Weekly Report for Week Ending May 26, 1998



Project Control Meeting Agenda    Facilities    Detector    Project Office    System Engineering    Administrative    Hanford Observatory    Past Weekly Reports

The Project Control Meeting Agenda for Monday  June 1, 1998 will be:
 (Meeting time: 10:30 am Pacific Time)

  1. Announcements (5 minutes)
  2. Review of Action Items (10 minutes)
  3. Comments on Weekly Report (5 minutes)
  4. Field Change Orders/Contingency Liens/Change Requests (10 minutes)
  5. Review of ISSUES AND PROBLEMS by Subsystem (10 minutes each)
Special Items:


Special Announcements:


WBS 1.1    Facilities Group


From: "gerry" <gerry@ligo.caltech.edu>
Date: Thu, 28 May 1998 14:58:08 -0500

WBS 1.1.1 Vacuum Equipment(Worden)
 
    1. Gate Valves:
    a. WGV20 (X-End station valve) has been reinstalled into
    the vacuum system with a new bellows and lead screw.
    This valve needs a new gate and will be revisited.
    b. WGV19 (X-end beam tube valve) has been pulled and
    inspected. The gate O-ring grooves are good, the lead
    screw is correct; the bellows showed evidence of
    over-compression and has been replaced.
    The replacement bellows has passed it's leak test -
    ~75% helium in the bag for > one hour  and no leak
    at the level of 1x10(-9). This valve has been
    reinstalled into the VE and awaits in-situ testing.
    c. Y-2 BT module was vented over the week end and
    the GNB crew is working on the Y-2 module valves
    today(Wed). Another test stand is being fabricated
    which will allow parallel work to proceed.
    d. WGV17 (Y-end BT valve) As of 4:30 Wed. has been
    pulled. The bellows shows no damage and the lead screw
    is correct. The He leak test is starting tonight,
    and the gate grooves will be inspected tomorrow morning.
 
    2. Installation activities:(Kyle Ryan)
 
    X-arm end station:

    GNB and PSI still need to remove the spool
    connecting the BT 44" gate valve to the 80K
    pump in order to gain access to and adjust the
    "closed position" limit switch on the BT 44"
    BT gate valve. They also need to replace the
    gate on the VE 44" gate valve as its dove tail
    annulus groove(s) was/were found to have been
    machined out of tolerance. These operations have
    been placed "on hold" to allow the repair/retrofit
    of the Y-2 arm BT 44" gate valves.  The Y-2 valves
    need to be fixed soon so as not to affect the bake
    out of the Y-2 BT module.

    X-arm mid station:

    No change.

    Corner Station:

    PSI is nearly ready to begin baking the diagonal
    section.

    Y-arm mid station:

    No change.

    Y-arm end station:

    GNB and PSI have removed the bonnet + ball screw
    assembly from the BT 44" gate valve body.  LIGO
    will be present to observe the pass/fail determinations
    etc tomorrow.
 

Livingston (Allen Sibley)

PSI has completed the layout and installation of vacuum equipment(BSC,80K
pump, and manifold) in the Y arm end station. PSI will remove the bellows
spool between the 80K pump and the termination gate valve that CBI will be
installing next week. This will allow CBI access to the beam tube for final
assembly. LIGO has inspected the PSI alignment and has accepted it. LIGO
will monitor the CBI valve installation to insure correct fit up at the
valve 80K pump interface.
 

1.1.2  Beam Tube (L. Jones)
 
       a. Tube section installation status (Livingston site):
       (running totals):
                      Inside      Leak   Leak      Final
           Welded Repairs     Tested Failures Aligned

       as of 5/12*: 360  21     359      0      0
    as of 5/19*:   377   21   376   0   0
    as of 5/26*:   389    22     388    0    0
 
       * Includes gate valves as the finish "tube sections"'
       Installation will be complete when weld, leak test,
       and alignment all reach 404.
 
       Weiss has analyzed the data from the X arm global calibration
    accumulation data, and some inconsistancies exist. Using the
    local calibration data, the effects of the global air leak are
    approx. 10x the rating of the global leak. CBI is checking for
    the cause. This week, CBI is performing its second biweekly
    accumulation test of the complete X arm, which will be followed
    by the closing of the midstation valve and an accumulation of
    module X2 (which excludes the valve bellows). CBI has not found
    an air leak with its bagging tests, but has not yet bagged the
    midstation valve bellows.
 
       BDF air flow performance since 5/19:
       Particulates (0.5u)/cu ft: 36 (max., any day)
       Dew Point, degrees F: 9-12
       Temperature, degrees F: 56-61
 
       Of the 387 tube sections installed, 361 have now been covered
       with enclosure sections.

    b. The Magnolia Beach equipment will be auctioned off at the
    fab shop on 6/16.

    c. Planned meetings:
 
                6/2/98: monthly project status review, Livingston site
 
                7/1/98: Completion Review, Livingston site (performed
                early due to manpower availability)
 

1.1.3 & 1.1.4 BTE and Civil Construction (Fred Asiri)
>
>Current Issues:
>    Hanford:
>   1. Water System Integration: All necessary documents are in
>     Caltech. A Request for Quote has been prepared and is being
      reviewed and edited. It will be mailed to a list of nine
      interested bidders by this Friday.
>
>   2. Final Vane Axial Fan Testing: Parsons has received the final
      field test data. Paul MacCalden of Parsons is reviewing the
      the data and will issue prepare letter report shortly.
>
    3. Architectural, Civil, Electrical and Mechanical/HVAC As-builts
      have been completed. Structural As-builts are being incorporated.
 
> Livingston:

>   1. HVAC Chilled Water Coils/Fins Condensation: Water is blowing
      off horizontal fins past collection pans and on the floor.
>         Coils were installed incorrectly (vertical instead of
>     horizontal). Bernhard Mechanical (subcontractor) agreed to
      to reorient the coils and the fins per the manufacturer's
      standard installation instructions.
>
>   2. Vane Axial Fan Testing: Contractor has forwarded the fan test
>     data to Parsons. P. MacCalden of Parsons is reviewing the fan
>     test data. Up-on completion of his review, he will release the
>     final report to Caltech.

