Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Characterization Of Enhanced Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors And Studies Of Numeric Simulations For Compact-Binary Coalescences, Larne Pekowsky

Physics - Dissertations

Gravitational waves are a consequence of the general theory of relativity. Direct detection of such waves will provide a wealth of information about physics, astronomy, and cosmology. A worldwide effort is currently underway to make the first direct detection of gravitational waves. The global network of detectors includes the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO), which recently completed its sixth science run.

A particularly promising source of gravitational waves is a binary system consisting of two neutron stars and/or black holes. As the objects orbit each other they emit gravitational radiation, lose energy, and spiral inwards. This produces a characteristic ``chirp'' …

Searching For Gravitational Waves From Compact Binary Coalescence Using Ligo And Virgo Data, Collin Capano

Physics - Dissertations

This thesis describes current efforts to search for gravitational waves from compact binary coalescences (CBCs) by the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC) and the Virgo Collaboration. We briefly review the physics of gravitational-wave emission and detection, describing how gravitational waves are emitted from "inspiraling" compact stellar mass objects and how the LSC and Virgo try to detect them using interferometers. Next we review the data-analysis principles used to search for potential signals in the detectors' noise. These principles are employed by ``ihope," which is the data-analysis pipeline used to search for CBCs. We describe each step in this pipeline and discuss …

Dqtunepipe: A Set Of Python Tools For Ligo Detector Characterization, Brooke Anne Rankins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

When LIGO's interferometers are in operation, many auxiliary data channels monitor and record the state of the instruments and surrounding environmental conditions. Analyzing these channels allows LIGO scientists to evaluate the quality of the data collected and veto data segments of poor quality. A set of scripts were built up in an ad hoc fashion, sometimes with limited documentation, to assist in this analysis. In this thesis, we present DQTunePipe , a set of Python modules to replace these scripts and aid in the detector characterization of the LIGO instruments. The use of Python makes the analysis method more compatible …