Investigations in Gravitational Radiation

Lead Research Organisation: University of Glasgow
Department Name: College of Science and Engineering

Abstract

Einstein's General Theory of Relativity (GR) predicts that dynamical systems in strong gravitational fields will release vast amounts of energy in the form of gravitational radiation. Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of spacetime and travel from their sources at the speed of light, carrying information about physical processes responsible for their emission, obtainable in no other way. They are among the most elusive signals from the deepest reaches in the Universe. Experiments aimed at detecting them have been in development for several decades, but only now are sensitivities reaching levels where real detection is possible within a few years. The worldwide network of interferometric detectors includes the German-UK GEO600, the French-Italian Virgo and the American Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). These detectors have all reached sensitivities close to their design goals and have taken the most sensitive data to date. Cooperation amongst different projects enables continuous data acquisition, with sensitivity to a wide range of sources and phenomena, over most of the sky. Data from GEO, LIGO and Virgo, has already begun to impact our understanding of astronomical phenomena. For example, the most recent observations with these detectors have (a) shown that less than 2% of the Crab pulsar's radiated power is in gravitational waves, (b) ruled out merging binary neutron stars as the progenitor of GRB 070201 (if it occurred in M31) and (c) set a new best upper limit on the strength of the stochastic gravitational-wave background. While the present phase of observations (circa 2010-2011) have a real chance of producing the first detections - possibly from compact binary coalescences, there can be no guarantees. However there is great confidence that the advanced detectors will routinely observe gravitational waves. The Cardiff and Glasgow groups have initiated and led searches for astronomical sources, thanks to the algorithmic and analysis effort that has been supported since the first data taking runs began eight years ago. We propose a programme of continued improvement to GEO600 and to be involved in the characterization and analysis of the resulting data from GEO and the worldwide network of interferometers. In particular we will be carrying out searches for * coalescing binary neutron stars, neutron star-black hole binaries, and black hole binaries * bursts of gravitational waves that may originate from supernovae, and * continuous signals from pulsars and other rotating neutron stars. In parallel, we are proposing research and development on the detector front. Detector sensitivity is mainly limited by thermal noise associated with the substrates of the mirrors, their reflective coatings, and their suspension elements, as well as by noise resulting from the quantum nature of the light used to provide illumination. Thus our research is targeted towards making innovative improvements in these areas. In particular we are taking leading roles in the upgrading of GEO and LIGO in the areas of silica suspensions, optics and interferometry, and for enhancements to the Advanced LIGO program and future interferometers in the areas of dielectric and waveguide mirror coatings, silicon substrates and cryogenic suspensions. In summary, the goal of the Glasgow, Cardiff and Strathclyde groups is to lead the first direct detection of gravitational waves using detectors based on their innovative developments. Once this milestone is achieved, routine observations will help us use this radiation as an observational and theoretical tool to understand * cores of supernovae and neutron stars, * gamma-ray burst engines, * the interactions of black holes and neutron stars, etc. In particular, coalescing compact binaries are self-calibrating standard candles, or sirens, which will be a new precision tool for cosmology and will enable strong field tests of general relativity.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description We performed deep searches for gravitational waves from binary neutron stars and black holes, rapidly spinning neutron stars, gamma-ray bursts and supernovae, in data from the worldwide network of LIGO, GEO 600 and Virgo gravitational wave detectors;

- This included: performing the first search associated with pulsar glitches, and setting an upper limit on GW energy; searching for signals from 155 Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) reported during the S6, VSR2/3 runs, and setting population-based limits on GWs from associated GRBs; Producing results for searches targeting the Vela pulsar; developing an analysis for transient continuous waves through pulsar r-mode emission. These are examples only of the considerable achievements in GW data analysis.

We advanced our fundamental research on suspension systems/materials and dielectric coatings relevant to the Advanced LIGO and Virgo detectors and their enhancements and strategically critical for any future generation of detectors;

- This included: provision of full support for two monolithic suspension installations at LIGO Livingston site and support for installations at the Hanford site; demonstration of the use of an AC discharge technique to mitigate charge applied to dielectric samples; Studies of the mechanical losses associated with non-oxide amorphous materials for use in dielectric coatings. Identifying promising new materials ; measurements of the loss of silicon cantilevers with micro-structured surfaces showing micro-structuring improved the loss of the surface; advances in the development of techniques for jointing surfaces with high strength and vacuum compatibilitiy

Our research enabled experimental demonstration of advanced interferometry techniques, topologies and the use of non-classical light for upgrading Advanced LIGO and for application to future generations of gravitational wave detectors;

- This included demonstration of interferometry with waveguide coatings; tests of the use of non-Gaussian (LG33) beams in a suspended 10m cavity. Demonstration of optical springs in a coupled 3-mirror cavity using a 100g mirror
Exploitation Route Our findings are taken forward by (a) in-field academic routes to operate efficiently current GW detectors and to influence the design and construction of future detectors (b) by influencing academics in related fields in precision measurement where our technologies can improve measurement capabilities (c) in spinoffs such as using data analysis techniques to improve commercial products in the field of image analysis (healthcare, defense); using bonding techniques to allow industrial fabrication of high power compound optics; using silicon-based mems for precision gravity imaging (with security and energy applications) amongst other routes.
Sectors Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Energy,Environment,Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology,Security and Diplomacy,Other

