14608151
X-Pipeline: an analysis package for autonomous gravitational-wave burst searches
Autonomous gravitational-wave searches—fully automated analyses of data that run without human intervention or assistance—are desirable for a number of reasons. They are necessary for the rapid identification of gravitational-wave burst candidates, which in turn will allow for follow-up observations by other observatories and the maximum exploitation of their scientific potential. A fully automated analysis would also circumvent the traditional 'by hand' setup and tuning of burst searches that is both labourious and time consuming. We demonstrate a fully automated search with X-Pipeline, a software package for the coherent analysis of data from networks of interferometers for detecting bursts associated with gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and other astrophysical triggers. We discuss the methods X-Pipeline uses for automated running, including background estimation, efficiency studies, unbiased optimal tuning of search thresholds and prediction of upper limits. These are all done automatically via Monte Carlo with multiple independent data samples and without requiring human intervention. As a demonstration of the power of this approach, we apply X-Pipeline to LIGO data to compute the sensitivity to gravitational-wave emission associated with GRB 031108. We find that X-Pipeline is sensitive to signals approximately a factor of 2 weaker in amplitude than those detectable by the cross-correlation technique used in LIGO searches to date. We conclude with comments on the status of X-Pipeline as a fully autonomous, near-real-time-triggered burst search in the current LSC-Virgo Science Run.
3138911
Accurate measurement of the time delay in the response of the LIGO gravitational wave detectors
We present a method to precisely calibrate the time delay in a long baseline gravitational-wave interferometer. An accurate time stamp is crucial for data analysis of gravitational wave detectors, especially when performing coincidence and correlation analyses between multiple detectors. Our method uses an intensity-modulated radiation pressure force to actuate on the mirrors. The time delay is measured by comparing the phase of the signal at the actuation point with the phase of the recorded signal within the calibrated data stream used for gravitational wave searches. Because the signal-injection path is independent of the interferometer's control system, which is used for the standard calibration, this method can be an independent verification of the timing error in the system. A measurement performed with the 4 km interferometer at the LIGO Hanford Observatory shows a 1 µs relative accuracy when averaging over 50 min. Our understanding of the systematic time delay in the detector response has reached the level of 10 µs.
117574348
Excluding Source Models with Multiple Astrophysical Observations
We describe a general method to observationally exclude a theoretical model for gravitational wave (GW) emission from a transient astrophysical source (event) by using a null detection from a network of GW detectors. In the case of multiple astrophysical events with no GW detection, statements about individual events can be combined to increase the exclusion confidence. We frame and demonstrate the method using a population of hypothetical core collapse supernovae.
36815013
Prospects of gravitational wave data mining and exploration via evolutionary computing
Techniques of evolutionary computing have proven useful for a diverse array of fields in science and engineering. Because of the expected low signal to noise ratio of LIGO data and incomplete knowledge of gravitational waveforms, evolutionary computing is an excellent candidate for LIGO data analysis studies. Using the evolutionary computing methods of genetic algorithms and genetic programming, we have developed, as a proof of principle, search algorithms that are effective at finding sine-gaussian signals hidden in noise while maintaining a small false alarm rate. Because we used realistic LIGO noise as a training ground, the algorithms we have evolved should be well suited to detecting signals in actual LIGO data, as well as in simulated noise. These algorithms have continuously improved during the five days of their evolution and are expected to improve further the more they are evolved. The top performing algorithms from generation 100 and 199 were benchmarked using gaussian white noise to illustrate their performance and the improvement over 100 generations.
11311944
Precise calibration of LIGO test mass actuators using photon radiation pressure
Precise calibration of kilometer-scale interferometric gravitational wave detectors is crucial for source localization and waveform reconstruction. A technique that uses the radiation pressure of a power-modulated auxiliary laser to induce calibrated displacements of one of the ~10 kg arm cavity mirrors, a so-called photon calibrator, has been demonstrated previously and has recently been implemented on the LIGO detectors. In this paper, we discuss the inherent precision and accuracy of the LIGO photon calibrators and several improvements that have been developed to reduce the estimated voice coil actuator calibration uncertainties to less than 2% (1σ). These improvements include accounting for rotation-induced apparent length variations caused by interferometer and photon calibrator beam centering offsets, absolute laser power measurement using temperature-controlled InGaAs photodetectors mounted on integrating spheres and calibrated by NIST, minimizing errors induced by localized elastic deformation of the mirror surface by using a two-beam configuration with the photon calibrator beams symmetrically displaced about the center of the optic and simultaneously actuating the test mass with voice coil actuators and the photon calibrator to minimize fluctuations caused by the changing interferometer response. The photon calibrator is able to operate in the most sensitive interferometer configuration, and is expected to become a primary calibration method for future gravitational wave searches.
