical systems suspend the core optical components, i.e. mirrors and beam-splitters, which form the interferometer at the heart of each detector. We have also contributed to almost every other area of detector development, construction, installation and operation, and also to analysis of the resulting data. Examples include contributions to: detector topology and layout; interferometer sensing and control; digital control sub-systems; radio-frequency electro-optic modulation equipment; efficient photo-detection; seismic isolation; seismic monitoring; feed-forward seismic sensing and control; detector supervisory control infrastructure; detector calibration systems; low-level data collection and processing algorithms and systems; laser stabilisation and monitoring; environmental monitoring; data searches for continuous signals (pulsars) and data searches for burst signals (black hole formation). |
| Collaborator Contribution | The GEO600 team collaborates with the GW groups in the USA (LIGO), in France/Italy (Virgo) and in Japan (TAMA300). As a member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC) and the Virgo Collaboration, GEO600 has performed several long-term data runs together with the other gravitational wave detectors, in the search for the first observations. Financial support for the GEO project has been supplied by the State of Lower Saxony, the Max Planck Society, the Science and Technology Facilities Council, the Volkswagen Foundation, and the Federal Republic of Germany. Personnel costs are supplied by the Max Planck Society and the Leibniz University Hannover, running costs by the Max Planck Society Membership of the GEO is core to our research. It provides access to gravitational wave data, opportunities to contribute to instrument upgrades, training for our graduate students and PDRAs, and is the first destination for many of our technology developments. Membership of GEO was a step towards membership of the LSC (q.v.). Collaborators operate the GEO 600 detector to produce data. They archive this and enable us to access it for analysis and carry out joint analysis with us. Collaborators host our equipment at the detector, which we built jointly with them. Through exchange visits and regular meetings there is exchange of ideas on all aspects of gravitational wave detector design. |
| Impact | Philip Leverhulme Prize RCUK Fellowship Post-doctoral Fellowship EC Framework 7 Infrastructures program International Joint Project Award scheme Travel grant RCUK Science Bridges RCUK Science Bridges Seedcorn grant Research Merit Award JISC Grant SUPA Studentship Science in Society Fellowship RSE/Scottish Executive Personal Research Fellowship MP FS AH MB SR Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2008 Appearance on Radio 4 programme "In our time" Appearance on BBC One Countryfile Regular visits to local schools Public lectures at Science Centres and Science Festivals Events for International Year of Astronomy 2009 Lectures to amateur astronomical societies Meet the Scientist @ Glasgow Science Centre Science @ the Scottish Parliament Astronomy's New Messengers Icarus at the Edge of Time CPD Training for schoolteachers ScienceFace Scottish Science Advisory Council Technology Development Hydroxy-catalysis bonding for technology applications Hydroxy-catalysis bonding for research Fused silica suspension fibres for application in technology Fused silica suspension fibres for gravitational wave detectors Bayesian Techniques in precision optical sensing Bayesian Techniques in gravitational wave data analysis Amplitude or arbitrary phase sideband optical cavity probes Diffractively coupled high finesse optical cavities Silicon Carbide bonding Berlin 2009 GWADW 2009 Amaldi 2009 RAS NAM 2009 GWADW 2009 RAS NAM 2008 Texas 2008 Moscow 2008 Schuster Colloquium Elizabeth Spreadbury Lecture RSE Gunning Victoria Jubilee Prize Lectureship Wolfson Research Merit Award Tannahill Lecture and Medal Fellow ISGRGI FRSE (1) FInstP (1) FRAS (1) FRSE (2) Max-Planck-Society FRAS (2) History and Development of Knowledge IOP Nuclear and Particle Physics Divisional Conference Advanced Detector Workshop Kyoto LISA Symposium Stanford Advanced Detector Workshop Florida Gravitational Wave Bursts meeting Mexico ILIAS Dresden IoP NPPD conference Glasgow 12th Marcel Grossman meeting Paris Lomonosov conference Moscow Advanced Detector Workshop Florida GR19 Meeting Mexico LISA International Symposium Stanford OECD Global Science Forum India IAU Rio de Janeiro Amaldi NY Fujihara Seminar Tokyo OECD Global Science Forum Cracow NEB X111 Thessaloniki New Worlds Portugal PASCOS 07 London LEOS Montreal XX1X Spanish Relativity Meeting Mallorca Rencontres de Moriond Italy Texas Symposium Heidelberg Aspera Workshop Paris IoP HEPP and AP Annual Meeting Frontiers in Optics, OSA, San Jose Amaldi NY Fujiwara Foundation Seminar Japan Advanced Detector Workshop Florida IoP Astroparticle meeting Oxford Cosmo 07 Sussex Aspera Workshop Paris Workshop on Charging Issues MIT IoP NPPD Annual conference Surrey RAS ordinary meeting London ILIAS Italy IAU General Assembly Prague NPPD Conference Glasgow Statistical Challenges Penn State Amaldi student talk Visiting Professorship Jena STFC Particle Astrophysics Advisory panel Physical and Engineering Committee of ESF SSAC Chair GWIC Chair STFC Panels Royal Society Research Grants Panel Aspera/ApPEC Science Advisory Committee Trustee RSE RSE Fellowship Committee IoP Awards Committee Chair LIGO Election & Membership GWIC Deputy Chair PPAN RSE Grants Committee RSE Sectional Committee Stanford-Scotland Photonics GEO Executive Committee FP7 ET Design Study Member STFC Science Committee PPAN GWIC Roadmap committee STFC Oversight Committee Zeplin III Aspera/ApPEC Peer Review Committee Governing Council FP6 ILIAS Aspera/ApPEC Roadmap Committee Advanced Detector committee LSC Publication Policy committee LSC LSC CW Group co-Chair reelected SUPA Astro theme leader LSC CW Group co-chair LSC Detection Committee LSC Data Analysis Council FRSE Aspen Center for Physics 2008 Aspen Center for Physics 2011 Advanced Detectors Workshop Kyoto Cosmic Co-Motion Queensland SAMSI North Carolina Center for Astrostatistics Penn State RAS NAM Llandudno Cosmology and Machine Learning UCL ILIAS Dresden PF PhD FB PhD KC Ugrad LO Ugrad RD Ugrad LM Ugrad LMac Ugrad AB Ugrad EWB Ugrad DF PhD ST Staff BL Staff HW PhD KB RA SF Staff KS staff LSF staff ZP Ugrad DH PhD RU Ugrad NH Ugrad MC Ugrad SL Ugrad NG Ugrad CS PhD OB PhD OB PhD MB PhD EJ Ugrad RM Ugrad RW Ugrad SJ Ugrad SL Ugrad BL Staff BG Ugrad AP PhD PS staff VM staff LG Staff CC PhD SZ Ugrad NM PhD MJ staff AG PhD FGC PhD |
| Description | ILIAS |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | We contributed mainly in the area of low-noise suspensions for the optical components in gravitational wave detectors, including cryogenic suspension technology. This included concepts for potential future interferometer and results of laboratory experiments and developments designed to inform the future direction of the collaboration. We also contributed to EU-wide integration of expertise in data analysis and astronomy/astrophysics related to gravitational wave detection. |