 
Description Transfer of oxide bonding technology to Gooch and Housego through a KTP award Collaborative development of gravity gradiometers for the oil industry with Micro-G
First Year Of Impact 2012
Sector Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Energy,Security and Diplomacy
Impact Types 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 Automated Image Quality Assurance for Ophthalmoscopes
Amount £16,721 (GBP)
Funding ID S3C-007-July-2013 
Organisation Government of Scotland 
Department Scottish Funding Council
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2013 
End 01/2014
 
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 ET R&D
Amount £38,030 (GBP)
Funding ID ST/L000806/1 
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2013 
End 03/2016
 
Description GraWIToN International Training Network
Amount £230,127 (GBP)
Funding ID EC (606176) 
Organisation European Commission 
Sector Public
Country European Union (EU)
Start 02/2014 
End 01/2018
 
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 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 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 £30,358 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2009 
End 08/2012
 
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 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 Royal Society Research Grant
Amount £73,556 (GBP)
Funding ID RG120367 
Organisation The Royal Society 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2013 
End 02/2016
 
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 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 University of Glasgow Leadership Fellowship
Amount £124,500 (GBP)
Funding ID 30601180 
Organisation University of Glasgow 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2014 
End 01/2017
 
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 ELITES collaboration 
Organisation Friedrich Schiller University Jena (FSU)
Country Germany 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have contributed designs and expertise in low loss optics and materials at cryogenic temperatures. Several visits of PDRAs and students to Japan have taken place for characterising silica tantala coatings on sapphire discs as well as sapphire fibres used for suspension systems.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration has two main goals: 1) Exchange of knowledge between the European labs designing the cryogenic apparatuses, plants and detector components for the Einstein Telescope (ET) and the corresponding labs in Japan, engaged in the Kagra project; 2) Train early stage researchers, both on the European and the Japanese side, in this specific field, developing a new generation of young scientists that will have an important role in the realization and handling of both Kagra and ET. Kagra will be the first large-scale gravitational wave detector using cryogenic optics. This collaboration allows us to contribute to this exciting endeavour, while at the same time obtaining practical experience with cryogenic systems similar to what will be required for future European interferometers such as ET.
Impact ELiTES-ET-LCGT Telescopes: Exchange of Scientists award granted from the EU - research activities ongoing (first annual meeting held, exchanges underway)
Start Year 2012
 
Description ELITES collaboration 
Organisation Max Planck Society
Department Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics
Country Germany 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have contributed designs and expertise in low loss optics and materials at cryogenic temperatures. Several visits of PDRAs and students to Japan have taken place for characterising silica tantala coatings on sapphire discs as well as sapphire fibres used for suspension systems.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration has two main goals: 1) Exchange of knowledge between the European labs designing the cryogenic apparatuses, plants and detector components for the Einstein Telescope (ET) and the corresponding labs in Japan, engaged in the Kagra project; 2) Train early stage researchers, both on the European and the Japanese side, in this specific field, developing a new generation of young scientists that will have an important role in the realization and handling of both Kagra and ET. Kagra will be the first large-scale gravitational wave detector using cryogenic optics. This collaboration allows us to contribute to this exciting endeavour, while at the same time obtaining practical experience with cryogenic systems similar to what will be required for future European interferometers such as ET.
Impact ELiTES-ET-LCGT Telescopes: Exchange of Scientists award granted from the EU - research activities ongoing (first annual meeting held, exchanges underway)
Start Year 2012
 
Description ELITES collaboration 
Organisation Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO)
Department Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter
Country Netherlands 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution We have contributed designs and expertise in low loss optics and materials at cryogenic temperatures. Several visits of PDRAs and students to Japan have taken place for characterising silica tantala coatings on sapphire discs as well as sapphire fibres used for suspension systems.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration has two main goals: 1) Exchange of knowledge between the European labs designing the cryogenic apparatuses, plants and detector components for the Einstein Telescope (ET) and the corresponding labs in Japan, engaged in the Kagra project; 2) Train early stage researchers, both on the European and the Japanese side, in this specific field, developing a new generation of young scientists that will have an important role in the realization and handling of both Kagra and ET. Kagra will be the first large-scale gravitational wave detector using cryogenic optics. This collaboration allows us to contribute to this exciting endeavour, while at the same time obtaining practical experience with cryogenic systems similar to what will be required for future European interferometers such as ET.
Impact ELiTES-ET-LCGT Telescopes: Exchange of Scientists award granted from the EU - research activities ongoing (first annual meeting held, exchanges underway)
Start Year 2012
 
