ET-R&D - Networking and R&D for the Einstein Telescope
Lead Research Organisation:
University of the West of Scotland
Department Name: School of Engineering
Abstract
Gravitational waves are the last prediction of general relativity still awaiting direct experimental detection. The efforts in constructing and optimising large interferometers in different locations all over the world in the last two decades have resulted in instruments of extraordinary sensitivity. While the British/German gravitational wave detector GEO 600 is currently taking data, the American LIGO detectors and the Franco/Italian Virgo detector are being upgraded to further increase their sensitivity. Once these upgrades have reached their design sensitivity the theoretical estimates predict the detection of gravitational waves within a few months to a year. Although frequent detections will be possible, the detection of high signal to-noise ratio events, allowing precision gravitational wave astronomy, will be very rare.
The ET-R&D project is aimed at essential R&D tasks in preparation for a technical design of the Einstein Telescope, a 3rd generation, underground gravitational wave detector. It is widely expected that this detector will allow routine gravitational wave astronomy to take place. While the basic design mostly relies on techniques well developed and tested for the advanced detectors, several aspects still require R&D with long lead times. We propose to target the most important of these topics in this ET-R&D project via 5 working groups (WGs).
WG1 will explore how well astrophysical source models and GR itself can be tested with ET, and how much information on the dynamics of the universe can be extracted from the data. WG2 will collect long term seismic data for various candidate sites and develop methods for measuring the seismic motion which directly couples to the test mass motion, with the goal of developing subtraction techniques. WG3 will investigate properties of cryogenic optics essential for lowering detector thermal noise and providing good low frequency performance. The control of various interferometer degrees of freedom and noise correlations in the data of the three different ET detectors will be studied in WG4. WG5 will focus on overall project management.
The University of the West of Scotland will play a key role in WG3, assisting in the characterisation of the optical properties of bulk silicon materials. In addition, UWS will fabricate ultra-pure amorphous silicon thin film coatings, using the unique deposition facilities available in the Thin Film Centre at UWS, for characterising in collaboration with other labs across the UK and Europe for possible use in multilayer mirror coatings for the optics of the Einstein Telescope.
The ET-R&D project is aimed at essential R&D tasks in preparation for a technical design of the Einstein Telescope, a 3rd generation, underground gravitational wave detector. It is widely expected that this detector will allow routine gravitational wave astronomy to take place. While the basic design mostly relies on techniques well developed and tested for the advanced detectors, several aspects still require R&D with long lead times. We propose to target the most important of these topics in this ET-R&D project via 5 working groups (WGs).
WG1 will explore how well astrophysical source models and GR itself can be tested with ET, and how much information on the dynamics of the universe can be extracted from the data. WG2 will collect long term seismic data for various candidate sites and develop methods for measuring the seismic motion which directly couples to the test mass motion, with the goal of developing subtraction techniques. WG3 will investigate properties of cryogenic optics essential for lowering detector thermal noise and providing good low frequency performance. The control of various interferometer degrees of freedom and noise correlations in the data of the three different ET detectors will be studied in WG4. WG5 will focus on overall project management.
The University of the West of Scotland will play a key role in WG3, assisting in the characterisation of the optical properties of bulk silicon materials. In addition, UWS will fabricate ultra-pure amorphous silicon thin film coatings, using the unique deposition facilities available in the Thin Film Centre at UWS, for characterising in collaboration with other labs across the UK and Europe for possible use in multilayer mirror coatings for the optics of the Einstein Telescope.
Planned Impact
There are already numerous beneficiaries from the existing programs of research in gravitational waves across the UK and Europe, including industry, other academic disciplines, schools, science centres, museums and the general public. The research outlined within this proposal will further strengthen these benefits, by enabling the UK, along with European partners, to maintain international leadership in the development of technologies for future gravitational wave observatories.
Outreach to schools, science centres, museums and the general public is very strong in the field of Gravitational Wave research, driven by interest in viewing the Universe through the medium of gravity - probing black holes, the warping of space-time and the big bang itself. We propose to continue to contribute to on-going outreach efforts, including working with PR companies such as Milde Marketing to disseminate scientific progress to the public.