| Collaborator Contribution | ILIAS has pulled together a major part of Europe's leading infrastructures in Astroparticle Physics, namely Underground laboratories and Gravitational Waves observatories, to produce a focused, coherent and integrated project. Its goals are to organise and structure the European Astroparticle Physics community, to improve the existing infrastructures and their operation, and to prepare the best infrastructures for the future. Membership of the ILIAS provided opportunities for future developments in the field of gravitational wave detection in Europe. It provided avenues through which our technology developments could be applied towards, for example, the Einstein Telescope (q.v.). Through regular meetings there was exchange of ideas on all aspects of detector design, sufficient to evaluate many of the technical challenges involved in preparing for the design of a detector an order of magnitude more sensitive than earlier designs. |
| Impact | Philip Leverhulme Prize Post-doctoral Fellowship EC Framework 7 Infrastructures program International Joint Project Award scheme RCUK Science Bridges RCUK Science Bridges Research Merit Award JISC Grant SUPA Studentship Science in Society Fellowship RSE/Scottish Executive Personal Research Fellowship MP FS AH MB SR Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2008 Appearance on Radio 4 programme "In our time" Appearance on BBC One Countryfile Regular visits to local schools Public lectures at Science Centres and Science Festivals Events for International Year of Astronomy 2009 Lectures to amateur astronomical societies Meet the Scientist @ Glasgow Science Centre Science @ the Scottish Parliament Astronomy's New Messengers Icarus at the Edge of Time CPD Training for schoolteachers ScienceFace Scottish Science Advisory Council Technology Development Hydroxy-catalysis bonding for technology applications Hydroxy-catalysis bonding for research Fused silica suspension fibres for application in technology Fused silica suspension fibres for gravitational wave detectors Berlin 2009 GWADW 2009 Amaldi 2009 RAS NAM 2009 GWADW 2009 RAS NAM 2008 Texas 2008 Moscow 2008 Schuster Colloquium Elizabeth Spreadbury Lecture RSE Gunning Victoria Jubilee Prize Lectureship Wolfson Research Merit Award Tannahill Lecture and Medal Fellow ISGRGI FRSE (1) FInstP (1) FRAS (1) FRSE (2) Max-Planck-Society FRAS (2) History and Development of Knowledge IOP Nuclear and Particle Physics Divisional Conference Advanced Detector Workshop Kyoto LISA Symposium Stanford Advanced Detector Workshop Florida Gravitational Wave Bursts meeting Mexico ILIAS Dresden IoP NPPD conference Glasgow 12th Marcel Grossman meeting Paris Lomonosov conference Moscow Advanced Detector Workshop Florida GR19 Meeting Mexico LISA International Symposium Stanford OECD Global Science Forum India IAU Rio de Janeiro Amaldi NY Fujihara Seminar Tokyo OECD Global Science Forum Cracow NEB X111 Thessaloniki New Worlds Portugal PASCOS 07 London LEOS Montreal XX1X Spanish Relativity Meeting Mallorca Rencontres de Moriond Italy Texas Symposium Heidelberg Aspera Workshop Paris IoP HEPP and AP Annual Meeting Frontiers in Optics, OSA, San Jose Amaldi NY Fujiwara Foundation Seminar Japan Advanced Detector Workshop Florida IoP Astroparticle meeting Oxford Cosmo 07 Sussex Aspera Workshop Paris Workshop on Charging Issues MIT IoP NPPD Annual conference Surrey RAS ordinary meeting London ILIAS Italy IAU General Assembly Prague NPPD Conference Glasgow Statistical Challenges Penn State Amaldi student talk Visiting Professorship Jena STFC Particle Astrophysics Advisory panel Physical and Engineering Committee of ESF SSAC Chair GWIC Chair STFC Panels Royal Society Research Grants Panel Aspera/ApPEC Science Advisory Committee Trustee RSE RSE Fellowship Committee IoP Awards Committee Chair LIGO Election & Membership GWIC Deputy Chair PPAN RSE Grants Committee RSE Sectional Committee Stanford-Scotland Photonics GEO Executive Committee FP7 ET Design Study Member STFC Science Committee PPAN GWIC Roadmap committee STFC Oversight Committee Zeplin III Aspera/ApPEC Peer Review Committee Governing Council FP6 ILIAS Aspera/ApPEC Roadmap Committee Advanced Detector committee LSC Publication Policy committee LSC LSC CW Group co-Chair reelected SUPA Astro theme leader LSC CW Group co-chair LSC Detection Committee LSC Data Analysis Council FRSE Aspen Center for Physics 2008 Aspen Center for Physics 2011 Advanced Detectors Workshop Kyoto Cosmic Co-Motion Queensland SAMSI North Carolina Center for Astrostatistics Penn State RAS NAM Llandudno Cosmology and Machine Learning UCL ILIAS Dresden PF PhD FB PhD KC Ugrad LO Ugrad RD Ugrad LM Ugrad LMac Ugrad AB Ugrad EWB Ugrad DF PhD ST Staff BL Staff HW PhD KB RA SF Staff KS staff LSF staff ZP Ugrad DH PhD RU Ugrad NH Ugrad MC Ugrad SL Ugrad NG Ugrad CS PhD OB PhD OB PhD MB PhD EJ Ugrad RM Ugrad RW Ugrad SJ Ugrad SL Ugrad BL Staff BG Ugrad AP PhD PS staff VM staff LG Staff CC PhD SZ Ugrad NM PhD MJ staff AG PhD FGC PhD |
| Description | Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science 2009 |
| Organisation | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) |
| Department | National Institutes of Natural Science |
| Country | Japan |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Our contribution was vital in the characterisation of the thermal noise performance of experiments in Japan targeted at observing non classical optical quantum effects. |
| Collaborator Contribution | JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship was awarded to Dr. Stuart Reid in 2009, to fund a 5 week placement at the National Institutes of Natural Science (Tokyo, Japan), with the aim to characterise fused silica mirror suspensions (10 mm length silica fibre, 20 mg mirror) to verify that the level of Brownian thermal noise was sufficiently low for the direct observation of non classical optical quantum effects. Enhanced links with the Japanese and Large-scale Cryogenic Gravitational wave Telescope groups which will stimulate further collaboration on suspension R&D particularly in transferring LCGT expertise to the ET community (e.g. cryogenics, underground facilities). |
| Impact | International Joint Project Award scheme RSE/Scottish Executive Personal Research Fellowship Fused silica suspension fibres for application in technology Fused silica suspension fibres for gravitational wave detectors Berlin 2009 GWADW 2009 Amaldi 2009 RAS NAM 2009 GWADW 2009 RAS NAM 2008 Texas 2008 Moscow 2008 Schuster Colloquium Elizabeth Spreadbury Lecture RSE Gunning Victoria Jubilee Prize Lectureship Wolfson Research Merit Award Tannahill Lecture and Medal RSE Grants Committee RSE Sectional Committee PF PhD FB PhD KC Ugrad LO Ugrad RD Ugrad LM Ugrad LMac Ugrad AB Ugrad EWB Ugrad DF PhD ST Staff BL Staff HW PhD KB RA SF Staff KS staff LSF staff ZP Ugrad DH PhD RU Ugrad NH Ugrad MC Ugrad SL Ugrad NG Ugrad CS PhD OB PhD OB PhD MB PhD EJ Ugrad RM Ugrad RW Ugrad SJ Ugrad SL Ugrad |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC) |