Description ELITES collaboration 
Organisation Sapienza University of Rome
Country Italy 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have contributed designs and expertise in low loss optics and materials at cryogenic temperatures. Several visits of PDRAs and students to Japan have taken place for characterising silica tantala coatings on sapphire discs as well as sapphire fibres used for suspension systems.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration has two main goals: 1) Exchange of knowledge between the European labs designing the cryogenic apparatuses, plants and detector components for the Einstein Telescope (ET) and the corresponding labs in Japan, engaged in the Kagra project; 2) Train early stage researchers, both on the European and the Japanese side, in this specific field, developing a new generation of young scientists that will have an important role in the realization and handling of both Kagra and ET. Kagra will be the first large-scale gravitational wave detector using cryogenic optics. This collaboration allows us to contribute to this exciting endeavour, while at the same time obtaining practical experience with cryogenic systems similar to what will be required for future European interferometers such as ET.
Impact ELiTES-ET-LCGT Telescopes: Exchange of Scientists award granted from the EU - research activities ongoing (first annual meeting held, exchanges underway)
Start Year 2012
 
Description ELITES collaboration 
Organisation Tokyo University of Science
Department Institute for Cosmic Rays Research
Country Japan 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have contributed designs and expertise in low loss optics and materials at cryogenic temperatures. Several visits of PDRAs and students to Japan have taken place for characterising silica tantala coatings on sapphire discs as well as sapphire fibres used for suspension systems.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration has two main goals: 1) Exchange of knowledge between the European labs designing the cryogenic apparatuses, plants and detector components for the Einstein Telescope (ET) and the corresponding labs in Japan, engaged in the Kagra project; 2) Train early stage researchers, both on the European and the Japanese side, in this specific field, developing a new generation of young scientists that will have an important role in the realization and handling of both Kagra and ET. Kagra will be the first large-scale gravitational wave detector using cryogenic optics. This collaboration allows us to contribute to this exciting endeavour, while at the same time obtaining practical experience with cryogenic systems similar to what will be required for future European interferometers such as ET.
Impact ELiTES-ET-LCGT Telescopes: Exchange of Scientists award granted from the EU - research activities ongoing (first annual meeting held, exchanges underway)
Start Year 2012
 
Description ELITES collaboration 
Organisation University of Sannio
Country Italy 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have contributed designs and expertise in low loss optics and materials at cryogenic temperatures. Several visits of PDRAs and students to Japan have taken place for characterising silica tantala coatings on sapphire discs as well as sapphire fibres used for suspension systems.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration has two main goals: 1) Exchange of knowledge between the European labs designing the cryogenic apparatuses, plants and detector components for the Einstein Telescope (ET) and the corresponding labs in Japan, engaged in the Kagra project; 2) Train early stage researchers, both on the European and the Japanese side, in this specific field, developing a new generation of young scientists that will have an important role in the realization and handling of both Kagra and ET. Kagra will be the first large-scale gravitational wave detector using cryogenic optics. This collaboration allows us to contribute to this exciting endeavour, while at the same time obtaining practical experience with cryogenic systems similar to what will be required for future European interferometers such as ET.
Impact ELiTES-ET-LCGT Telescopes: Exchange of Scientists award granted from the EU - research activities ongoing (first annual meeting held, exchanges underway)
Start Year 2012
 
Description ELITES collaboration 
Organisation University of the West of Scotland
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have contributed designs and expertise in low loss optics and materials at cryogenic temperatures. Several visits of PDRAs and students to Japan have taken place for characterising silica tantala coatings on sapphire discs as well as sapphire fibres used for suspension systems.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration has two main goals: 1) Exchange of knowledge between the European labs designing the cryogenic apparatuses, plants and detector components for the Einstein Telescope (ET) and the corresponding labs in Japan, engaged in the Kagra project; 2) Train early stage researchers, both on the European and the Japanese side, in this specific field, developing a new generation of young scientists that will have an important role in the realization and handling of both Kagra and ET. Kagra will be the first large-scale gravitational wave detector using cryogenic optics. This collaboration allows us to contribute to this exciting endeavour, while at the same time obtaining practical experience with cryogenic systems similar to what will be required for future European interferometers such as ET.
Impact ELiTES-ET-LCGT Telescopes: Exchange of Scientists award granted from the EU - research activities ongoing (first annual meeting held, exchanges underway)
Start Year 2012
 
Description ELITES collaboration 
Organisation Virgo Ego Scientific Forum
Country Global 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have contributed designs and expertise in low loss optics and materials at cryogenic temperatures. Several visits of PDRAs and students to Japan have taken place for characterising silica tantala coatings on sapphire discs as well as sapphire fibres used for suspension systems.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration has two main goals: 1) Exchange of knowledge between the European labs designing the cryogenic apparatuses, plants and detector components for the Einstein Telescope (ET) and the corresponding labs in Japan, engaged in the Kagra project; 2) Train early stage researchers, both on the European and the Japanese side, in this specific field, developing a new generation of young scientists that will have an important role in the realization and handling of both Kagra and ET. Kagra will be the first large-scale gravitational wave detector using cryogenic optics. This collaboration allows us to contribute to this exciting endeavour, while at the same time obtaining practical experience with cryogenic systems similar to what will be required for future European interferometers such as ET.
Impact ELiTES-ET-LCGT Telescopes: Exchange of Scientists award granted from the EU - research activities ongoing (first annual meeting held, exchanges underway)
Start Year 2012
 