    3. Electric Power Quality: G. Stapfer and I met with Ron May of
      DEMCO (Electric power provider) at the site last Thursday. We
      showed Ron power voltage curves for the Phase A, B and C. And
      pointed out the problem with the A-B-C phase voltage being out of
      phase to each other as well as being out the voltage tolerance
      range. Ron will send his crew to make measurement on the
      line and recommend a remedy to the problem.
>
>   4.John E. Chance and Associate Inc. has been selected to perform the
>     QA. for Beam Tube and Vacuum equipment alignments. G. Stapfer, Bill
      Holiday (Parsons CM) and I met with representative from John E.
      Chance at the site and discussed the Draft Contract/Statement of
      Work with them. A copy of Draft Contract was handed to them for
      review and comments. Comments are expected by this Friday.
 

Hanford Construction (Otto Matherny)

 
   Levernier
     Consolidated Punch List

      Total punch list items remaining- 13
      Total Corrected-                 5
      Total Signed off-                5

      Siebe completed the connection between the FMCS and  the Either net.

 
 
   OTHER ITEMS
 

 
      Advertised three procurement actions in the local newspaper
      and received several bid requests:

       1) Completing and automating the water system- 9

       2) Mechanical Maintenance contract- 9

       3) Staging Building- 7
 
 

Livingston Construction (Gerry Stapfer)
 
 

The site  has not received any rain for the past month.
 

HENSEL PHELPS

--Working on outstanding notice to comply and punch out items.  Putting
together as builts and  O & M manuals.
BERNHARD MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS-has begun  the reworking of coils in the
HVAC system.
AVALL0NE ARCHITECTURAL SPECIALTIES--replaced break metal and fixed
hardware at the front entrance to the OSB.
 

WOODROW  WILSON

--Installing B unit doors and hardware along Arm 2.
--Grouting , patching bug holes and caulking around the installed BTE's
along Arm 1.

    COASTAL BRIDGE-- as of today.  2,617 BTE's cast ,  2,319 BTE's approved
and     2,369 BTE's installed.

 


WBS 1.2, 1.3    Detector Group


Date: Thu, 28 May 1998 14:59:22 -0700
From: stan@ligo.caltech.edu (Stan Whitcomb)

----------------------------------------------------
DETECTOR GROUP -- Whitcomb/Shoemaker

(WBS 1.2, 1.3)
----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------
Implementation Group  -- Mark Coles/Fred Raab
-----------------------------------------------

40 Meter Weekly:

The 40 M is pumped down. The east arm is locking solidly. Steve Vass
and Jamie Rollings are recalibrating the globals so that they can be
compared to wave front sensor measurements.  Dick Gustafson is digging
into electrical noise issues.

Jennifer, Keith, and Bill are on vacation all or part of this week,
Mark is in Louisiana.

----------------------------------------------
Interferometer Sensing and Control -- M Zucker
(WBS 1.2.1.1.6, 1.2.1.1.7)
----------------------------------------------
 

-------------------------------------------
Lasers and Optics -- J. Camp
(1.2.1.1.2, 1.2.1.1.3, 1.2.1.1.4,1.2.1.1.5)
--------------------------------------------

10 W Laser Contract -- Jordan Camp
------------------------------------

We have been informed that Jeff Kemetic will be directly in charge of
the production/service contract on the LW end.
 

Prestabilized Laser -- Peter King
--------------------------------------------

- Further characterization measurements of the current shunt actuator
have been made.  A simple one pole, one zero intensity stabilization
servo was constructed from SR560 low-noise pre-amplifiers to stabilize
the intensity of the PSL.  Low frequency oscillations (~0.1-0.5 Hz) in
the intensity noise were observed and these were found to be enhanced
by the SR560s.

R. Abbott replaced the SR560 servo with a purpose-built card.  This
resulted in improved performance at low frequencies.  Whilst some
low-frequency oscillations were observed, they were very much reduced.
The knocked-up servo produced ~30 dB of suppression up to about 5 kHz
and ~10 dB of suppression at 10 kHz.  Whilst the required levels of
suppression were not reached, the measurements demonstrated the
abilities of the current shunt actuator devised by R. Abbott.

- After nearly 2500 hours of operation, the Alpha-1 10-W laser is still
producing ~10.6 W.  Monitoring of the pump amplifier diodes and the
NPRO master oscillator do not show any large signs of degradation.  The
power degradation observed with the laser before is attributable to
misalignment of the internal optics of the laser.  The Alpha-1 laser is
equipped with the Newport-style flexure mounts which subsequently have
been shown to have a stability problem.  This problem is not apparent
with the second deliverable laser #103.
 

Input/Output Optics -- Dave Reitze, UF
-----------------------------------------

Qi-Ze Shu and Sany Yoshida are visiting the Livingston lab this week.
Dave Reitze and David Tanner have also been on travel part of the
time.

Jordan Camp made a visit here at the end of last week.

We have submitted requisitions for the commercial parts for the input
optics. Vendors (New Focus, Newport, Thorlabs, PI, CVI) should have the
orders on Monday or Tuesday.

Tuning & testing of a second sensor head board has begun. It is mostly
finished except for some phase tweaking after we test the demodulation
boards this week. There were no major problems in this board and it
seems only one faulty OpAmp.
 

Core Optics Procurement and Metrology -- GariLynn Billingsley
-------------------------------------------------------------

Gari is on travel this week.
 

Core Optics Coatings -- Helena Armandula
--------------------------------------------------

REO - COC coatings: ETM's are being shipped from REO this week. The
delay was planned to prevent the optics from sitting during transit on
some dock over the long weekend. Coating of FM's is in process.

Cleaning procedures: The current cleaning procedure seems to work on 3"
and 1" optics. The technique is being practiced by two of us at this
time with similar results.
To test the effects of exposure to air on the coated surfaces, we left
2 freshly cleanned parts uncovered over the long weekend. One was left
on the bench under the soft wall enclosure to see if the vinyl walls
had any outgassing effects; the other was left on the bench under the
laminar flow hood. Both pieces were clean, water sheeted off the
surfaces without any problem after the 3 days.
 