Outreach to schools, science centres, museums and the general public is very strong in the field of Gravitational Wave research, driven by interest in viewing the Universe through the medium of gravity - probing black holes, the warping of space-time and the big bang itself. We propose to continue to contribute to on-going outreach efforts, including working with PR companies such as Milde Marketing to disseminate scientific progress to the public.
People |
ORCID iD |
Stuart Reid (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Martin I
(2014)
Low temperature mechanical dissipation of an ion-beam sputtered silica film
in Classical and Quantum Gravity
Nawrodt R
(2013)
Investigation of mechanical losses of thin silicon flexures at low temperatures
in Classical and Quantum Gravity
Reid S
(2016)
Development of Mirror Coatings for Gravitational Wave Detectors
in Coatings
Description | NB at present we are only part-way through this grant. Preliminary work on depositing and characterising the stress and optical properties in amorphous silicon coatings is underway. |
Exploitation Route | Initial results are being discussed within the European collaboration. |
Sectors | Other |
Description | (1) aspects of precision measurement and interferometry continue to be spun-out into the biomedical field. Prof. Matthew Dalby (Glasgow) and Prof. Stuart Reid (UWS) are pursuing funding routes for patenting the technology and extending to 3D bone growth from mesenchymal stem cells. (2) optical filter technology continues to be spun-out into the area of capnography, which is the monitoring of exhaled gas from patients under anaesthesia. This work is being commercialised by UWS and Gas Sensing Solution Ltd. (3) DLC (diamond-like carbon) coatings, which have been developed by Dr Ross Birney and Dr Stuart Reid (both UWS) are being transferred to Torishima Solutions Europe, a UK-based company with links to anti-corrosion applications e.g. oil and gas, marine. Funding has been sought from STFC to support this knowledge transfer. |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Energy,Environment,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
Title | Mechanical bioreactor |
Description | https://patents.google.com/patent/GB201514734D0/en |
IP Reference | GB201514734D0 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2017 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | Development of stem cell derived osteoblasts (bone building cells) for research, drug discovery, and regenerative medicine (surgical bone graft). |
Description | Article in Paisley Express newspaper, on Reid, highlighting the discovery of gravitational waves. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Large newspaper article on gravitational wave discovery and the involvement of the University of the West of Scotland. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/all-about/paisley |
Description | BBC Radio Scotland, Newsdrive program, 12th February 2016, "scientific discovery and innovation" discussion |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Invited interview on BBC Scotland radio station, around 5pm (rush hour commuting target audience) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland |
Description | Birney, Talk, Stanford (US), "Diamond-Like Carbon for potential use as protective and high emissivity coating for future mirror suspensions", 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Huge interest in capabilities in UWS. Many questions. Request for additional information to be sent to colleagues working in the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC) in the US. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | https://dcc.ligo.org/LIGO-G1400975 |
Description | Birney, talk, Takayama (Japan), GWADW (Gravitational wave advanced detector workshop), "DLC fabrication capabilities at UWS, with potential applications for protective and high emissivity coating", 2014. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | Huge interest in capabilities at UWS. Initiated orders from Virgo and KAGRA international projects for fabirating baffle and suspension components for their GW detectors. Initiated orders from Virgo and KAGRA international projects for fabirating baffle and suspension components for their GW detectors. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.gravity.ircs.titech.ac.jp/GWADW2014/program.htm |
Description | BlueDot Music Festival - talk on gravitational waves |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | BlueDot |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.discoverthebluedot.com |
Description | Careers networking event - Morrisons Academy high school, Crieff, Perthshire |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Presented my research areas (gravitational waves, nanokicking/stem cells) and described career opportunities within physics and biomedical engineering. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://twitter.com/macmorrisons/status/971349384926519296 |
Description | Dundee Astronomical, Searching for signals from the dark side of the Universe. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Standard Astronomical Society type presentation. Very interested audience. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.dundeeastro.com |
Description | Invited public talk at Joint Congress of University Astronomical Societies, Galway, Ireland (Mar 2019) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Invited public talk at Joint Congress of University Astronomical Societies, Galway, Ireland (Mar 2019) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Invited seminar/colloquim, University of Glasgow (UK) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited talk on Nanokicking (stem cell) research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Invited talk in conjuction with Coats Observatory and UWS, History of Astronomy in Paisley. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Event organised between Coats Observatory and the UWS Physics Society. Talk by Reid. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Invited talk to the Renfrewshire Astronomical Society, Paisley |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Invited talk to the Renfrewshire Astronomical Society, Paisley |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Invited talk to the Stirling Astronomical Society, Paisley. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | as above |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Keynote public lecture for the British Orthopaedic Research Society (BORS). |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | BORS |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://borsoc.org.uk/ |