121546122
Central Hadron Calorimeter of UA1
Abstract An iron—scintillator sampling calorimeter is described, which measures hadronic energy in proton-antiproton interactions at the CERN 540 GeV SPS collider. Construction details are given of the instrumentation of the magnet pieces of the UA1 experiment and of the methods used to measure the calorimeter response and resolution. The system of lasers and quartz fibres, which allows long term monitoring of the calorimeter response, is also described.
123595435
Particle accelerators and the fundamental constants
As an instructive exercise in elementary quantum physics, we explore the relationship between the sizes of circular particle accelerators and the fundamental constants of nature.
117258763
A study of nucleon isobar production in proton-proton collisions
SummaryThe momentum spectra of protons scattered inelastically in proton-proton collisions were obtained in an external beam at NIMROD, using incident-proton momenta of 2.85, 4.55, 6.06 and 7.88 GeV/c, and various scattering angles in the range 22 to 144 mrad. The isobars of mass 1236, 1518 and 1688 MeV are clearly seen. There is evidence also in the spectra at small angles for the production of the 1410 MeV isobar at a mass of (1410±15) MeV and width (125±20) MeV. It is shown that the observed peak cannot be explained by the Deck effect. The differential cross-sections for the production of these isobars are presented in terms of the usual variabless andt, and are compared with absorption and Regge-pole model predictions. Fits to the data with various empirical functions of these variables are also investigated. The behaviour of the total cross-section for the 1236 MeV isobar is found to exhibit energy-dependence consistent with one-pion exchange, whereas the 1410 MeV and 1688 MeV isobar total cross-sections are found to be energy-independent. Also the total cross-section for the 1518 MeV isobar is found to exhibit energy-dependence in this energy range.RiassuntoSi sono ottenuti gli spettri delle quantità di moto dei protoni diffusi anelasticamente nelle collisioni protone-protone ottenute in un raggio esterno di NIMROD, usando quantità di moto del protone incidente di 2.85, 4.55, 6.06 e 7.88 GeV/c, e vari angoli di scattering da 22 a 144 mrad. Si vedono chiaramente gli isobari di massa 1236, 1518 e 1688 MeV. Si hanno anche prove negli spettri a piccoli angoli della produzione dell’isobaro da 1410 MeV di massa (1410±15) MeV e ampiezza (125±20) MeV. Si dimostra che il picco osservato non può essere spiegato con l’effetto Deck. Si presentano le sezioni d’urto differenziali per la produzione di questi isobari in funzioni delle usuali variabilis et, e si confrontano con le previsioni del modello dei poli di Regge e del modello di assorbimento. Si studiano anche le approssimazioni ai dati con varie funzioni empiriche di queste variabili. Si trova che il comportamento della sezione d’urto totale per l’isobaro da 1236 MeV presenta una dipendenza dall’energia che concorda con lo scambio di un pione, mentre le sezioni d’urto degli isobari da 1410 MeV e 1688 MeV risultano indipendenti dall’energia. Si trova che anche la sezione d’urto totale presenta una dipendenza dall’energia in questo intervallo di energie.РеэумеПолучаются импульсные спектры протонов, неупруго рассеянных в протон-протонных соударениях во внещнем пучке в HИMPOД, испольэуя импульсы падаюших протонов 2.85, 4.55, 6.06 и 7.88 ГЭB/c, и раэличные углы рассеяния в области от 22 до 144 миллирадиан. Четко видны иэобары с массами 1236, 1518 и 1688 MЭB. Также имеется подтверждение в спектрах при малых углах для рождения иэобары 1410 MЭB с массой (1410±15) MЭB и щириной (125±20) MЭB. Покаэывается, что наблюденный пик не может быть общяснен с помошью Эффекта Дека. Представлены дифференциальные поперечные сечения для рождения Этих иэобар в терминах обычных переменныхs иt, которые сравниваются с предскаэаниями моделей поглошения и полюсов Редже. Также исследуются подгонки для Этих данных с помошью раэличных Эмпирических функций Этих переменных. Найдено, что поведение полного поперечного сечения для иэобары 1236 MЭB обнаруживает Энергетическую эависимость, согласуюшуюся с одно-пионным обменом, в то зе время получено, что полные поперечные сечения иэобар 1410 MЭB и 1688 MЭB не эависят от Энергии. Также найдено, что полное поперечное сечение для иэобары 1518 MЭB обнаруживает эависимость от Энергии в Этой области Энергий.
117635066
LOW-MOMENTUM ANTIPROTON PRODUCTION AT THE CERN PROTON SYNCHROTRON.