| Organisation | LIGO Scientific Collaboration |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The LSC carries out the science of the LIGO Observatories, located in Hanford, Washington and Livingston, Louisiana as well as that of the GEO600 detector in Hannover, Germany. Our collaboration is organized around three general areas of research: analysis of LIGO and GEO data searching for gravitational waves from astrophysical sources, detector operations and characterization, and development of future large scale gravitational wave detectors. As evidenced by our outputs that emerge from this collaboration, we contribute strongly to these three areas. In particular we develop low-noise suspension technology and design new optical techniques for the detectors. We also contribute strongly to data analysis particularly in the searches for pulsars and "ringing down" of newly formed black holes. One of our most significant contributions in the area of data analysis has been in the application of Bayesian techniques to parameter estimation in gravitational wave searches. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC) is a group of scientists seeking to make the first direct detection of gravitational waves, use them to explore the fundamental physics of gravity, and develop the emerging field of gravitational wave science as a tool of astronomical discovery. The LSC works toward this goal through research on, and development of techniques for, gravitational wave detection; and the development, commissioning and exploitation of gravitational wave detectors. Membership of the LSC fundamentally enables our research. It provides access to gravitational wave data, opportunities to contribute to instrument upgrades, and training for our graduate students, and is the primary locus for application of our technology developments. As the World-leading collaboration in the field membership of the LSC is vital to our ongoing research. Collaborators operate the four LSC detectors to produce gravitational wave data. With us they archive this and enable us to access it for analysis. The collaboration carries out joint analysis of the data from all four instruments. Collaborators host our equipment at the detectors, and also at test facilities at which we undertake joint technology developments, supplementing those we carry out in Glasgow. Collaborators provide training in the operation of detectors, and detector subsystems. Within the technical working groups set up by the collaboration, there is exchange of ideas on advanced interferometer techniques and topologies, on data analysis, on laser sources, on optics, including optical coatings and thermal noise, and on suspension technology. |
| Impact | Silica suspension and coating developments for Advanced LIGO Characterisation of mechanical loss in synthetic fused silica ribbons Control sideband generation for dual-recycled interferometric gravitational wave detectors Influence of temperature and hdyroxide concentration on the settling time of hydroxycatalysis bonds Hydroxide catalysis bonding of silicon carbide LIGO: the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory Strength testing and SEM imaging of hydroxide-catalysis bonds between silicon Increased Brownian Force Noise from Molecular Impacts in a Constrained Volume Finite element modelling of the mechanical loss of silica suspension fibres for advanced gravitational wave detectors Investigation of mechanical dissipation in CO2 laser-drawn fused silica fibres and welds AIGO: a southern hemisphere detector for the worldwide array of ground-based interferometric gravitational wave detectors Precision engineering for astronomy and gravity science Violin mode amplitude glitch monitor for the presence of excess noise on the monolithic silica suspensions of GEO 600 Re-evaluation of the mechanical loss factor of hydroxide-catalysis bonds and its significance for the next generation of gravitational wave detectors Perspective: Gravitational waves: ``Invited article: CO2 laser production of fused silica fibers for use in interferometric gravitational wave detector mirror suspensions'' [Rev. Sci. Instrum. 82, 011301 (2011)] Invited Article: CO2 laser production of fused silica fibers for use in interferometric gravitational wave detector mirror suspensions Bayesian techniques in precision optical sensing Hydroxy-catalysis bonding for technological applications Fused silica suspension fibres for technological application Bayesian techniques in gravitational wave data analysis Particle Astrophysics - GEO , Particle Astrophysics - LIGOParticle Astrophysics - GEO , Particle Astrophysics - LIGO Fused silica suspension fibres for gravitational wave detectors Hydroxy-catalysis bonding for research |
| Description | LSC |
| Organisation | LIGO Scientific Collaboration |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The LSC carries out the science of the LIGO Observatories, located in Hanford, Washington and Livingston, Louisiana as well as that of the GEO600 detector in Hannover, Germany. Our collaboration is organized around three general areas of research: analysis of LIGO and GEO data searching for gravitational waves from astrophysical sources, detector operations and characterization, and development of future large scale gravitational wave detectors. As evidenced by our outputs that emerge from this collaboration, we contribute strongly to these three areas. In particular we develop low-noise suspension technology and design new optical techniques for the detectors. We also contribute strongly to data analysis particularly in the searches for pulsars and "ringing down" of newly formed black holes. One of our most significant contributions in the area of data analysis has been in the application of Bayesian techniques to parameter estimation in gravitational wave searches. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC) is a group of scientists seeking to make the first direct detection of gravitational waves, use them to explore the fundamental physics of gravity, and develop the emerging field of gravitational wave science as a tool of astronomical discovery. The LSC works toward this goal through research on, and development of techniques for, gravitational wave detection; and the development, commissioning and exploitation of gravitational wave detectors. Membership of the LSC fundamentally enables our research. It provides access to gravitational wave data, opportunities to contribute to instrument upgrades, and training for our graduate students, and is the primary locus for application of our technology developments. As the World-leading collaboration in the field membership of the LSC is vital to our ongoing research. Collaborators operate the four LSC detectors to produce gravitational wave data. With us they archive this and enable us to access it for analysis. The collaboration carries out joint analysis of the data from all four instruments. Collaborators host our equipment at the detectors, and also at test facilities at which we undertake joint technology developments, supplementing those we carry out in Glasgow. Collaborators provide training in the operation of detectors, and detector subsystems. Within the technical working groups set up by the collaboration, there is exchange of ideas on advanced interferometer techniques and topologies, on data analysis, on laser sources, on optics, including optical coatings and thermal noise, and on suspension technology. |