Description | Media (videos) produced for marketing purposes (UK role in gravitational wave detector development) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Marketing materials prepare to highlight UK (GEO600) contribution to building Advanced LIGO (gravitational wave detectors, US). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.geo600.org/1725649/GEO600_Interviews |
Description | Public talk with Prof. Andrew Hart (Plastic Surgeon), Clinicians in Research Network |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | n/a |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Re-write the Headlines activity with local school - 1 workshop session - Kingcase Primary school (UK) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Workshop |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://researchtheheadlines.org |
Description | Re-write the Headlines activity with local school - 2 workshop sessions - Todholm Primary school (UK) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Schools workshop |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://researchtheheadlines.org |
Description | Re-write the Headlines activity with local school - 3 workshop sessions - Craigholme primary school (UK) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | School workshop |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://researchtheheadlines.org |
Description | Re-write the Headlines activity with local school - 3 workshop sessions - St. Francis of Assisi Primary school (UK) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Schools workshop |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://researchtheheadlines.org |
Description | Re-write the Headlines activity with local school - 3 workshop sessions - St. Mirren's primary (UK) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Schools workshop. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://researchtheheadlines.org |
Description | Re-write the Headlines activity with local school - workshop sessions - St. Mun's Primary School, Dunoon (UK) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | School workshop |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://researchtheheadlines.org |
Description | Reid, Evening Times article 02/07/2014, entitled "Top honour for Scots scientist", 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | n/a |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/top-honour-for-scots-scientist-169495n.24642902 |
Description | Reid, IOP and BSF public lecture, Glasgow, 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Huge interest in talk from participants. This was the first ever public talk on nanokicking. Many questions at end of talk. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.astro.gla.ac.uk/users/martin/ioplect/lecture3.pdf |
Description | Reid, Paisley Express article 04/07/2014, "Uni space expert over the moon over new role", 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | n/a |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Reid, Talk, Renfrewshire Astronomical Society, 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Audience very interested in the topic (gravitational wave detection). Stimulated stronger links between the Society, the Coates Observatory, and the University (UWS). Invited to come back to present at Coates Observatory later in 2014. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Reid, Talk, public talk in Paisley, "A star's life", 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Good attendance and significant interest in astronomy research activities in UWS in astronomy. Requests for additional talks. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.uws.ac.uk/news---categories/engineering-and-computing/academics-to-give-insight-into-the-... |
Description | Reid, talk, Dundee Astronomical Society, 2014 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Huge interest from audience in the status of gravitational wave detection Invited to come back |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://dundeeastro.com |
Description | Science in Parliament event - Scottish Government - Society of Chemical Industry (SCI) stand - Reid to lead |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Science and Parliament engagement event, organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.rsc.org/events/detail/19918/Science%20and%20the%20Parliament%202015 |
Description | Talk on Physics and Astronomy, Gryffe High School, 23 Sept 2015 (Bridge of Weir, UK) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | School talk on physics, astronomy, and gravitational waves. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | UWS Daring2bDifferent Festival, 2 talks, 100 years of Physics Innovation at UWS (Dumfries) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Talk in relation to scientific innovation in Paisley over the last 100 years. Part of the UWS Daring2bDifferent Festival. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://moodle.uws.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=5442 |
Description | UWS Daring2bDifferent Festival, 2 talks, 100 years of Physics Innovation at UWS (Paisley) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation on scientific innovation in Paisley over the past 100 years. Organised by UWS, as part of the Daring2bDifferent Festival. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://moodle.uws.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=5442 |