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 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 GraWIToN International Training Network 
Organisation Boostec
Country France 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We will contribute to this collaboration on two fronts: 1) We will host one early career researcher at the IGR and train him in cutting edge techniques relevant to building and characterising low thermal noise optical systems. 2) A second early career researcher supervised by our group will be based at a company (Gooch & Housego) and work on the development and commercialisation of bonding techniques for low loss monolithic assemblies. In addition we will contribute to the general training of all the early career researchers of this international training network.
Collaborator Contribution GraWIToN is an Initial Training Network, funded by European Commission under FP7-Marie Curie Actions for four years, since the 1st of February 2014. GraWIToN aims to train 13 young researchers (PhD students) in the gravitational wave (GW) search field. Our partners will contribute strongly to the training of the Glasgow based early career researchers (for instance via summer schools or industry collaborations).
Impact Too soon to tell.
Start Year 2014
 
Description GraWIToN International Training Network 
Organisation Gooch & Housego
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We will contribute to this collaboration on two fronts: 1) We will host one early career researcher at the IGR and train him in cutting edge techniques relevant to building and characterising low thermal noise optical systems. 2) A second early career researcher supervised by our group will be based at a company (Gooch & Housego) and work on the development and commercialisation of bonding techniques for low loss monolithic assemblies. In addition we will contribute to the general training of all the early career researchers of this international training network.
Collaborator Contribution GraWIToN is an Initial Training Network, funded by European Commission under FP7-Marie Curie Actions for four years, since the 1st of February 2014. GraWIToN aims to train 13 young researchers (PhD students) in the gravitational wave (GW) search field. Our partners will contribute strongly to the training of the Glasgow based early career researchers (for instance via summer schools or industry collaborations).
Impact Too soon to tell.
Start Year 2014
 
Description GraWIToN International Training Network 
Organisation Laser Center Hannover eV
Country Germany 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We will contribute to this collaboration on two fronts: 1) We will host one early career researcher at the IGR and train him in cutting edge techniques relevant to building and characterising low thermal noise optical systems. 2) A second early career researcher supervised by our group will be based at a company (Gooch & Housego) and work on the development and commercialisation of bonding techniques for low loss monolithic assemblies. In addition we will contribute to the general training of all the early career researchers of this international training network.
Collaborator Contribution GraWIToN is an Initial Training Network, funded by European Commission under FP7-Marie Curie Actions for four years, since the 1st of February 2014. GraWIToN aims to train 13 young researchers (PhD students) in the gravitational wave (GW) search field. Our partners will contribute strongly to the training of the Glasgow based early career researchers (for instance via summer schools or industry collaborations).
Impact Too soon to tell.
Start Year 2014
 
Description GraWIToN International Training Network 
Organisation Max Planck Society
Department Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics
Country Germany 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We will contribute to this collaboration on two fronts: 1) We will host one early career researcher at the IGR and train him in cutting edge techniques relevant to building and characterising low thermal noise optical systems. 2) A second early career researcher supervised by our group will be based at a company (Gooch & Housego) and work on the development and commercialisation of bonding techniques for low loss monolithic assemblies. In addition we will contribute to the general training of all the early career researchers of this international training network.
Collaborator Contribution GraWIToN is an Initial Training Network, funded by European Commission under FP7-Marie Curie Actions for four years, since the 1st of February 2014. GraWIToN aims to train 13 young researchers (PhD students) in the gravitational wave (GW) search field. Our partners will contribute strongly to the training of the Glasgow based early career researchers (for instance via summer schools or industry collaborations).
Impact Too soon to tell.
Start Year 2014
 
Description GraWIToN International Training Network 
Organisation National Institute for Nuclear Physics
Country Italy 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We will contribute to this collaboration on two fronts: 1) We will host one early career researcher at the IGR and train him in cutting edge techniques relevant to building and characterising low thermal noise optical systems. 2) A second early career researcher supervised by our group will be based at a company (Gooch & Housego) and work on the development and commercialisation of bonding techniques for low loss monolithic assemblies. In addition we will contribute to the general training of all the early career researchers of this international training network.
Collaborator Contribution GraWIToN is an Initial Training Network, funded by European Commission under FP7-Marie Curie Actions for four years, since the 1st of February 2014. GraWIToN aims to train 13 young researchers (PhD students) in the gravitational wave (GW) search field. Our partners will contribute strongly to the training of the Glasgow based early career researchers (for instance via summer schools or industry collaborations).
Impact Too soon to tell.
Start Year 2014
 