| Impact | Philip Leverhulme Prize RCUK Fellowship Post-doctoral Fellowship EC Framework 7 Infrastructures program International Joint Project Award scheme Travel grant RCUK Science Bridges RCUK Science Bridges Seedcorn grant Research Merit Award JISC Grant SUPA Studentship Science in Society Fellowship RSE/Scottish Executive Personal Research Fellowship MP FS AH MB SR Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2008 Appearance on Radio 4 programme "In our time" Appearance on BBC One Countryfile Regular visits to local schools Public lectures at Science Centres and Science Festivals Events for International Year of Astronomy 2009 Lectures to amateur astronomical societies Meet the Scientist @ Glasgow Science Centre Science @ the Scottish Parliament Astronomy's New Messengers Icarus at the Edge of Time CPD Training for schoolteachers ScienceFace Scottish Science Advisory Council Technology Development Hydroxy-catalysis bonding for technology applications Hydroxy-catalysis bonding for research Fused silica suspension fibres for application in technology Fused silica suspension fibres for gravitational wave detectors Bayesian Techniques in precision optical sensing Bayesian Techniques in gravitational wave data analysis Amplitude or arbitrary phase sideband optical cavity probes Technology Development Diffractively coupled high finesse optical cavities Silicon Carbide bonding Berlin 2009 GWADW 2009 Amaldi 2009 RAS NAM 2009 GWADW 2009 RAS NAM 2008 Texas 2008 Moscow 2008 Schuster Colloquium Elizabeth Spreadbury Lecture RSE Gunning Victoria Jubilee Prize Lectureship Wolfson Research Merit Award Tannahill Lecture and Medal Fellow ISGRGI FRSE (1) FInstP (1) FRAS (1) FRSE (2) Max-Planck-Society FRAS (2) History and Development of Knowledge IOP Nuclear and Particle Physics Divisional Conference Advanced Detector Workshop Kyoto LISA Symposium Stanford Optical Fibre Sensors Edinburgh Advanced Detector Workshop Florida Gravitational Wave Bursts meeting Mexico ILIAS Dresden IoP NPPD conference Glasgow 12th Marcel Grossman meeting Paris Lomonosov conference Moscow Advanced Detector Workshop Florida GR19 Meeting Mexico LISA International Symposium Stanford OECD Global Science Forum India IAU Rio de Janeiro Amaldi NY Fujihara Seminar Tokyo OECD Global Science Forum Cracow NEB X111 Thessaloniki New Worlds Portugal PASCOS 07 London LEOS Montreal XX1X Spanish Relativity Meeting Mallorca Rencontres de Moriond Italy Texas Symposium Heidelberg Aspera Workshop Paris IoP HEPP and AP Annual Meeting Frontiers in Optics, OSA, San Jose Amaldi NY Fujiwara Foundation Seminar Japan Advanced Detector Workshop Florida IoP Astroparticle meeting Oxford Cosmo 07 Sussex Aspera Workshop Paris Workshop on Charging Issues MIT IoP NPPD Annual conference Surrey RAS ordinary meeting London ILIAS Italy IAU General Assembly Prague NPPD Conference Glasgow Statistical Challenges Penn State Amaldi student talk Visiting Professorship Jena STFC Particle Astrophysics Advisory panel Physical and Engineering Committee of ESF SSAC Chair GWIC Chair STFC Panels Royal Society Research Grants Panel Aspera/ApPEC Science Advisory Committee Trustee RSE RSE Fellowship Committee IoP Awards Committee Chair LIGO Election & Membership GWIC Deputy Chair PPAN RSE Grants Committee RSE Sectional Committee Stanford-Scotland Photonics GEO Executive Committee FP7 ET Design Study Member STFC Science Committee PPAN GWIC Roadmap committee STFC Oversight Committee Zeplin III Aspera/ApPEC Peer Review Committee Governing Council FP6 ILIAS Aspera/ApPEC Roadmap Committee Advanced Detector committee LSC Publication Policy committee LSC LSC CW Group co-Chair reelected SUPA Astro theme leader LSC CW Group co-chair LSC Detection Committee LSC Data Analysis Council FRSE Aspen Center for Physics 2008 Aspen Center for Physics 2011 Advanced Detectors Workshop Kyoto Cosmic Co-Motion Queensland SAMSI North Carolina Center for Astrostatistics Penn State RAS NAM Llandudno Cosmology and Machine Learning UCL ILIAS Dresden PF PhD FB PhD KC Ugrad LO Ugrad RD Ugrad LM Ugrad LMac Ugrad AB Ugrad EWB Ugrad DF PhD ST Staff BL Staff HW PhD KB RA SF Staff KS staff LSF staff ZP Ugrad DH PhD RU Ugrad NH Ugrad MC Ugrad SL Ugrad NG Ugrad CS PhD OB PhD OB PhD MB PhD EJ Ugrad RM Ugrad RW Ugrad SJ Ugrad SL Ugrad BL Staff BG Ugrad AP PhD PS staff VM staff LG Staff CC PhD SZ Ugrad NM PhD MJ staff AG PhD FGC PhD |
| Description | SUPA |
| Organisation | The Scottish Universities Physics Alliance (SUPA) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have contributed research outcomes, such as hyrdroxy-catalysis bonding. Another major area of contribution has been through lecture courses and workshops arranged through the SUPA Graduate School, and by arranging seminars by prestigious international visitors, and broadcasting them to all partners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Adopting a coherent approach to staffing strategy, research training, research initiatives and funding opportunities, SUPA™ pools and enhances Scotland's strongest physics research areas and will develop as a world leader in physics, creating the largest group of physics researchers in the UK. It is also intended as a single "front door" for potential staff, sponsors, and industrial collaborators. Major research themes being pursued are physics and life sciences, energy, astronomy, condensed matter and materials physics, nuclear and plasma physics, particle physics and photonics. The alliance brings together internationally leading physics research across Scotland to form the largest physics grouping in the UK. Enhanced links with the Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh, have provided access to equipment and expertise, and continue to provide opportunities for extending research horizons, e.g. through the application of techniques we have developed for core research to other areas of astronomy. |
| Impact | Philip Leverhulme Prize Research Merit Award SUPA Studentship MP FS AH MB SR Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2008 Appearance on Radio 4 programme "In our time" Appearance on BBC One Countryfile Regular visits to local schools Public lectures at Science Centres and Science Festivals Events for International Year of Astronomy 2009 Lectures to amateur astronomical societies Meet the Scientist @ Glasgow Science Centre Science @ the Scottish Parliament Astronomy's New Messengers Icarus at the Edge of Time CPD Training for schoolteachers ScienceFace Scottish Science Advisory Council Technology Development Hydroxy-catalysis bonding for technology applications Hydroxy-catalysis bonding for research Fused silica suspension fibres for application in technology Fused silica suspension fibres for gravitational wave detectors Berlin 2009 GWADW 2009 Amaldi 2009 RAS NAM 2009 GWADW 2009 RAS NAM 2008 Texas 2008 Moscow 2008 Schuster Colloquium Elizabeth Spreadbury Lecture RSE Gunning Victoria Jubilee Prize Lectureship Wolfson Research Merit Award Tannahill Lecture and Medal LISA International Symposium Stanford OECD Global Science Forum India New Worlds Portugal PASCOS 07 London LEOS Montreal Rencontres de Moriond Italy Frontiers in Optics, OSA, San Jose Visiting Professorship Jena STFC Particle Astrophysics Advisory panel Physical and Engineering Committee of ESF SSAC Chair GWIC Chair STFC Panels Royal Society Research Grants Panel Trustee RSE RSE Fellowship Committee IoP Awards Committee Deputy Chair PPAN RSE Grants Committee RSE Sectional Committee Stanford-Scotland Photonics Member STFC Science Committee PPAN SUPA Astro theme leader PF PhD FB PhD KC Ugrad LO Ugrad RD Ugrad LM Ugrad LMac Ugrad AB Ugrad EWB Ugrad DF PhD ST Staff BL Staff HW PhD KB RA SF Staff KS staff LSF staff ZP Ugrad DH PhD RU Ugrad NH Ugrad MC Ugrad SL Ugrad NG Ugrad CS PhD OB PhD OB PhD MB PhD EJ Ugrad RM Ugrad RW Ugrad SJ Ugrad SL Ugrad |