Core Optics Support -- Michael Smith
------------------------------------

Mike is on vacation.
 

--------------------------
Isolation Group -- M. Fine
--------------------------

Seismic Design (Mike Fine)
--------------------------------------
1. 1st Article Spring Fabrication and Testing:
A lot of 80 springs has been shipped to AstroPak last Thursday for
cleaning. These springs have all been tested for axial damping.  After
cleaning, AstroPak will ship the 80 springs directly to Hanford.  While
testing is continuing, the data Hytec has gathered so far (about 100
springs) appears to show a steady improvement in the scatter in loss
factors from shipment to shipment. It appears that Pegasus has worked
out the start-up jitters and is now approaching a stable fabrication
process.

2. Coarse Actuation Development:
Hytec is assembling a set of X, Y, and Z stages for the coarse
actuation system. The motors for these axes have been wired and the
software is capable of commanding any or all of the axes. The limit
switches are also wired-up for the X and Y stages. The software has
been programmed to convert from a LIGO global coordinate system to a
station-based local coordinate system. The electronics that support the
CAS system are expensive, consequently Hytec is working on a
multiplexing scheme that would reduce the overall cost of the system by
combining up to four of the HAM or BSC chambers.

3. Air Bearing Assembly:
Specialty Components has reported that there is a delay in the delivery
of substrates from their vendor. The manufacturer has reported that
they are awaiting a tooling fixture to drill the orifice. Specialty
Components will require two weeks to finish the air bearings after the
substrates are delivered. The delay will put the delivery around 6/17
for the first four bearings. The remaining bearings are expected
shortly thereafter.

4. Configuration Control:
During Dennis' visit to Hytec last week he requested a formal drawing
process procedures be implemented at Hytec consistent with what is used
at LIGO. A change in the ECN that is filled out at Hytec will result in
LIGO having final authority on implementing all new changes to the
hardware. This step will begin the formal process of implementing
configuration management on the drawings at Hytec.
 

Suspension -- (Janeen Hazel/Mark Barton/Mike Fine)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1. LOS Fabrication:
We received the second height adapter from Brookfield this week. Bill
Tyler and Janeen inspected it and Bill will write up an inspection
report. It looked better than the first one but still exhibited burrs
inside of the legs and had missing dimensions on the inspection sheet.
Bill will be visiting Brookfield next week to address these issues.

2. LOS Fixtures and Assembly Fixtures:
Progressive Technology says that they are still fine tuning the firing
of the alum oxide heads to get the dimensions right and expects to get
a first article of the head and the spacer out to us next week.

3. Alignment Fixture:
We have received 4 bids in response to our RFQ (out of 9
solicitations).  This morning Dennis, Janeen and Bill T visited
Superior Jig, the low bidder, and found SJ's capabilities consistent
with the requirements for precision fixture fabrication. It is
consequently decided to award the contract to SJ.  The SJ's delivery
schedule is: 1st set in 13 weeks and 2nd set in 16 weeks ARO.

---------------------------------------------------------
Detector Systems Engineering -- D. Shoemaker/D Coyne
(WBS 1.2.1.1.9)
---------------------------------------------------------
 

Global Diagnostics System
(Rolf Bork, Paul Govereau, Mark Pratt, David Shoemaker, Daniel Sigg)
--------------------------------------------------------------------

On Tues., MP and DS attended a meeting of the LSC sub-group on
detector characterization.  There we presented the scope of the
current GDS efforts and possibilities for future contribution from LSC
members.  These contributions are, at the present, limited to tasks
that don't require special hardware eg. algorithm development.  On
Wed., GDS had a group meeting at Caltech to discuss current status,
scheduling and coordination with CDS (in the form of Rolf and Walid).
Real work this week has been limited.  MP has demonstrated control of
the Stanford DS340 signal generator via the Cobox adaptor but has not
completed the control software.
 

Physics Environment Monitoring (David Shoemaker, Matt Smith, Alex Marin)
------------------------------
The following activities are under way:
    - software development for the 1st SEI/HAM test. The NI hardware
      and software was checked up to 7.65kHz sampling rate. Two bugs
      in the original Nat. Instr. software were found, confirmed
      and reported by the NI Boston representative.
    - hardware purchase and shipment for the PEM/1st article test on
      schedule
    - weather monitor system ordered for Livingston at Allan Sibley request
    - discussion with Wilcoxon on more sensitive and possible custom
      made accelerometers. A short note will be distributed soon on
      issues related to accelerometers and their grounding issues.
      More discussion involving Wilcoxon eng. and CDS will be done in
      the next week.
 

Optical Contamination (Daqun Li)
--------------------------------

Cavity one containing teflon has been continuously locked for 8 days
with no remarkable change either in ringdown or mode spacing
measurements.  This cavity is expected to run for at least another
3 weeks before making a final judgement of teflon qualification.

Work still continues on characterizing and improving Loss Scanner
with different cavity mirrors.
 

-----------------------------------------
Control and Data System -- R. Bork
(WBS 1.2.2)
-------------------------------------------
 

Data Acquisition
=================
- Reflected memory (DAQS network) software (due 6/30/98): Design
document updated and internally reviewed; coding to start 6/1 and
should be ready prior to 6/30 schedule target.
- ADC modules (delivery to support install due 8/1/98): ICS110B1 module
being tested failed (overheated); ICS is sending a replacement. The
tight packing of the anti-aliasing filter daughter card appears to
cause these modules to heat up considerably and they require max
cooling. Because of the potential heat problem and this anti-aliasing
filter only has a dynamic range of ">85db", we are considering not
using the ICS filter, but rather go back to our own design.  Delay in
testing could cause late delivery as we are holding up bulk orders
until we are sure these modules meet specs.
- Data Viewer (due 7/1/98): Work continues on xmgr based version to
include correlation and waterfall plots; base unit should be ready by
6/15. Also, received new version of XRT Graph. This will be tested to
replace xmgr for some real-time applications, as it is higher
performance than xmgr.
- FrameBuilder (due 7/1/98): Java interface has been built; as soon as
reflected memory is operational, framebuilder on Sun will be tested.