Description GraWIToN International Training Network 
Organisation University of Birmingham
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We will contribute to this collaboration on two fronts: 1) We will host one early career researcher at the IGR and train him in cutting edge techniques relevant to building and characterising low thermal noise optical systems. 2) A second early career researcher supervised by our group will be based at a company (Gooch & Housego) and work on the development and commercialisation of bonding techniques for low loss monolithic assemblies. In addition we will contribute to the general training of all the early career researchers of this international training network.
Collaborator Contribution GraWIToN is an Initial Training Network, funded by European Commission under FP7-Marie Curie Actions for four years, since the 1st of February 2014. GraWIToN aims to train 13 young researchers (PhD students) in the gravitational wave (GW) search field. Our partners will contribute strongly to the training of the Glasgow based early career researchers (for instance via summer schools or industry collaborations).
Impact Too soon to tell.
Start Year 2014
 
Description GraWIToN International Training Network 
Organisation University of Pisa
Country Italy 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We will contribute to this collaboration on two fronts: 1) We will host one early career researcher at the IGR and train him in cutting edge techniques relevant to building and characterising low thermal noise optical systems. 2) A second early career researcher supervised by our group will be based at a company (Gooch & Housego) and work on the development and commercialisation of bonding techniques for low loss monolithic assemblies. In addition we will contribute to the general training of all the early career researchers of this international training network.
Collaborator Contribution GraWIToN is an Initial Training Network, funded by European Commission under FP7-Marie Curie Actions for four years, since the 1st of February 2014. GraWIToN aims to train 13 young researchers (PhD students) in the gravitational wave (GW) search field. Our partners will contribute strongly to the training of the Glasgow based early career researchers (for instance via summer schools or industry collaborations).
Impact Too soon to tell.
Start Year 2014
 
Description GraWIToN International Training Network 
Organisation Virgo Ego Scientific Forum
Country Global 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We will contribute to this collaboration on two fronts: 1) We will host one early career researcher at the IGR and train him in cutting edge techniques relevant to building and characterising low thermal noise optical systems. 2) A second early career researcher supervised by our group will be based at a company (Gooch & Housego) and work on the development and commercialisation of bonding techniques for low loss monolithic assemblies. In addition we will contribute to the general training of all the early career researchers of this international training network.
Collaborator Contribution GraWIToN is an Initial Training Network, funded by European Commission under FP7-Marie Curie Actions for four years, since the 1st of February 2014. GraWIToN aims to train 13 young researchers (PhD students) in the gravitational wave (GW) search field. Our partners will contribute strongly to the training of the Glasgow based early career researchers (for instance via summer schools or industry collaborations).
Impact Too soon to tell.
Start Year 2014
 
Description IMPP collaboration 
Organisation Max Planck Society
Department Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids
Country Germany 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We will contribute to this collaboration on two fronts: 1) designs for ultra-quiet suspension required for experiments exploring macroscopic quantum mechanical aspects; 2) interferometry techniques for measurements at and beyond the quantum limit of high precision interferometry.
Collaborator Contribution This cooperation covers research in the area of Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit. The vision is to create a highly interdisciplinary scientific environment focused on the intriguing research opportunities in quantum science and engineering. This collaboration establishes a direct link between Universities of the Scottish Universities Physics Aliens (SUPA) and the relevant high-profile Max-Planck-Institutes in Germany.
Impact SFC International Max-Planck Partnership (IMPP) - Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit STFC/EPSRC International Max-Planck Partnership (IMPP) - Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit
Start Year 2013
 
Description IMPP collaboration 
Organisation Max Planck Society
Department Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics
Country Germany 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We will contribute to this collaboration on two fronts: 1) designs for ultra-quiet suspension required for experiments exploring macroscopic quantum mechanical aspects; 2) interferometry techniques for measurements at and beyond the quantum limit of high precision interferometry.
Collaborator Contribution This cooperation covers research in the area of Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit. The vision is to create a highly interdisciplinary scientific environment focused on the intriguing research opportunities in quantum science and engineering. This collaboration establishes a direct link between Universities of the Scottish Universities Physics Aliens (SUPA) and the relevant high-profile Max-Planck-Institutes in Germany.
Impact SFC International Max-Planck Partnership (IMPP) - Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit STFC/EPSRC International Max-Planck Partnership (IMPP) - Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit
Start Year 2013
 
Description IMPP collaboration 
Organisation Max Planck Society
Department Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research
Country Germany 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We will contribute to this collaboration on two fronts: 1) designs for ultra-quiet suspension required for experiments exploring macroscopic quantum mechanical aspects; 2) interferometry techniques for measurements at and beyond the quantum limit of high precision interferometry.
Collaborator Contribution This cooperation covers research in the area of Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit. The vision is to create a highly interdisciplinary scientific environment focused on the intriguing research opportunities in quantum science and engineering. This collaboration establishes a direct link between Universities of the Scottish Universities Physics Aliens (SUPA) and the relevant high-profile Max-Planck-Institutes in Germany.
Impact SFC International Max-Planck Partnership (IMPP) - Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit STFC/EPSRC International Max-Planck Partnership (IMPP) - Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit
Start Year 2013
 