| Title | Silicon Carbide bonding |
| Description | Room temperature technique for mechanically robust method of jointing silicon carbide |
| IP Reference | US20070221326 |
| Protection | Patent granted |
| Year Protection Granted | 2007 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | Small contract work with US company |
| Title | Amplitude or arbitrary phase sideband optical cavity probes |
| Description | We have extended the standard technique used to probe the optical cavities of gravitational wave detectors to determine the state of resonance of the ingoing light (and hence sense parameters such as the length) by generalising them. The standard technique involves applying phase modulation sidebands, and we have extended this to include either amplitude or arbitrary phase sidebands. The effect of this is to allow us to probe internal degrees of freedom of multi-cavity systems, and to maximise the separation of signals in the process of reading out coupled degrees of freedom, as is needed for reliable control. Optics, active and adaptive optics, mirrors, aspherics, interferometers, photonics |
| Type Of Technology | Systems, Materials & Instrumental Engineering |
| Year Produced | 2010 |
| Impact | To reduce the limitation set by counting a finite number of photons in the detection process, gravitational wave detectors are employing ever higher light power, and hence storing more photons in the detector at a given instant. The resulting light beams |
| Title | Fused silica suspension fibres for application in technology |
| Description | Precision laser-drawn fibres of ultra-high purity fused silica. Laser melting of the stock ensures high purity, pre-treatment achieves low density of surface defects and hence high strength, and precision drawing, under computer control leads to a highly reproducible profile (i.e. the diameter along the length of the fibre) and length. The particular pulling technique ensures good roundness of the fibres. Optics, active and adaptive optics, mirrors, aspherics, interferometers, photonics |
| Type Of Technology | Systems, Materials & Instrumental Engineering |
| Year Produced | 2010 |
| Impact | There is a commercial application in the area of Geophysics instrumentation currently under development, (commercially sensitive and covered by a non-disclosure agreement). |
| Title | Fused silica suspension fibres for gravitational wave detectors |
| Description | Precision laser-drawn fibres of ultra-high purity fused silica. Laser melting of the stock ensures high purity, pre-treatment achieves low density of surface defects and hence high strength, and precision drawing, under computer control leads to a highly reproducible profile (i.e. the diameter along the length of the fibre) and length. The particular pulling technique ensures good roundness of the fibres. Optics, active and adaptive optics, mirrors, aspherics, interferometers, photonics |
| Type Of Technology | Systems, Materials & Instrumental Engineering |
| Year Produced | 2010 |
| Impact | Within the field of gravitational wave research the fibres produced by the method we developed have been selected for inclusion in the next generation of instruments in Europe and the USA. This represents a major advance and an acceleration of progress i |
| Title | Hydroxy-catalysis bonding for research |
| Description | Many glasses, oxides and also silicon carbide, where the surfaces are polished flat and correctly prepared, can be bonded using the action of OH ions in dilute solution. The bonds produced are very thin (of order 100 nm or less) and have good optical quality. We employ this technique in the construction of ultra-low mechanical loss test masses for gravitational wave detectors and for the fabrication of extremely stable optical assemblies for space-borne gravitational wave detectors and other applications. Optics, active and adaptive optics, mirrors, aspherics, interferometers, photonics |
| Type Of Technology | Systems, Materials & Instrumental Engineering |
| Year Produced | 2010 |
| Impact | This technology development has dramatically extended our research by enabling us to develop suspension systems for Advanced LIGO. Hydroxy-catalysis bonding uniquely provides the high strength and thin bonds, hence low mechanical dissipation necessary to |
| Title | Hydroxy-catalysis bonding for technology applications |
| Description | Many glasses, oxides and also silicon carbide, where the surfaces are polished flat and correctly prepared, can be bonded using the action of OH ions in dilute solution. The bonds produced are very thin (of order 100 nm or less) and have good optical quality. We employ this technique in the construction of ultra-low mechanical loss test masses for gravitational wave detectors and for the fabrication of extremely stable optical assemblies for space-borne gravitational wave detectors and other applications. Optics, active and adaptive optics, mirrors, aspherics, interferometers, photonics |
| Type Of Technology | Systems, Materials & Instrumental Engineering |
| Year Produced | 2010 |
| Impact | There have been several applications of hydroxy-catalysis bonding in areas beyond our core research. Developments in this technology have extended its application to the bonding of silicon carbide (Glasgow patent) with applications for space missions (e |
| Title | Violin-Mode sensor |
| Description | Differential picometre-level displacement detector, using a near-infrared illuminating beam and a differential photodiode-based shadow sensor. UV/Visible/IR detectors |
| Type Of Technology | Detection Devices |
| Year Produced | 2011 |
| Impact | In terms of displacement sensitivity this technology has improved on that of earlier 'shadow' sensors by a factor of circa 1000. |
| Description | Appearance on BBC One Countryfile |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Filming of a short feature on the famous Schiehallion experiment to "weigh the Earth" carried out by Neville Maskelyne in the 1700s. Filming was carried out on the mountain Schiehallion in the summer of 2010 and featured IGR staff explaining the scientific importance of this experiment and how it was done BBC Countryfile regularly attracts audience figures of more than 6 million. Feedback on the Schiehallion feature from the BBC production staff was highly positive. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | Appearance on Radio 4 programme "In our time" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Participation by Prof Sheila Rowan in "In Our Time" panel discussion on gravity, featuring a discussion on gravitational waves and the prospects for their detection "In our time" is widely recognised as a highly influential programme, helping to shape the views and opinions of policy makers and political leaders. It regularly attracts audience figures in excess of 1.5 million and has been quoted as having "transformed the landscape for serious ideas at peak listening time" [The Times, April 14 2010]. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007 |