Vacuum Controls
================
- Install end station racks at Livingston (due 6/1/98): Racks are ready
when PSI requests installation.

Timing Systems
===============
- Install GPS at Hanford (due 8/15/98): We have a quote from TRUETIME
for a GPS system. The system as quoted will not work for us "as is"
because we can not use their VME receivers without major modifications.
So they quoted using rack mounted master clocks which will not work for
us. The delivery time is 15 weeks (too long for us) and their price is
70 % higher than Brandywine. Bottom line, they are not close enough to
warrant further  negotiations. We will go with Brandywine. Quoted
delivery is 9 weeks, with PO to go out 5/29/98.

Input Optics
==============
- Install Hanford system (due 9/1/98):
  1) EO Shutter Control: Sander is implementing adding a delay in the
  turn on time of the controller to avoid opening the shutter during
  short locking transients. This is due to a recent discussions from
  P. Fritschel. Expected completion is 6 weeks for a beta version controller.
  2) Mode Cleaner Length Servo: Xing Fei has completed the circuit
  design of the demodulator board and PCB layout for a prototype of
  the RF section to test in our lab. We should begin cutting the board
  today. We still have board two of the servo to design and build, but
  it is a simpler board and should go quickly. We also have a signal
  conditioning board to design for the signals that go the DAQ.
- Deliver SOS Controllers to Hanford (due 7/7/98):
  1) Fabrication order for SOS controller boards placed on 5/22/98 with
  3 week delivery; first units will probably not be out of assembly and
  test until mid July.
  2) Satellite amplifier production board layout has been completed and
  the board fabrication begun.

Control Area / Networking Systems
==================================
- Install Hanford control room equipment (due 7/1/98):
  1) Procurement of furniture delayed until we have approval to buy
  at GSA pricing (being worked and should have approval by 6/6/98).
  2) One of the Sun Ultra 60 computers for use as a console was DOA
  in March; constant attempts to get it replaced have been unsuccessful
  (Sun reps very hard to find and unresponsive); working with L. Wallace
  to get response from higher management at Sun.
- Install fiber optic backbone at Livingston (due 8/30/98): Specs used
for Hanford procurement being modified for Livingston; will send specs
to Livingston next week and staff there will start process of finding
interested bidders.

PSL
======
- Deliver first unit Hanford (due 7/15/98): In a continuing effort to
tame the intensity stabilization problem we have now achieved an
intensity lock with some 50 dB suppression at low frequencies (1 Hz to
100 Hz) falling at 1/f to yield about 10 dB suppression at 10 kHz.
This meets a large portion of our goals falling short at higher
frequencies by a factor of about 3.  The reason for our inability to
increase the gain has been identified and we are trying to understand
the problem sufficiently to overcome it.  In summary we are limited by
dynamic range in the actuator but are somewhat puzzled as to why given
the free running noise spectrum.  We can increase the dynamic range of
the actuator, but want to do so with caution in response to a real need
not a misunderstanding.
 


WBS 1.4    Project Office



 

 1.4.1.2 Project Controls (Lindquist)


CHANGE CONTROL (Lindquist)

There are no Change Requests currently in the queue for Change Control Board (CCB) attention. 
REPORTS (Lindquist)
A DRAFT of the Monthly Status Report for the end of March 1998 has been distributed for comment. This report is late to the NSF, so please provide comments as soon as possible.

ACTUAL COSTS/COMMITMENTS AUDIT (Lindquist)
We have a team of three people assigned by Federal Accounting to audit LIGO Construction actual costs and commitments. Known problems should be brought to my attention so that I can pass them along to be reviewed and corrected. We had a meeting with this team and with John Richards and Peter Hughes today (Thursday, May 28) to establish objectives and to assign responsibilities. This same group will meet weekly to review progress and assign action items.

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (Chargois)

>From: Ed Chargois <chargois_e@ligo.caltech.edu>


DOCUMENT CONTROL CENTER (Turner)

>From: Linda Turner <turner@ligo.caltech.edu>

STATISTICS.  A total of 10 documents were electronically submitted to the DCC.  They were reviewed and placed on-line.   Also, a total of 292 documents were added to the database.  The following figures summarize these new additions by category:
:
Contractual/Procurement (C)
259
Drawings (D)
1
Engineering Documentation (E)
0
Graphics/Presentations (G)
1
Letters/General Correspondence (L)
24
Management/Policy (M)
0
Publications/Formal Notes (P)
0
Technical Notes/Informal (T) 7
A total of 28 packages were received and distributed.  An additional 13 packages were sent out.  The DCC processed 55 incoming faxes and the project transmitted 27 faxes.

Photo Activity:  One packet received and processed-- LIGO-G980020-00-O, Livingston Site Aerials,   distributed May 28, 1998
Total Number of Site Development Photos added to the database as new documents: 17
Total Number of Viewgraphs created and distributed: 35
One Custom Viewgraph Presentation assembled for lecture use.

ACTIVITIES


COST SCHEDULE CONTROL SYSTEMS (Duncan, Rianda, Leonhardt, Akutagawa)

>From: Cindy Akutagawa <cindy@acrux.ligo.caltech.edu>

Gathering the information needed to move incorrect charges to correct accounts. Preparing the Labor Hour report for CIT #10.

>From: "Britt Leonhardt (T)" <brittl@FINANCE.caltech.edu>

No report this week.

 >From: Kristin Duncan <kris@acrux.ligo.caltech.edu>


SUBCONTRACTS MANAGEMENT (Petrac, Jasnow)

>From: irena@ligo.caltech.edu (Irena Petrac)

>From: Ed Jasnow <jasnow@acrux.ligo.caltech.edu>


TECHNICAL CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT (Althouse)

>From: wea@acrux (William Althouse)

Nothing special to report this week (at Hanford for Beam Tube Bake).