Description IMPP collaboration 
Organisation Max Planck Society
Department Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light
Country Germany 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We will contribute to this collaboration on two fronts: 1) designs for ultra-quiet suspension required for experiments exploring macroscopic quantum mechanical aspects; 2) interferometry techniques for measurements at and beyond the quantum limit of high precision interferometry.
Collaborator Contribution This cooperation covers research in the area of Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit. The vision is to create a highly interdisciplinary scientific environment focused on the intriguing research opportunities in quantum science and engineering. This collaboration establishes a direct link between Universities of the Scottish Universities Physics Aliens (SUPA) and the relevant high-profile Max-Planck-Institutes in Germany.
Impact SFC International Max-Planck Partnership (IMPP) - Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit STFC/EPSRC International Max-Planck Partnership (IMPP) - Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit
Start Year 2013
 
Description IMPP collaboration 
Organisation Max Planck Society
Department Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics
Country Germany 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We will contribute to this collaboration on two fronts: 1) designs for ultra-quiet suspension required for experiments exploring macroscopic quantum mechanical aspects; 2) interferometry techniques for measurements at and beyond the quantum limit of high precision interferometry.
Collaborator Contribution This cooperation covers research in the area of Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit. The vision is to create a highly interdisciplinary scientific environment focused on the intriguing research opportunities in quantum science and engineering. This collaboration establishes a direct link between Universities of the Scottish Universities Physics Aliens (SUPA) and the relevant high-profile Max-Planck-Institutes in Germany.
Impact SFC International Max-Planck Partnership (IMPP) - Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit STFC/EPSRC International Max-Planck Partnership (IMPP) - Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit
Start Year 2013
 
Description IMPP collaboration 
Organisation University of St Andrews
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We will contribute to this collaboration on two fronts: 1) designs for ultra-quiet suspension required for experiments exploring macroscopic quantum mechanical aspects; 2) interferometry techniques for measurements at and beyond the quantum limit of high precision interferometry.
Collaborator Contribution This cooperation covers research in the area of Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit. The vision is to create a highly interdisciplinary scientific environment focused on the intriguing research opportunities in quantum science and engineering. This collaboration establishes a direct link between Universities of the Scottish Universities Physics Aliens (SUPA) and the relevant high-profile Max-Planck-Institutes in Germany.
Impact SFC International Max-Planck Partnership (IMPP) - Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit STFC/EPSRC International Max-Planck Partnership (IMPP) - Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit
Start Year 2013
 
Description IMPP collaboration 
Organisation University of Strathclyde
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We will contribute to this collaboration on two fronts: 1) designs for ultra-quiet suspension required for experiments exploring macroscopic quantum mechanical aspects; 2) interferometry techniques for measurements at and beyond the quantum limit of high precision interferometry.
Collaborator Contribution This cooperation covers research in the area of Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit. The vision is to create a highly interdisciplinary scientific environment focused on the intriguing research opportunities in quantum science and engineering. This collaboration establishes a direct link between Universities of the Scottish Universities Physics Aliens (SUPA) and the relevant high-profile Max-Planck-Institutes in Germany.
Impact SFC International Max-Planck Partnership (IMPP) - Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit STFC/EPSRC International Max-Planck Partnership (IMPP) - Measurement and Observation at the Quantum Limit
Start Year 2013
 
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, SUPAâ„¢ 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 Development of cryogenic MEMS for gravity mapping 
Description A direct spin-off of the group?s expertise in low loss monolithic suspensions and precision optical sensing has led to the development of a new research theme on cryogenic silicon Micro-Electro-Mechanical Sensors (MEMS). We are developing a novel tri-axial, low frequency (<5Hz) miniaturised MEMS gradiometer able to sense nano-g changes (<10ng in 1s) in the local gravitational field. This is equivalent to a performance ten times better than any current device on the market. Building a device at the target sensitivity will require thermal noise optimisation of the MEMS silicon flexures and the use of geometrical anti-springs to lower the device resonant frequency, the development of a high stability on-chip optical readout, the ability to tune the device to reject common mode non-gravitational accelerations and cryogenic operation to provide long term stability. Instrumentation technologies (inc. vibration, miniaturisation, ruggedness) 
Type Of Technology Systems, Materials & Instrumental Engineering 
Year Produced 2012 
Impact There is a substantial gap in the market for high sensitivity, low power consumption, miniaturised devices able to sense gravity over a wide operating frequency and suitable for land and air based surveys. The ability to map and image the local gravitatio 
 
Title Diffractively coupled high finesse optical cavities 
Description The demand for ever higher power in laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors, together with the possible choice of silicon mirror substrates to allow cryogenic operation (silicon is opaque at the normally chosen laser wavelength of 1064 nm), led us to investigate the diffractive optics. In our application a weak diffractive coupler, in 2nd order Littrow configuration, is used to send light in and out of an optical resonator (replacing the usual partly-transmitting mirror, and so avoiding the need for a transmitting mirror substrate). Optics, active and adaptive optics, mirrors, aspherics, interferometers, photonics 
Type Of Technology Systems, Materials & Instrumental Engineering 
Year Produced 2010 
Impact This technology contributes to our future research by providing a route for which a potential new material of choice for cryogenic mirror substrates can be used with existing and well understood laser systems, thus accelerating progress in this area. 
 
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 
 
Description British Science Festival, Aberdeen, Sep 2012 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation Workshop Facilitator
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Organisation of public session on "The Extreme universe" on behalf of the British Science Association.

Lecture to x people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
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 Marin H Touching SpaceTime 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation Keynote/Invited Speaker
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Video project showcasing STFC Gravitational Wave research, May 2013

Displayed at University of Glasgow for 1 week in two public locations; seen by several hundred people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin Science Slam (2) 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation Paper Presentation
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact First London Science Slam event. Presentation on PhD research, The Proud, Camden

Approx. 40 in audience
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H 2020 Vision (2) 2013 
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 West Kintyre Stargazers, The Putechan Hotel, Campbeltown, Nov 24th2013

Lecture attended by approx. 40 participants.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H 2020 Vision 2013 
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 Public lecture for Clydesdale Astronomical Society, Forth, Apr 8th 2013.

Lecture attended by approx. 25 participants.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H Amaldi public engagement session 2013 
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 Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Co-chair of Session

Organisation of parallel session on public engagement
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H An introduction to Stellar Astrophysics 2013 
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 Higher Physics and Advanced Higher Physics students at Dollar Academy, May 2nd 2013.

Lectures attended by approx. 30 students.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H Arthur C Clarke awards 2013 
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 Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Panel discussion, on relationship between science and science fiction, at the Royal Society, London, May 2013.

Audience of several hundred at event; live streamed on the internet.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H BBC Brainwaves 2014 
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 National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact BBC Radio Scotland science magazine series

30-minute radio interview on gravitational wave astrophysics
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Martin H BBC Stargazing Live 2014 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation Workshop Facilitator
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Public astronomy event at Braehead Shopping Centre, January 2014, at invitation of BBC Scotland and BBC Learning.

Event attended by approx. 250 people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Martin H Can You Hear Black Holes? 2013 
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 Invited participation as part of Dundee Science Festival, Nov 9th 2013.

Demonstrations visited by approx. 50 people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H Exhibition on human versus machine sensing 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Type Of Presentation Workshop Facilitator
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Glasgow Science Festival Public Engagement Internship, June 2013

Audience of several hundred viewing exhibit.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H Exploring the Dark Side of the Universe (14) 2013 
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 West Kintyre Stargazers, The Putechan Hotel, Campbeltown, Apr 7th 2013

Lecture attended by approx. 60 participants.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H Exploring the Dark Side of the Universe (15) 2013 
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 Invited lecture for East Ayrshire Secondary School, S3 - S4 pupils, St Joseph's Academy Kilmarnock, June 4th 2013.

Lecture attended by approx. 250 S3-S4 pupils.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H Exploring the Dark Side of the Universe (16) 2013 
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 Lectures delivered to secondary schools in Shetland, June 20th-21st 2013.

Lectures delivered to approx. 200 S3-S6 pupils in Anderson High School, Brae High School and Aith Junior High School.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H Exploring the Dark Side of the Universe (17) 2013 
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 public lecture in Shetland Museum, June 22nd 2013.

Lecture attended by approx. 100 people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H Famelab Scottish Final 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation Paper Presentation
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact 3 minute science presentation, Edinburgh University

Audience of approx. 120
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H Famelab South of Scotland heats 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation Paper Presentation
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact 3 minute science presentation, Edinburgh University

Audience of approx. 40
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H Glasgow University Open Day (2) 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation Workshop Facilitator
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Interactive exhibit and display, Glasgow University, Sep 2013

Approx. 200 visitors
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H Glasgow University Open Day 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation Workshop Facilitator
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Interactive exhibit and display, Glasgow University, June 2013

Approx. 200 visitors
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H How to Build a Planet 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation Workshop Facilitator
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Series consultant for BBC series presented by Richard Hammond

Series audience figures of several million
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H IoP Women Into Physics Event 2014 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Type Of Presentation Workshop Facilitator
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Interactive exhibit and demonstrations,Vale of Leven Academy, Jan 2014

Approx. 200 students
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Martin H Meet the Expert 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation Keynote/Invited Speaker
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Gravitational wave exhibition at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, April 2013

Exhibition visited by approx. 50 people
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H PubhD 2014 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation Paper Presentation
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact First Glasgow PubhD event. Science in the Pub event, The Old Hairdressers, Glasgow, Feb 2014

Approx. 50 in audience
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Martin H RSE Astrophysics masterclass 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation Workshop Facilitator
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Activity session for S1 and S2 pupils, Nov 2013

Approx. 60 participants
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H RSE NAM workshop 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Type Of Presentation Workshop Facilitator
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Exchange of best practice, ideas for future collaboration.

Increased collaboration on public engagement.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H RSE Young People's Outreach Programme for Schools (2) 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Type Of Presentation Keynote/Invited Speaker
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Visit to North Berwick High School, September 2013

Schools talk to approx. 30 pupils.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H RSE Young People's Outreach Programme for Schools (3) 2014 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Type Of Presentation Keynote/Invited Speaker
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Visit to Haycocks Primary School, North Ayrshire, February 2014

Schools talk to approx. 40 pupils.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H RSE Young People's Outreach Programme for Schools (4) 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Type Of Presentation Keynote/Invited Speaker
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Visit to St Thomas' Primary School, Keith, March 2014

Schools talk to approx. 60 pupils.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Martin H RSE Young People's Outreach Programme for Schools 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Type Of Presentation Keynote/Invited Speaker
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Visit to St John the Baptist Primary, Fauldhouse, April 2013

Schools talk to approx. 35 pupils.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H Science Slam 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation Paper Presentation
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact First UK Science Slam event. Presentation on PhD research, Cottiers Theatre, Glasgow

Approx. 50 in audience
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H Supernovae 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Type Of Presentation Poster Presentation
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Invited participation as part of "Science Sunday" in Glasgow Science Festival, June 2013.

Demonstrations visited by approx. 2000 people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H Talk on Astronomical Telescopes (2) 2014 
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 Visit to Clydesdale Astronomical Society, Forth, February 2014

Public talk to approx. 15 people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Martin H Talk on Astronomical Telescopes 2013 
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 Visit to Dundee Astronomical Society, Mills Observatory, Dundee, November 2013

Public talk to approx. 20 people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H The Physics of Star Wars (5) 2013 
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 lecture to IoP Hereford and Worcester Centre, University of Worcester, Apr 24th 2013.

Lecture attended by approx. 150 people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H The Physics of Star Wars (6) 2013 
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 Invited participation as part of Dumfries and Galloway Science Festival, May 4th 2013.

Lecture / demonstrations attended by approx. 200 people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H The Physics of Star Wars (7) 2013 
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 to IoP West Midlands Branch, University of Keele, Nov 7th, 2013.

Lecture attended by approx. 100 people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H The Physics of Star Wars (8) 2013 
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 to IoP Nottingham Branch, University of Nottingham, Dec 3rd, 2013.

Lecture attended by approx. 80 people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H The Science of Star Wars (2) 2013 
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 lecture, as part of Middle of Scotland Science Festival, Crianlarich, May 4th 2013.

Lecture attended by approx. 50 people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H Three Minute Thesis Competition 2014 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation Paper Presentation
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact 3 minute science presentation, Glasgow University, March 2014

Audience of approx. 100
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Martin H UK Space Conference 2013 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation Workshop Facilitator
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Interactive exhibit and display, SECC, July 2013

Approx. 300 visitors
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Martin H WSTE Conference 2013 
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 Gave invited lecture at WSTE Conference, Sarawak, Malaysia, October 2013.

Lecture attended by approx. 100 participants.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 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 2nd USA Science and Engineering Festival 2012 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation Poster Presentation
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Display of exhibit on gravitational wave astronomy - at the 2nd USA Science and Engineering Festival, Washington DC, April 2012 - representing the LIGO Scientific Collaboration.

LSC Exhibit visited by more than 10000 participants. Subsequent invitation to present exhibit at Aspen Science Festival and Gravity Fields Festival, and to re-exhibit at 3rd USA Science and Engineering Festival, Washington DC, April 2014.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
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 Gravity Fields Festival, Grantham, Sep 2012 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation Poster Presentation
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Display of exhibit on gravitational wave astronomy - at the inaugural Gravity Fields Festival - representing the LIGO Scientific Collaboration. In collaboration with University of Birmingham.

Exhibit visited by more than 1000 festival participants.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description MartinH Gravity Fields Festival, Grantham, Sep 2012 (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 lecture on "Gravitational Wave Astronomy: Opening a New Window on the Universe", for inaugural Gravity Fields Festival, Grantham, 26th September 2012.

Extensive coverage of lecture on twitter and facebook.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description MartinH Gravity Fields: The Material World, Sep 2012 
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 Radio 4 "The Material World" to discuss gravitational-wave astronomy, as part of Gravity Fields Festival, Grantham, 26th September 2012.

Extensive coverage of interview on twitter and facebook.
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 MartinH The Transit of Venus 2012 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation Keynote/Invited Speaker
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Invited talk at UK National Astronomy Meeting, Manchester, Mar 28th 2012, to describe UK plans to mark the June 2012 Transit of Venus.

UK-level and international Transit of Venus events were arranged and coordinated as a result of this talk.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description MartinH The Transit of Venus 2012 (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 lecture, on the physics of transits, for the IoP Stirling Physics Teachers' Meeting, May 2012.

Lecture attended by approx. 180 participants.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description MartinH The Transit of Venus 2012 (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 All-night event to celebrate the June 5th/6th 2012 Transit of Venus, linking with science centres, observatories and schools in the US, Canada and Australia and culminating with an attempt to view the end of the Transit from the University of Glasgow, at dawn on June 6th. Event organised in collaboration with Glasgow Science Festival.

Event attended by approx 100 participants. Extensive twitter and facebook coverage.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
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