| Description | Astronomy's New Messengers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Type Of Presentation | Poster Presentation |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The IGR was invited to be co-PI on a 1M USD proposal to the National Science Foundation to design and build a US-based traveling exhibit "Astronomy's New Messengers", on Gravitational Wave Astronomy. The exhibition was featured to great acclaim at the 2009 and 2010 World Science Festival and the inaugural USA National Science Expo, and has been touring the US since June 2009 where it has been seen by more than 150,000 people to date. The impact of the exhibition has been evaluated by the University of Mississippi which found that 85% of visitors indicated the exhibition had "increased their interest in the field of science. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010 |
| Description | CPD Training for schoolteachers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | The IGR has provided regular support for the Scottish Physics Teachers network coordinated by the Institute of Physics in Scotland. The IoP run regular Teachers CPD sessions, updating teachers on current developments in research. In 2008 and 2010 IGR staff contributed talks on gravitational wave physics and astronomy to these Teachers CPD sessions. The impact of our support for Teacher CPD is most clearly seen in recent curriculum developments in Scotland. The revised Higher and Advanced Higher physics syllabus, due for implementation from autumn 2011, contains substantial components on the themes of gravitational physics, cosmology and astrophysics. The IGR is directly represented on the design team shaping this new curriculum, working under the auspices of the Scottish Qualifications Authority. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008,2010 |
| Description | Events for International Year of Astronomy 2009 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Type Of Presentation | Poster Presentation |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | IGR staff contributed to several national and international events for IYA2009, showcasing gravitational wave science for schools and the general public. Specific examples include: (1) participation in the "100 hours of astronomy" Global IYA2009 Cornerstone project, April 2009, through the production of a short video film on GW astronomy that was shown during a live web link-up with all six ground-based interferometer sites. (2) coordination of the UK Gravitational Wave community's contribution to the STFC-supported "Cosmos and Culture" exhibition at the Science Museum in London. The Gravitational wave film for the 100 Hours of astronomy project was highly commended by the project coordinators. Our gravitational wave contribution to the Cosmos and Culture Exhibition has also been highly praised by the curators. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| Description | Icarus at the Edge of Time |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Poster Presentation |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | In October 2010 the IGR participated in a science exhibition at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, linked to a performance of "Icarus at the Edge of Time" - an orchestral score, written by Philip Glass, to accompany the film version of the Brian Greene children's story, updating the Icarus myth in which Icarus falls into a black hole. This project was undertaken jointly with Glasgow Science Centre and featured our "Can you hear black holes?" exhibit. Questionnaire feedback coordinated by Glasgow Science Centre for this event was uniformly positive. Glasgow Royal Concert Hall have expressed their willingness to work with us on similar art-science collaborations in the future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | Lectures to amateur astronomical societies |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | IGR staff regularly give invited talks on gravitational wave science to amateur astronomy societies throughout the country, usually at the level of about 4 talks per year. Recent examples include talks given to: Astronomical Society of Glasgow; Renfrewshire Astronomical Society; Stirlingshire Astronomical Society; Aberdeen Astronomical Society; Highlands Astronomical Society; Astronomical Society of Edinburgh; Helensburgh Astronomical Society; Clydesdale Astronomical Society. www.scottishsolarsystem.org.uk |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013 |
| Description | MartinH "Powers of 60" Multi-messenger Astronomy Exhibition |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Poster Presentation |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | http://www.tinyurl.com/powersof60/ Exhibition seen by more than 6000 people to date. Online legacy version will be maintained on behalf of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration Education and Public Outreach Group. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH 2020 Vision: the Future of Astronomical Observations |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk for IoP "Science in the quad" event at Robert Gordon's College, part of British Science Festival, Aberdeen, September 2012. Lecture attended by approx. 30 participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH 2020 Vision: the Future of Astronomical Observations (2) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited keynote lecture for Association for Science Education Scotland annual conference, Crieff Hydro Hotel, March 2013. Lecture attended by approx. 80 participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | MartinH Advanced Higher Stellar Astrophysics |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | CPD Teachers' workshop on stellar astrophysics for early adopters of Revised syllabus Advanced Higher Physics in the Curriculum for Excellence. Workshop attended by 12 teachers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH BBC Stargazing Live in Scotland (1) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited appearance on BBC Radio Scotland "Good Morning Scotland", to discuss BBC Stargazing Live 2013 events in Scotland. Widespread coverage of interview on twitter and facebook, and BBC website. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | MartinH Big Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited workshop on science in large collaborations, for University of Glasgow Open Access Programme on "Highlights of Astronomy", February 2012. Lecture attended by approx. 25 students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH British Science Association |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | Appointed 2012 Chair of Physics and Astronomy section of the British Science Association. Ex officio, organisation of a public outreach session on "The Extreme Universe" for 2012 British Science Festival in Aberdeen. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH British Science Association - West Scotland Branch |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Elected chair of the British Science Association West Scotland branch. Organisation of science outreach events across Glasgow and throughout the region. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013 |