1.4.2.1 Quality Assurance (Tyler)

>From: "William H. Tyler" <tyler_w@ligo.caltech.edu>

LIGO QA (Robert Vincent) completed the first week of gate valve inspection/rework with PSI and GNB at Hanford. As reported elsewhere, PSI and GNB did not complete all of the valve work that had been originally
scheduled. Mr. Vincent also provided input for rework planning and work progress "tracking" documentation. Mr. Vincent is scheduled to return to Hanford next week to review/assist with the LIGO  QA/QC "buyoff" of the
valve rework and documentation.

LIGO QA continues support to various Detector fabrication and inspection tasks. Also assisting with preparations for the June Operational Procedure Review planned for the Hanford site and the editing/preparation of
operational procedures/checklists.
 
 


WBS 1.4.3    Systems Engineering



 
Date: Thu, 28 May 1998 18:06:06 -0700
From: lazz@ligo.caltech.edu (Albert Lazzarini)

1.4.3  Systems Engineering

1.4.3.1  Systems Engineering & Integration (AL, BB, CC, JK, DC)

__Integration Planning:

WA Cable Tray Specification

Last week Bill Baldwin went to LHO to take pictures and dimensions of
the VE installations where cable trays must be run.  He was assisted by
Richard McCarthy of LHO.  This week he has collated the photographs and
field notes to define installations and keep out areas for the trays.
This information will be used to update the draft specification for the
cable tray installations.   In several cases further interface meetings
are required with CIT and MIT personnel to define cable tray runs.
However, in most cases, the cable tray installations will be
straightforward.

__Analyses:

Completed the analysis for Detector IAS of the as-built BT/VE interface
marker locations at Hanford. Available as :
http://docuserv.ligo.caltech.edu/~coyne/docs/T980044.pdf (T980044-A.pdf
also in DCC)

Summary of results:

[1]     RMS fit to two orthogonal axes: .0052m(!)

[2]     Vertex Location:        h = 142.554m (above ellipsoid)
          lat =  N042d 27' 18.5280" long = W119d
          24' 27.5657"

[3]     X arm bearing (geodetic) N35.9994W, dips .0006195 radians below
local horizontal

[4]     Y arm bearing (geodetic) S54.0006W, dips .0000125 radians below
local horizontal

__Reliability: Nothing to report

__Integrated Layout/Drawings:

Kabot:

HAM 84" ACCESS & 14" ("E") NOZZLE GUARDS W/COVERS

    Drawings are with Rick Savage, and some (or all) of the covers
    & weights have been ordered. Rick has decided that the pricing
is reasonable and so will order everything in the Hanford area.
 

ASC OPTICAL LEVER LAYOUT

    This project is now on temporary hold due to the possible
    change to the Louvre Baffles in spools numbers BE-5 & BE-6. No
date of completion is projected. However still plan to lay out the ASC
levers in the spools, BSC envelopes, & adapters,  just to get a jump on
the location of apertures required in the L. Baffles. Since we have a
temporary body who can do it, we may get it done sometime next week,
6/3/98.

WASHINGTON OPTOMECHANICAL ILDs

    The Mid  & End Station xref's are still on temporary hold
    waiting for input from the various groups (IOO, ISC,COS).

PSL/IOO XREF LAYOUTS FOR ILDs

    New plan & elevation layouts from Aaron @ UFL for the PSL/IOO
    Optical Tables & Hams 1&7 (4k & 2k), are incorporated into the
Optomechanical drawings. Some fine tuning will be required by UFL
before they are finalized.  Also have new 2k optical layout as well as
a plan drawing of the enclosure.  The vertex plan is now very close to
being complete enough for the next pre-release which could be around
6/8/98.

Conley:

Updated the Washington ILDs. Pdf files will be submitted to DCC
Thursday 5-28.  Also will send a set of hardcopies to Hytec per their
request.

Will resume work on suspension drawings Thursday 5-28.

__Mock-ups:

ELEVATED PLATFORM FOR MOCK UPS

    Started pursuing a manufacturer for the aluminum (preferred) or
    stainless steel unit. Preliminary test on the HAM mock up with
Jonathan Kern seems to indicate that a large platform or extended base
will be required for stability. Jonathan has also taken over the
arrangement of the Mock Up area including modifying and assembling the
external optical tables (benches).

1.4.3.3 Modeling & Data Analysis (KB/HY/AL)

Yamamoto:

Biplab, Soumya, Hiro and Sergei(FLU) attened the LSC subgroup meeting
and reported the status of the end to end model simulation. Sergei
showed FLU's plan on working the modeling of IOO using the e2e model.

Main activities keep going in the e2e modeling work are (1) mode
implementation (biplab, hiro), (2) SUS/SEI modeling (saumya) and (3)
documentation and validation (hiro).

Ed worked on the installation of egcs 1.0.3, on sun and dec alpha, and
worked on fixing segmentation fault error on sadan.  Ed is busy fixing
bugs and implementing new features for the improvement of alfi. Alfi is
very solid now after he fixed a bug last week.

Daniel and Hiro discussed what to do with the Beausoleil's code. Daniel
said that the code validation is almost done - still a few more testes
he wants to do (though he is deadly busy) and that the program is
unstabnle under some conditions. Two will still think about it and will
send our recommendation to Albert and Stan.

Blackburn:

KB drafted up a "requirements & guidelines for LSC deliverables" based
on several meetings that KB and Sam Finn have held to discuss such
issues.  The draft was forwarded to Lazzarini in the event that such a
topic came up in the LSC characterization group meeting held here at
CIT early this week. KB and SF are planning to have future discussions
on issues surrounding LSC deliverables and a more complete document
will be forthcoming.

KB contacted ObjectSpace concerning the C++ network toolkit class
library that supports socket communications within C++. ObjectSpace has
an academic price schedule which allows us to purchase all of their
toolkits for $99, a $2000 savings, which includes source, documentation
and examples for a number of tested OS/Compilers. However, they are not
shipping Solaris 2.6 nor Linux tested libraries until the end of June.

KB contacted several of the Alpha venders to check into the type of
dimm that is needed by the motherboards in their systems. Newer 600+
MHz Alpha motherboards are using the newer, more expensive 200 pin
dimms.

KB drafted several ASIS-LSC noise model web pages for the groups
website this week. These pages provide access to noise curves, datasets
and C++ source code that was developed during last summer's SURF
Project. KB also began to make corrections to the Warsaw publication
that documents the noise models (C++ code) used to generate the plots
and datasets. The LSC has requested drafts of these webpages be in
place by June 1.

KB and AL interviewed several candidates for software engineering
support in the LDAS. We are looking for individuals with experience
using TCL/TK, sockets, distributed computing, C++ and databases in Unix
environments. If you know anyone that fits this description, send them
my way.

Majid:

In collaboration with Riles, checked all the digital WFS signals.
Performed a number of tests that gave us a better understanding of the
electronics.  Calculated a pitch and yaw signal in software using the
digital signals and compared them with the analog signals.  Tested the
individual DAC channels and found them to be functioning properly.

Continued to collaborate with the VIRGO team to add I/O functionality
for the Frame Class Library.  We are now able to write a minimal frame
using the Fcl library and read it back using VIRGO's C-based Frame
Library.

Anderson:

Worked with Rejean Dupuis to get him started on his summer SURF.

Worked with Patrick Brady to keep our ASIS group going.

Found some furniture and coordinated with Steve Vass to find space at
the 40m to install the data servers.

Sears:

Continuing work on implementation of LDAS Manager and remote clients.

Lazzarini:

Worked with PMA, Physical Plant, and Telephone Office to complete the
specification forthe move of the data group to Millikan 6th floor. An
occupancy chart was drafted and passed on to the respective offices to
incorporate personnel and phone relocation.

Worked with Battelle (Cullen Tollbom) to define a (second!)
mini-MOU/SOW addressing the kind of near-term ESnet access service
support we are requesting from PNNL. It is expected that this
understanding will be signed off by Raab for LIGO and Tollbom for
PNNL.

Contacted SDSC(Jack Donegan) to set into motion the next step of the
LHO-Caltech link, which requires SDSC to route LIGO traffic off ESnet
and onto the SDSC-CACR link. Do not expect too many surprises here.

Met with Bork/Ouimette to revisit the CDS timing approach. Change has
been adopted whioch will drop UTC altogether. Thus LIGO time == GPS
time. Routines will be provided to give Local and UTC from GPS on
consoles for users.

Met with Sigg to discuss the LIGO Time Standards document. Data group
will provide time interconversion utilities based on accepted code
identified by Tilav and implemented on other projects. Tilav will
define the methods and modules needed. Frame names will be based on
DETECTOR-ID_GPSTIME-SECONDS_DELTA-T.EXTENSION format. Where:

DETECTOR-ID == H1,H2,L1,C1,M1,Sn(for simulated data),V,G,T,...as
appropriate.

GPSTIME-SECONDS == GPS (atomic time, no leap seconds) time in seconds
to 10 decimal digits, good for 10^10 - 1 seconds == ~333 years from ~
1980 AD (i.e., we will have a year 2.313K problem).

DELTA-T == duration of frame file (seconds)

EXTENSION == F,A,T (and maybe a few others) reserved by CDS/DAQS;
others as required in analyses.
 
 

1.4.4.2  General Computing (LW/TE)

MIT:

1. Purchased another 9GB drive for user data storage.

2. Continuing with preperations for the move to the new facilities.

Livingston:

1. Had network problems from the LSU side. Livingston was unable to get
outside connectivity for about one day. Things appear to be working
normally at this time. We still have not been informed of why the
network connection to the WAN went down.

2. Preparing for new server installation.

Hanford:

1. Performing a license transfer for Mathematica so they will have a
local Unix network license.

2. Working in getting an Ultra 60 replaced.

3. Working on various H/W and S/W purchases including:  PR for Exabyte
210 tape library is waiting for clarification from vendor on price of
the 210 with two tape drives.  Tracking of Sys. Amdin course purchase
and 2.6 upgrade.

4. Performing a General Computing software license inventory. There
will be a meeting with Larry W., Christine P., and Dave B. the second
week of June to go over licensing, and the server setup. We also hope
to upgrade the server OS at that time.

CIT:

1. Barbara K. continued work on the outgassing application.  Access
doesn't allow nested aggregate functions (i.e. Sum) in expressions and
it doesn't allow the name of a calculated control in the Sum function.
Some of the basic calculations in the query is being tried and then
trying to pass calculated values into custom functions in order to do
the complex calculations.

2. Barbara K. continued analysis of Purchase Requisitions application.
Spent time looking at the log and trying to figure out how to convert
it.  May not be able to link all log entries to their corresponding
requisition in the main database.

3. Upgraded a couple of the PC workstations in Bridge. Jay Heefner has
installed an upgraded PC at Wilson House. The software loads are much
faster on the new units. We are also in the process of purchasing more
memory for some of the PC's. 64MB is no longer sufficient for some of
the applications.

4. We have upgraded the software and installed more memory on the FORE
system 3810 fanout boxes. All but the third floor of Bridge
installations went smoothly. The problems with the third floor unit
were quickly resolved.

5. Multiple new accounts have been added and we are still working on
cleaning out the alias tables. This is still going to take some time.

6. Resolved some of the calendar manager issues. Just as a note the new
OS and system security no longer allows a user/login name of all
capital characters.  Because of this some time in the future the
calendar names being used for scheduling the conference rooms will need
to be changed. Presently, a work around is in-place.

7. Mapped out the hardware to be purchased for the move to Millikan.
The PRs will be going in later to make sure we have some place to put
the equipment when it arrives.

8. Fixed multiple PC's with hardware problems. Most were loose cables
or bad connections.

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH (LS Finn, Mohanty, Mukherjee, Romano)

Sam has been on travel this past week.
 
Date: Thu, 28 May 1998 14:25:28 -0400 (EDT)
From: Janet Houser <houser@ipa.harvard.edu>


Theoretical Modeling


Date: Thu, 28 May 1998
From: Janet Houser (jhouser@cfa.harvard.edu     or     janet@ligo.mit.edu)

February - May 1998

Rotational Instabilities and Stellar Collapse

Rotational instabilities during the gravitational collapse of a rapidly rotating stellar core has long been considered an interesting possible source of gravitational radiation (Schutz 1986). A rapidly rotating core that has exhausted its nuclear fuel could concievably be prevented from collapsing to neutron-star size by centrifugal forces. If a significant amount of angular momentum remains in an initially axisymmetric core, collapse may be slowed or temporarily stalled by centrifugal forces associated with rotation. If the core's rotation is large enough to strongly flatten the core before, or as it reaches nuclear density, then a dynamical and/or secular instability is likely to break the core's axial symmetry. Such instabilities may lead to the growth of non-axisymmetric toroidal modes where m=2 is the dominant ``bar mode''.

A detailed study examining the effect of rotation rate on the gravitational radiation emitted from rapidly rotating pre-supernova cores which had collapsed to near neutron star densities, was accepted for publication to MNRAS (acceptance date: May 20, 1998).

My current focus has been:

 

Neutron Star Inspiral and Coalescence

Coalescing binary neutron stars are among the most promising sources of gravitational radiation for detection by interferometers such as LIGO (Abramovici 1992), VIRGO (Bradaschia et al. 1990), and GEO (Danzmann et al. 1992). Recent studies (Narayan et al. 1991, Phinney 1991, Finn & Chernoff 1993) suggest that binary inspiral due to the effects of energy loss by the gravitational radiation reaction, and the eventual coalescence of the component stars, may be detectable by these instruments at a rate of several per year. The extraction and examination of the inspiral waveforms from these objects will reveal the masses, spins and orbital parameters of these systems. A study of this phenomenon also should yield information about the neutron star radii, and hence the equation of state for nuclear matter which will manifest itself only in the coalescence waveform (Thorne 1996,Thorne 1996a, Cutler et al. 1993, Cutler & Flanagan 1994).

Because of the complex nature of this type of event, three-dimensional numerical simulations are needed to study the detailed hydrodynamical evolution of the coalescence. Using the GR-TREESPH code, I am investigating the effects on the gravitational waveforms of the coalescence of equal- and non-equal mass neutron stars modeled as polytropes under various spins. It is important to model these objects with spin since its effects are believed to produce differences in the gravitational wave energy spectra (Zhuge et al. 1996).

This calculation will be superior to its predecessors because to produce the inspiral, it will not be necessary mimic the effects of the gravitational radiation reaction using an artificial frictional term in the equations of motion (Zhuge et al. 1994, Zhuge et al. 1996). The initial models for this investigation have been created. However, because of computer disk space limitations as well as CPU limitations, these models will not be time evolved until the rotationally unstable stellar core scenarios have completed their evolution.
 
 

REFERENCES

Abramovici, A. et al. 1992, Science, 256, 325.

Bradaschia, C. et al. 1990, Nucl. Instrum. Methods A, 289, 518.

Bonazzola, S., Frieben, J. & Fourgoulhon, E. 1996, ApJ, 460, 379.

Chandrasekhar, S. 1970, Phys. Rev. D, 24, 611.

Cutler, C. et al. 1993, Phys. Rev. Lett., 70, 2984.

Cutler, C. and Flanagan, E. 1994, Phys. Rev. D, 49, 2658.

Danzmann, K. et al. 1992, in Relativistic Gravity Research, Proceedings of the 81WE-Heraus-Seminar, ed. J. Ehlers and G. Schäfer (Berlin: Springer-Verlag 1992).

Barnes, J.E. & Hut, P. 1986, Nature, 324, No. 4, 446.

Finn, L.S. and Chernoff, D. 1993, Phys. Rev. D, 47, 2198.

Friedman, J.L. & Schutz, G.F. 1978, ApJ, 222, 281.

Friedman, J.L. & Schutz, G.F. 1978, ApJ, 222, 1119.

Hernquist, L. & Katz, N. 1989, ApJS, 70, 419.

Houser, J.L. 1998, MNRAS, accepted.

Houser, J.L. 1998a, in preparation.

Hulse, R. & Taylor, J. 1975, ApJ 195,L51.

Misner, C.W., Thorne, K.S., & Wheeler, J.A. 1973, Gravitation, (New York: W.H. Freeman).

Narayan, R., Piran, T. and Shemi, A. 1991, ApJ, 379, L17.

Phinney, E.S. 1991, ApJ, 380, L17.

Schutz, B.F. 1986, in Dynamical Spacetimes and Numerical Relativity, ed. J. Centrella (New York: Cambridge University Press).

Taylor, J. & Weisberg, J. 1982, ApJ, 253, 908.

Thorne, K. 1987, in 300 Years of Gravitation, ed. S.W. Hawking and W. Israel, (New York: Cambridge University Press)

Thorne, K. 1996, in Proceedings of the Snowmass 95 Summer Study on Particle and Nuclear Astrophysics and Cosmology, eds. E. W. Kolb and R. Peccei (World Scientific, Singapore).

Thorne, K. 1996a, Compact Stars in Binaries, Proceedings of IAU Symposium 165, eds. J. van Paradijs, E. van den Heuvel, and E. Kuulkers (Kluwer, Dordrecht).

Zhuge, X., Centrella, J.M., & McMillan, S.L.W. 1994, Phys. Rev. D, 50, 6247

Zhuge, X., Centrella, J.M., and McMillan, S.L.W. 1996, Phys. Rev. D, 54, 7261.


Janet Houser

Thu May 21 15:49:05 EDT 1998
 


WBS 1.4.4.1    Administrative Group


Rita Torres

Spent most of these four days re-formatting material from
Parsons for IFB EJ-297 for Hanford Water System
Integration, including 53 pages of General Provisions.

For W. Tyler did edits to procedures M980131 and M980132.

For P. Lindquist distributed Draft end of March Monthly Progress
Report, and working draft of Operations Budgets Analysis.
 

Irene Baldon

Arranged and processed the paper work for 10 trips. Worked on
the ever present backlog of Expense Reports and completed a
significant amount of reports.

Continued working with Ken Libbrecht on arranging travel for a
number of Undergrads (15) participating in the LIGO/REU/SURF
1998 Summer Program here at Caltech and LIGO/Hanford, WA.

Performed miscellaneous duties as requested by various members
of  the LIGO Project here at Caltech, as well as for members of the
staffs of each of the two (2) sites.

Prepared and distributed the Weekly Travel/Vacation Itinerary Report
for LIGO Staff and Visitors.

Processed both Hourly and Staff Payrolls (due to early submission
of the Staff Payroll because of the Holiday weekend), incorporating
various recent changes, new hires and the processing of Vacation/
Sick Leave accounting.
 

Elizabeth Wood

Continued updating PAN forms since Phil was able to get new account numbers approved from federal accounting.  Prepared memos and instructions for the postdoc office, graduate student office, and faculty office to update those PAN forms I can't do.

Met with Bill Tyler, Linda Turner, and Ed Chargois to discuss the upcoming implementation of the incoming employee checklist.  The division has approved the form as something the division itself may begin to use in the future.

Prepared job requisitions for three LIGO positions.

Met with Human Resources to discuss the relocation expenses and problems associated with relocating.
 

Dorothy Lloyd

Reconciled February status report. Entered AP30 reports into the database.
Continued processing the constantly growing requests for PR's. Processed
POs, Change Orders, Check Request, etc. as well as and extremely heavy load
of invoices. Followed up and tracked many problems with invoice payments.
Continued to monitored and support the temp who has been assigned to me.
Provided clerical support were needed.
 


LIGO Hanford Observatory (LHO) Operations



 
Date: Thu, 28 May 1998 17:50:59 -0700
From: Fred Raab <raab_f@ligo.caltech.edu>

=========================================================
LIGO Hanford Observatory (LHO) Operations (F. Raab)
=========================================================

General Items:
--------------

Otto Matherny and Fred Raab attended the Workshop on Accelerator
Operations in Vancouver, BC last week to learn from the experiences of
people who run large scientific apparatus on around-the-clock schedules.
Fred, Daniel Sigg and Rick Savage also attended an LSC workshop on detector
characterization in Pasadena.

Bake Oven:
----------

Betsy Weaver arrived this week to begin working on her REU project, to
analyze RGA data from the LHO bake ovens and attempt to obtain data on
the mobility of contamination products in our vacuum systems. (Betsy is a
senior astronomy major at Washington State University in Pullman.) The
first step is to get the oven built and operating. After two days on the job
and with Kyle's valuable guidance, Betsy has bolted up a test rig for the RGA
and calibrated leak system. Kyle has gotten a pump wired and fired up. The
baseplate for the oven - which had been damaged in shipment - is being
repaired and is expected back next week. Stay tuned for further details.
 

HAM 1st-Article Test:
---------------------
(C. Gray, H. Radkins, R. Savage)

An order has been placed for much of the remaining "phase 1" hardware which
will be needed. The PO for the survey equipment has been received by the
vendor; they are assembling and prepping equipment for shipment. We have also
ordered an 8' level for use in measurement of the HAM Shell/Support Table
interference problem; this will be valuable in other ways.

In the LVEA, we have finely aligned and located piers for Ham Mock Up Chamber.
Mock Up anchor bolts have been tightened to the recommended torque values.
Mock Up Crossbeams (and support brackets) have also been installed. The Roller
System and its piping platforms are now in work area and the HAM Rail System
is in place around the Mock-Up HAM chamber.

We are working up the SEI subsystem installation procedure as we learn how it
goes together. This includes addressing work arounds for passing the HAM
support tubes from one chamber to the next. It may be possible to eliminate
the need for the piping platform which may be in the way of some other things.
We are also reviewing the utility and potential problems of the Rail System;
the support tube hangs from this system as it is brought into and out of the
HAM chamber.
 

Optics & Lasers:
----------------
(D. Cook)

The Optics Laboratory and the Vacuum Preparation Laboratory casework is
installed, with the exception of some changes to one group of counter tops
that the contractor misordered. This will be rectified by first week in
June. The Laminar Flow bench, Soft Wall enclosure, and additional work tables
are now in the labs as well. Additional laser optics have arrived to
support Daniel Sigg's calibrator measurements. I will be meeting with
Helena and Steve to hopefully finalize the cleaning station equipment
requirements in the Optics Lab on 5/28, here at LHO. This will allow us
to get the longer lead-time items on order. We have the first of the PSL
lasers here with it's accessories, soon to be on line in the Optics Lab. We
will be testing out the chiller capacity using a 100 ft. of cooling hose.
(We will require the extra length in the LVEA.)
 

Computing Systems:
------------------
(C. Patton)

1.  Caltech ID card pictures have been sent to the Card Office at
Caltech.  We should have our cards in a couple of weeks.

2.  Continuing General Computing software license inventory.

3.  Continuing to track delivery of Sys. Admin course and E3000 Solaris
2.6 Upgrade.

4.  PR for Exabyte 210 tape library is waiting for clarification from
vendor on price of the 210 with two tape drives.

5.  Following-up on purchase of license transfer and support services
for Unix Mathematica.
 

Beam-Tube Bake Out:
-------------------
(M. Lubinski, M. Guenther, K. Stiff and W. Althouse)

Electrical Support Services Contract:

Sun River has completed assembly of the 45 KVA transformers and the power
panels.  These units were placed along Y-2 beam tube enclosures.  Sun River
continues to assemble the DC power supplies at their shop.  These DC power
supplies, transformers and cooling water systems will be placed on 40' flat
bed trailers to make it easier to move about the site for set up of each
module bake out.

Cryopumps:

We will begin installation of these pumps next week as we get power along
the tube.

Data Acquisition and Temperature Control System:

I/O boxes for power supply monitoring were sent to our electrical
contractor for installation in the DC power supply trailers.  Software
development continues with alarm, data logging and power supply control.
 


For additional information about this report, contact sanders@ligo.caltech.edu