| URL | http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/scotland/west-scotland-branch |
| Description | MartinH Captain Cook and the Cosmic Yardstick (1) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk to Dumfries Astronomical Society, January 2012, describing the history of the Transit of Venus and its use in determining the cosmic distance scale. Lecture attended by approx. 25 participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH Captain Cook and the Cosmic Yardstick (3) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk at Royal Observatory Greenwich, April 2012, describing the history of the Transit of Venus and its use in determining the cosmic distance scale. Lecture attended by approx. 30 participants. Subsequent invitations to various UK astronomical societies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH Einstein's Cosmic Messengers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited lecture on "Gravitational Wave Astronomy: Opening a New Window on the Universe", to accompany European premiere of "Einstein's Cosmic Messengers" - multimedia concert by composer and percussionist Andrea Centazzo, University of Glasgow, October 2012. Extensive coverage of lecture on twitter and facebook. Lecture and concert attended by approx. 160 participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH Exploring the Dark Side of the Universe (1) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Invited lecture to Science Club, Wellington Academy, Ayr, February 2012. Lecture attended by approx. 35 staff and students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH Exploring the Dark Side of the Universe (10) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited lecture on cosmology and gravitational astrophysics, for the Ayrshire Astronomical Association, Ayr Academy, November 2012. Lecture delivered to approx. 40 participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH Exploring the Dark Side of the Universe (11) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited lecture on cosmology and gravitational astrophysics, for the Airdrie Astronomical Association, Airdrie Library, February 2013. Lecture delivered to approx. 40 participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH Exploring the Dark Side of the Universe (12) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Invited lecture on cosmology and gravitational astrophysics, for Wallace High School, Stirling, organised as part of the Royal Society of Edinburgh schools outreach programme, February 2013. Lecture delivered to approx. 100 students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | MartinH Exploring the Dark Side of the Universe (13) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Invited lecture on cosmology and gravitational astrophysics, for Allan's Primary School, Stirling, organised as part of the Royal Society of Edinburgh schools outreach programme, February 2013. Lecture delivered to approx. 25 students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | MartinH Exploring the Dark Side of the Universe (2) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Invited lectures for St Andrews and St Brides High School, East Kilbride, as part of Primary 7 transition project, February 2012. Lecture attended by approx. 80 students and their parents. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH Exploring the Dark Side of the Universe (3) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Series of 27 Schools and public lectures on gravitational astrophysics and cosmology, across 9 Scottish Hebridean islands in 9 days for UK National Science and Engineering Week, March 2012. Lectures delivered to approx. 1600 people. Coverage in local and national press. Blog highlighted by British Science Association and by Royal Society of Edinburgh as part of their outreach programme. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH Exploring the Dark Side of the Universe (5) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk for Orkney International Science Festival, Kirkwall, September 2012. Lecture attended by approx. 100 participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH Exploring the Dark Side of the Universe (6) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Schools talk for Orkney International Science Festival, Kirkwall Grammar School, September 2012. Lectures attended by approx. 120 students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH Exploring the Dark Side of the Universe (7) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | Invited CPD session for secondary school teachers, organised in collaboration with IoP Scotland, Edinburgh, Nov 2012. Session attended by approx. 80 teachers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH Exploring the Dark Side of the Universe (8) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Invited lecture on cosmology and gravitational astrophysics, at Ardnamurchan High School, Strontian, for Royal Society of Edinburgh "Lochaber" outreach project, November 2012. Lectures delivered to approx. 60 students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH Exploring the Dark Side of the Universe (9) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited public lecture on cosmology and gravitational astrophysics, in Kilchoan Ardnamurchan, for Royal Society of Edinburgh "Lochaber" outreach project, November 2012. Lecture delivered to approx. 30 participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH Gravitational Waves: Opening a New Window on the Universe |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Invited lecture on cosmology and gravitational astrophysics, at George Watson's School, Edinburgh, November 2012. Lecture delivered to approx. 40 students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH Gravitational Waves: Opening a New Window on the Universe (2) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited lecture on cosmology and gravitational astrophysics, for the Kilmarnock Engineering and Science Society, Kilmarnock College, November 2012. Lecture delivered to approx. 50 participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH LIGO Scientific Collaboration Education and Public Outreach Working Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Coordination of LSC public outreach activities, including maintenance of LIGO social media output, production of public science summaries of LSC publications, participation in national and international science festivals and science fairs and production of multimedia and other outreach resources for use by members of the collaboration. Ongoing. See other entries |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013 |
| Description | MartinH The Future of Science in Society |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | European Science Foundation workshops, on the Future of Science in Society, held at the University of Vienna, February 2012 and June 2012. Participation was to represent Physical Sciences standing committee of the ESF. Formal ESF report produced with detailed recommendations from the workshops. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH The Physics of Star Wars |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited lecture (featuring black holes and gravitational-wave astronomy) for Institute of Physics "Festival of Science", organised in Bristol by IoP South-West branch, March 2012. Lecture attended by approx. 300 participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH The Physics of Star Wars (2) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited lecture (featuring black holes and gravitational-wave astronomy) for Institute of Physics North-West branch, Whitehaven, May 2012. Lecture attended by approx. 75 participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH The Physics of Star Wars (3) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | Invited lecture (featuring black holes and gravitational-wave astronomy) for STFC graduate training programme, Cosener's House, Abingdon, October 2012. Lecture attended by approx. 40 participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | MartinH The Physics of Star Wars (4) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Invited lecture (featuring black holes and gravitational-wave astronomy) for Ampleforth College, Yorkshire, March 2013. Lecture attended by approx. 30 participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | MartinH The Science of Star Wars |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited lecture (featuring black holes and gravitational-wave astronomy) at Gray Fossil Museum, East Tennessee State University, May 4th (Star Wars Day) 2012. Lecture attended by approx. 50 participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Meet the Scientist @ Glasgow Science Centre |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | IGR staff have contributed to the Glasgow Science Centre Festival of Science, in which local scientists engage with visitors to discuss and describe their research. In 2009 and 2010 IGR staff displayed our "Can you hear black holes?" exhibit, originally built for the 2008 Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition. Questionnaire feedback coordinated by Glasgow Science Centre has been uniformly positive. Our high visibility at the Glasgow Science Centre Festival of Science has likely contributed to the more than 50% increase in the size of our Level 1 undergraduate classes since 2006. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010 |
| Description | Public lectures at Science Centres and Science Festivals |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | IGR staff regularly give invited talks on gravitational wave science at science centres and science festivals throughout the UK and beyond, usually at the level of 3 or 4 talks per year. Recent examples include: the Orkney Science Festival, National Science Week Ireland, Techfest (Asia's largest science and technology fair); Gravity Discovery Centre, Perth WA; Starfest, Bayes Mountain Observatory, USA. Wherever it is possible and practical to do so IGR staff have gathered informal and formal (via questionnaires) feedback on public lectures. In particular our events organised at or in partnership with Glasgow Science Centre have received excellent feedback. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010 |
| Description | Regular visits to local schools |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | IGR make regular visits to give talks and lead workshops in local high schools. These visits are made by staff at all levels but particularly by postgraduate students and early-career postdocs. Many of these visits are supported and coordinated by Science Connects (formerly SETPOINT) and are thus linked to the STEM Ambassador scheme. Informal feedback from schools to our STEM Ambassadors and other visitors is highly positive. Over the past 5 years the size of our Level 1 undergraduate classes in Physics and Astronomy has increased by more than 50%. Our schools outreach activities are among the factors that have brought about this increase. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010 |
| Description | Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2008 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The exhibition was attended by more than 4000 visitors. It also attracted substantial media publicity (in New Scientist and several online blogs) Analysis of the exhibit questionnaire responses indicated that 62% of visitors said after visiting the Exhibition they were more interested in a career in science and 68% were more interested in science in general The success of our Royal Society Exhibit resulted in the IGR being invited as co-PI on a 1M USD proposal to the National Science Foundation to design and build a US-based travelling exhibit on Gravitational Wave Astronomy. This exhibit was featured at the World Science Festival in 2009 and 2010, and at the inaugural USA Science and Engineering Expo, Washington DC, Oct 2010 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008 |
| Description | Science @ the Scottish Parliament |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Poster Presentation |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | In June 2010 IGR staff displayed our "Can you hear black holes?" exhibit, originally built for the 2008 Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, at the Scottish Parliament Building in Edinburgh, as part of the annual Science showcase event. Our presence at Scottish Parliament science showcase events has helped to maintain the high profile of gravitational wave science in the national media and in the Scottish and UK political landscape. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | ScienceFace |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Poster Presentation |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The ScienceFace project, led by Milde Marketing and the Albert Einstein Institute in Germany, aims to make a series of short films on cutting-edge research topics in physics and astronomy. In autumn 2010 a new series of films on gravitational waves was begun and the first interview, exploring the technologies behind current and future gravitational wave interferometers, was carried out with IGR staff in Glasgow. The impact of the ScienceFace film series on gravitational waves is likely to be high, given that the first direct detections of GW sources are expected within about 5 years. The prominent role of IGR scientists in this series will further increase our international outreach profile and reach in this field. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |