Weekly Report for Week Ending September 8, 1998



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

The Project Control Meeting Agenda for Monday  September 14, 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:


LIGO Hanford Observatory (LHO) Operations



 
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 18:31:06 -0700
From: Fred Raab <raab_f@ligo.caltech.edu>

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

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

We now have control room furniture and we have moved our daily work
briefings to this room. Shortly we will be bringing "control" to the
control room!

Bake Oven:
----------
(K. Ryan)

The 3rd bake test of the vacuum bake oven was completed earlier this
week. This test differed from previous tests in that, amongst various
heat tape modifications, the parts rack which will be used to support
parts of various girths and geometries was installed inside of the
bake oven prior to testing. Also, this test soaked at a higher
temperature (200C) and for a longer time period (52 hours) than
was done previously.

The thermodynamic behavior of the system is now thought to be
understood well enough to process parts but the residual gas
analyzer (RGA) data is still being debated. Much of this centers
around the partial pressures of AMUs of interest which occur at levels
of the same magnitude as the background/noise.  At present, I am
reviewing the RGA manufacturer's technical data to see "what the
data means" in the context of the settings used for the various user
adjustable parameters with the hope to better understand how to
interpret and optimize the data gathered.  One thing we will try is
to warm up the system to room temp + 10C so that these "hidden"
partial pressures will be elevated above the background etc..

In a nut shell, we may have enough data already to give the green
light but want to convince ourselves that we are seeing what we think
we are seeing.
 

Seismic Isolation Installation:
-------------------------------
(C. Gray)

On the 2k, leveling and adjusting the yaw of the HAM 10 piers was
completed (this completes this work for the 2k HAMs). All of the 2k
HAM piers have been tightened down, but have not been torqued to a
specific value.

HAM 1st Article Test Area has been cleaned up and most of the
equipment has been removed. HAM 13 was handed over to PSI.

The BSC x-beams have arrived (except for one set), along with the 4k
HAM x-beams, BSC Spherical mounts, and 4k HAM X-beam spherical
bearings.

Clean room forklift has been tested for lifting and is ready for
hoisting over the beam tube.

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

We have two Sun Ultra 60 workstations that can be set up in the
Control Room as soon as the holes have been cut in the raised floor
for access to the under-floor power and connection to the CDS network
ATM fiber in the Mass Storage Room.  At this point the Vacuum Control
System is fully networked over the CDS ATM network and could be
operated and monitored from the Control Room.

For General Computing, I've been working on procurement of software,
weekly backups, added a few more user accounts, worked on getting
quotes for FY '99 budget items, started cleaning up some files and
directories on the server, and continued working on .cshrc_global and
setup files.
 

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

We had some problems come up this week. On 9/7/98 at 0539 we had the
Cryopump mounted at port Y2-6 shutdown on low helium discharge. This
caused a release of the contents of the cold plate into the beam tube
(look at Rai's plot from an scan taken 6 hours after the incident).
Also the blanket that is heating the pump shell was not turned off for
several hours and some internal damage may have occurred. The pump
has been removed from the system and sent back to CVI for repair. We
have decided that we should regenerate all of the cryopumps and have
done so. In doing this we have found another Cryopump compressor that
is leaking and it will be shipped back to CVI for repair.

We have installed additional insulation on all of the fixed supports
to reduce the heat loss. This is after several days of plotting and
insulating the two instrumented fixed supports and verifying
thermocouple installation.

**FJR Comment: Whereas the cryopump failure is a real setback, we
expect to have it back by early next week. The cryo regeneration is a
separate, but related issue. The ice layer we have built up on the
cryo cold plates, representing somewhere between a cup and a quart of
water, have a significantly higher emissivity than the metallic cold
plate. This causes excessive heating of the cold plate through
black-body radiation from the hot surroundings. The helium
refrigerators cannot keep up with the thermal loading on the iced
traps. Regeneration "freeze dries" the water from the cold plate and
gets us into the good regime again. Only problem is we have to
regenerate a lot of cryopumps!

The insulation job results from us having found a solution to the cold
spots in the tube at the fixed supports (where beam tube is anchored
to foundation). This and the solving of hot spots near valve bodies
this week represent important progress.*******************
 


LIGO Livingston Observatory (LLO) Operations



 
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 15:21:26 -0700
From: Mark Coles <coles@ligo.caltech.edu>

We are continuing to refine and scrub our support equipment budgets for the
Livingston Observatory. We have developed a "bare bones" procurement plan
for items needed this fall so that the site will be prepared and ready to
support detector installation in January.

A Safety Walk Through was held Sept. 10. Gary Sanders, Bill Tyler, Mike
Zydowicz, and Ed Innabi (AON - which provides facility risk assessment
services to Caltech) attended with Livingston staff. Innabi will submit a
written list of recommendations to mitigate risk at the site. The
suggestion with the greatest financial and operational impact on us is his
recommendation that a fire sprinkler system be retrofit into the OSB area.

Fork Lift Training and Certification was held at the site. An outside
contractor presented a training seminar, then tested and certified
Livingston staff members in use of the forklifts. All forklift use at this
site will now be done exclusively by forklift operators that are trained
and certified.


WBS 1.1    Facilities Group



 
From: "Gerry Stapfer" <gerry@ligo.caltech.edu>
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 17:07:52 -0500

WBS 1.1.1 Vacuum Equipment(Worden)
1.  Gate Valves: The X-mid station is now under vacuum again in preparation
for the in-situ leak tests of 4 valves(13,14,15,16).  6 of 8 beam tube
valves have undergone 50 cycle testing.  However, bellows delivery continues
to be the weak link and PSI is considering a trip to the bellows vendor in
Florida.  Valve rework has slipped about 2 weeks - PSI estimates Hanford
completion mid-October.

a.  WGV11 (Y-end) Complete.
b.  WGV12 (Y-mid BT) Complete.
c.  WGV17 (Y-end BT) Complete.
d.  WGV14 (X-mid) Ready for in-situ leak test
e.  WGV18 (Y-mid) Ready for in-situ leak test
f.  WGV20 (X-end) Complete.
g.  WGV16 (X-mid BT) 50 cycles complete. In-situ testing started.
h.  WGV15 (X-mid) 5 cycles passed.
i.  WGV19 (X-end BT) Complete, not yet accepted.
j.  WGV3 (LVEA-48) Ready for in-situ leak test.
k.  WGV5 (LVEA-44) Waiting for bellows.
l.  WGV10 (Y-mid) Waiting for  bellows.
m.  WGV6 (LVEA-BT) Ready for in-situ leak test.
n.  WGV8 (LVEA-BT) 50 cycles complete. Ready for in-situ leak test.
o.  WGV1 (LVEA-48) Most work completed, however noise on actuation may mean
redoing some.
p.  WGV13 (X-mid BT) 50 cycles underway.
q.  WGV4 (LVEA-48) New bellows installed-ready for test.
r.  WGV7 (LVEA-44) Waiting for bellows.
s.  WGV9 (Y-mid) Waiting for bellows and ball screw.

2.  The X-2 module will be vented again for the VAT valve adjustments later
this month.
 
Livingston Installation (Allen Sibley)
 
>PSI has started the bake of the x arm end station. They have ramped the
temperature to 75-80 deg. C and the pressure is 1.1E-5 and holding.
>
>PSI has submitted a ROM for the repair of the x arm mid point valve. They
propose to clean the mid station building, cover the inside with plastic and
plumb in the old CBI BDF unit and maintain the whole building as a clean
space. Their proposed start date may be slipping due to late delivery of
bellows from GNB's supplier.
 

Hanford Construction (Otto Matherny)

Levernier
All the outstanding items are complete.Levernier has completed their
contractual obligations. At the present time we are reconciling all the
payments and credits for the final payment.
The sum of the two contracts,Infrastructure Construction and Beam Tube
Enclosure, is $18,741,674.00 and the amount to be reconciled is $34,853.70.
 

OTHER ITEMS
We received the first submittal from the Water Modification contract.
The new Staging Building contract package was presented to the NSF.We should
have a reply by the end of this week.
 
Livingston Construction (Gerry Stapfer)

The contractors have made an attempt to fix the leaks. As of this time, two
places are still leaking, though considerably less than before.

The advertisement for the preventive maintenance contract has been published
in the Baton Rouge Advocate. The proposals are due in by the middle of
October.
 


WBS 1.2, 1.3    Detector Group


Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 19:45:57 -0400
From: David Shoemaker <dhs@ligo.mit.edu>

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

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

40m (Jennifer Logan)
--------------------

We are currently looking at the what triggers the full interferometer
to fall out of lock.  It is apparent that the recycling mirror servo is
the first loop to react; the correction signal to the mirror is
initially slowly varying, then after some period of time sharply takes
off and saturates.  It is not clear what triggers this although it is
somewhat reminiscent of the discovery that the BS loop needed its
polarity flipped in recombination.  Initial attempts at flipping the RM
loop polarity have so far not met with success.  (SMAC had predicted
that the BS loop should be flipped, the RM loop should not). The other
question we are facing is how to install wavefront sensors.  Since the
interferometer is in general somewhat misaligned (i.e. there is a 01 /
10 mode at the dark port) we see large fluctuations in the power level
in the interferometer which produces large fluctuations in the optical
gains making the whole system less than robust.
 

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

ASC/IAS Design and Fabrication (K.Mason, M.McInnis)
------------------------------------------------
The optical lever support stands have been approved for shipment. Nine
are being shipped to Hanford and 4 to Louisiana. The 5th stand for
Louisiana will be used as a test stand at MIT until it is needed.

The MMT3 optical lever with stand and base has been assembled in our
high bay area.

A DCN is being distributed incorporating a new photodiode enclosure and
with improvements made since the prototype was fabricated.
 

ASC/IAS and ASC/WFS Design and Fabrication (M. Smith)
-----------------------------------------------------
I finished the design for the enclosure and assembly to the Wave Front
Sensor photodetector and sent out for fabrication of the enclosure.  I
received the first article enclosure and fit checked it with an empty
PWB board.  I also received the parts to assemble the flat ribbon
cable.  Everything was fine so I went ahead and ordered 6 more
enclosures to be built.

I ordered the remaining 24 enclosures for the Optical Lever quadrant
photo diodes.

Started the design of the Wedges for the Optical Levers to the 2K.

    #MZ note: these "Wedges" are mechanical
    adapters between BSC SEI piers and optical
    lever laser/quadrant detector assemblies.

LSC lock acquisition (Ware)
---------------------------
I've been working on the FDR items -- sign flips, present and absent,
increasing the phase margins on the L- loop while taking into account
delays caused by signal processing and the necessary notch for the
first internal mode.  Some success, still room for improvement.  I
also changed the IFO parameters from the set that Lisa handed me
(c. 10/97) to the newest set from Nergis.  As always with SMAC, this
was harder and took longer than it needed to.  Go figure.  This also
led to a question of exactly where the recycling cavity pick-off is
obtained in real life, and where it is taken in SMAC.  I am still
uncertain of the answer to this, but after a bit of experimentation, I
think the difference involves, you guessed it, a sign flip in one of
the states.  So maybe not a big deal.
 

-------------------------------------------
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)
--------------------------------------------

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

- The PSL has been shipped to the Hanford site for installation.  Various
pieces of the PSL are still en route.

- Installation of the PSL at the Hanford site has commenced.  Most of the
electronics rack hardware has been installed.  Parts of the secondary
PSL/IOO optical table enclosure have been cleaned in preparation for
deployment in the LVEA.
 
 
Input/Output Optics -- Dave Reitze, UF
-----------------------------------------

IOO installation at LHO

UF personnel at LHO are Qi-Ze Shu and David Reitze.

We did a test on the strength of the epoxy bonding of the standoffs which
were glued on the cvi 1" window previously. Force is applied to the
dumbbell perpendicular to the axis and is increased until the bonding
breaks.  The results show that if the glue is applied within 30 min. after
mixing, the breaking force is in the range from 4.6 kg to 5 kg.

We started to hang a dummy test mirror on our test SOS.  The table we used
to balance the mirror was leveled to within 0.05 mRad with the table
flatness in the same order.  In the process of hanging one of the side
standoff/magnets came off.
The two side magnet/standoff were not glued satisfactorily as we noted in
last report.  The hanging and balancing procedure will resume after we get
the  quad diode.

We also started to measure and match the field strength of the magnets. The
magnet/magnet variation of all magnets tested is no more +-3% from the
average,
so that it is easy to meet the +-5% matching in the SOS specifications.

Three parts for the 8 SOS's used in the 2-km interferometer have had to be
reworked in our shop (on account of galling problems during assembly) and
are ready to be shipped to Caltech for bakeout. Additional (spare) magnet
standoffs have been made and will also be shipped for bakeout.

Optics cleaning and  storage

Aluminum parts for storing cleaned 3" mirrors are in production in the UF
shop.
Some effort has been spent on designing 10" mirror containers.  A valuable
design lesson was learned: that it is first necessary to talk to the
machinist to see what is possible.  The design has been totally rethought
and drawings are being made.

High power testing

We remeasured the power dependence of the isolation of the EOT 8 mm
Faraday isolator. By having the laser beam passing through at the right
transversal position of the TGG crystal and adjusting the orientation
(azimuth) of the polarizer properly, it is possible to improve the
isolation ratio (single-pass) to be 2e-5 at a incident power level of 8 W.
The same quadratic power dependence as the case of a bare TGG was observed
when the polarizers orientation was adjusted at every power level. This
indicates that the total angle of the Faraday rotation changes slightly as
the power is varied because of the temperature dependence of the Verdet
constant.

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

Gari is still on jury duty. Acceptance testing of the repaired IR
interferometer is scheduled for next week. (JC)
 

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

Helena has spent the week at REO participating in the cleaning and
inspection of the 4 2kITM's now at REO for coating. The residue which
stained the beamsplitters has been observed and has found to have come
from tape, which is used to insulate the optic holding fixtures from
the mixture of alcohol and water used to clean the optic while in the
spin cleaner. Apparently the beam splitters were more suspectible to
staining from the residue being splashed around the spin cleaner as
they are thinner than the other optics, which places their surface
closer to the holding fixture. Modifications of the taping method are
being pursued.

At this point all 4 HR sides have been coated. Inspection shows a slight
amount of residue on one of the surfaces in the form of small drops about
1 inch from the edge. The rest of the surfaces are completely clean.
Application of the coating makes a faint amount of residue easier to see,
which may be why the small drops were not seen prior to coating.
Modifications to the inspection process are being pursued, including an
illumination system with better contrast and a darker background. AR
coating of the optics has started and is expected to be concluded on Friday.
(JC)

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

BEAM-DUMPS:
A. Bagdalian has completed the rework drawings for the prototype double
beam-dump. The shop is making the parts. Maybe we will be able to perform
the vibration test next week.

ITM BAFFLE:
A. Rosa is assisting P. Kabot in making 2D detail parts drawings for the
large vertex baffle from the completed 3D design layout.

PRODUCTION:
Alignment Telescope/autocollimator--
An order has been placed with Velmex for a two-axis positioning stage to
hold the alignment telescope mount.

ETM and PO Telescope-
Proposal presentations were received from CC Development, Alliance
Spacesystems, and Optics One for completion of the mechanical design of the
ETM and PO telescopes. A contract is expected to be let early next week.

FARADAY ISOLATOR SYSTEM
M. Smith has completed an analysis of the effect of tilting the half wave
plate on the transmissivity of the Faraday Isolator, prior to writing the
specification for the half wave plate. The zero-order wave plate can be
tilted <2.5 degrees to avoid direct reflections into the IFO, and the
transmissivity through the Faraday isolator/analyzer will be >99.9 %.
 

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

Seismic Design (Mike Fine)
--------------------------------------
1. Coarse Actuator:
Hytec has completed the assembly of the electromechanical and pneumatic
subsystems and install them into the prototype chamber.  The motor cables,
encoder cables and pneumatic lines have been connected and run. The rack
and software components has been checked out.  Hytec is currently
testing air bearings and expecting to complete by tomorrow.

2. Scissors Table Testing
The scissors table testing was slowed to assist in the assembly of the 1st
article prototype BSC there at Hytec. The static testing will continue
early next week and is expected to be complete by the end of next week.

3. Rack Assembly:
All of the "full-length" motor cables have been constructed.  Hytec created
two junction boxes which will mount to the BSC piers.  These boxes house
air bearing status LEDs, emergency stop buttons, and various motor cable
connections.

4. BSC Prototype Assembly at Hytec:
The mechanical subsystems have all been assembled and placed in their
respective
position within the prototype assembly.  An assembly procedure is currently
being written based on the procedure outlined by Hytec and implemented during
the prototype assembly.

Suspension -- (Janeen Hazel/Mark Barton/Mike Fine)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1. LOS Welded Structure:
Jannen visited Brookfield last week and resolved many fabrication issues
on LOS1, LOS2, and height adapters. She also discussed LOS3 RFQ package and
reviewed the drawings with Brookfield.
 
2. LOS Fixtures:
Janeen is working on the earthquake stop redesign.

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

Global Diagnostics System (Daniel Sigg)
--------------------------------------------------------------------

No report.
 

Physics Environment Monitor (Alex Marin)
-------------------------------------------

The geophones are repaired and returned to MIT. First tests
performed by David and Alex indicated good correlation
between the two sets of geophones. A new Wilcoxon
accelerometer (as proposed for the PEM seismic system)
arrived and will be tested soon.
U. of Oregon group prepared a paper with the proposal for
the magnetic excitation system. The design looks good and
we are looking for a power amplifier to be able to drive
this system in a wide range of impedances for a bandwidth of
DC to at least 1kHz.

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

The ringdown data for both cavities 2 (viton) and 3 (empty) still do
not show a significant change for the third week after the earthquake,
also true for the mode spacing data.  A week or two is needed before
completing the test on both cavities.

Investigating the absorption effect by air with the Loss Scanner under
two cavity length configurations.

Working on serial communications between a PC and various devices such
as a motor controller and a power meter.
 

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

Suspension
===========================================
- Testing of SOS Controllers continues. We now have 16 units, fully
operational
and ready for installation.
- 50 Satellite amplifier boards have been ordered and are due back from the
board house next week.
- The Suspension whitening board is out for fab and is due back next week.

ASC
===========================================
- The ASC/LSC software and hardware test stand has been put back together and
Lori is resurrecting the code.
- We have had several meeting with Rolf to discuss how to integrate the ISC
real
time servo software and the DAQ/GDS software.

IOO
===========================================
- Prototype test of the demod board are complete. The schematics and PCB
will be
rev'd and boards fabricated for installation.
- Prototype tests of the MC alignment whitening board are complete. The
schematics and PCB files have been updated and the artwork will be sent to
the
board house next week.
- Prototype tests of the PZT driver board have been started and should be
completed by 9/17/98.
- Sander says the EO Shutter control is ready to ship to MIT for testing with
a real shutter. We are doing some last minute tests.

Timing System
=============================================
The first article GPS Level 1 clock fanout has been tested. We will send the
other boards out for stuffing. The Level 2 clock fanout boards are overdue.
They should be here today. The GPS clock tester board is due in about a
week. We are writing a description of the system now. All of the clock
distribution cables and connectors are here.

PSL Support
============================================
The pockel cell driver is essentially done. We are mounting this prototype
unit on a Eurocard board and will ship it to the PSL guys at Hanford.
 


WBS 1.4    Project Office



 

 1.4.1.2 Project Controls (Lindquist)


CHANGE CONTROL (Lindquist)

We held a meeting of the LIGO Change Control Board on Tuesday, September 8, 1998. The following Change Requests were approved:
 
CR-980035 WBS 1.1.4 Livingston Electric Power Costs for FY 1999 G. Stapfer
CR-980036 WBS 1.1.4 Livingston Electric Power Costs for FY 1998 F. Asiri
CR-980037 WBS 1.1.4 Hanford Water System Integration F. Asiri
CR-980038 WBS 1.2.4 Core Optics Components Repolishing S. Whitcomb
CR-980039 WBS 1.1.1 Miscellaneous Vacuum Equipment Charges J. Worden
CR-980040 WBS 1.1.1 PSI Contract and Payment Milestone Modifications J. Worden
 
The following Change Request has been submitted:
 
CR-980041 WBS 1.2.1 Seismic Isolation System, Left Handed Spring Seats S. Whitcomb
 


LIGO Weekly Site Telecon (Jasnow)

A Site Telecon was held on Thursday, September 10, 1998. The revised action list is as follows:
 
Action No. Description Responsibility Assigned Date Due Date
1 Prepare Operations Work Plan Budgets for FY 1999 Proposal Lindquist August 6, 1998 September 18, 1998
4 Proceed with Credit Cards for Sites Jasnow August 6, 1998 September 17, 1998
5 Determine how we pay BO tax due State of Washington Jasnow August 6, 1998 September 17, 1998
7 Funding for Louisiana Access Road Stapfer August 20, 1998 September 17, 1998 
9 Move Responsibility for Hanford Travel to Hanford Jasnow/Lindquist August 27, 1998 September 17, 1998
10 Procedure to Cover Late Charges for Invoice Payments Jasnow August 27, 1998 September 17, 1998
13 Form Letter for Requesting Travel to the Sites F. Raab September 10, 1998 September 17, 1998
 
 

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (Chargois)

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

Nothing significant to report.


DOCUMENT CONTROL CENTER (Turner)

>From: the DCC <dcc@ligo.caltech.edu>

Nothing significant to report.


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

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

No report, on vacation.

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

No report.

>From: Kris Duncan <kris@ligo.caltech.edu>

Input the following Change Request's into the Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB) for the August 1998 reporting period:
 

CR-980031 Beam Tube Taxes, Clear Caps, FTIRs, and Work Stoppages $  75,306
CR-980033 Travel for Detector Installation $ 167,200
CR-980034 Hanford Building including Mezzanine $ 224,000
Attended the September 8 CCB meeting and have reviewed CR's 980035 - 40 for inclusion into the September 1998 PMB.
Assisted in the preparation of the July 1998 NSF monthly report.

Advanced calendars in COBRA to August 1998 and posted earned value for LIGO PMB3 and 4.  Received actual costs and commitments for the end of August and posted to LIGO PMB 1, 2, 3, and 4.  Began a reconciliation of actual costs to date and made appropriate corrections.

Updated the schedule value of milestones for the Facilities and Vacuum Equipment effort and entered all earned value received to date. Updated and distributed the EAC worksheets for August 1998.  The worksheets are due back to Project Controls on Monday, September 14.

Programmed and ran a special report for WP 5N510 showing actual costs to date by budget element in preparation for a change request.

Updated and distributed first draft schedules for August 1998 reporting period.

Finished work on the Hytec schedule for Seismic Isolation.  All changes to the Hytec schedule that effect the Project Level One Milestones have been incorporated into the Open Plan schedule for the Seismic Isolation effort.


SUBCONTRACTS MANAGEMENT (Petrac, Jasnow)

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

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

A teleconference was held on Tuesday, September 8, with representatives of the NSF to discuss the proposed subcontract with George Grant Construction for the Hanford Staging Building in the amount of $734,000.  Detailed
discussions were held regarding the 46% disparity between the low bid and the LIGO estimate, as well as reasons for accepting the low bid.  Approval of this subcontract is expected shortly.  In anticipation of that approval, three copies of the contract were sent to George Grant for signature. Execution by Caltech will follow receipt of NSF approval.

Three copies of the Hanford mechanical maintenance contract were sent to Siebe for their signature.

Twenty copies of the Request for Quotation for the mechanical maintenance contract for Livingston were sent to Livingston for distribution to contractors requesting them.  Quotations are due on October 15.


COSTS AND COMMITMENTS AUDIT (Lindquist)

While we have been scrubbing the LIGO Construction Project Cost and Commitment data, we have been monitoring the “Beginning Balances” as a measure of our progress.  There may be legitimate expenses in the beginning balance, for example costs are transferred into the beginning balance when a subcontract is closed. However, frequently a beginning balance indicates a problem such as a correction into the account number rather than the specific subcontract line item. This, in turn, can inflate the open commitments. Kay Hattori, one of the auditors, has prepared a summary of the beginning balances remaining as of the end of August for the subcontract subaccounts (3220 and 3230). I have distributed copies.

Note that the beginning balance for subcontracts was reduced by $5.5 million as a result of corrections entered during August..


Reports and Proposals (Lindquist)

Draft copies of the Monthly Status Report for the end of July have been distributed for review. A first draft of the text for the FY 1999 Operations Work Plan has also been distributed for review. Comments are due at the end of next week.


TECHNICAL CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT (Althouse)

>From: wea@acrux (William Althouse)

No report - on vacation.


1.4.2.1 Quality Assurance (Tyler)

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

No report.
 


WBS 1.4.3    Systems Engineering



 
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 17:55:04 -0700 (PDT)
From: Albert Lazzarini <lazz@ligo.caltech.edu>

1.4.3  Systems Engineering

1.4.3.1  Systems Engineering & Integration (AL, DC)

__Integration Planning: Nothing to report

__Analyses: Lazzarini continued working on the BT databasearchive.

__Reliability:

The Control and Monitoring System (CM) Reliability Prediction Report
was distributed for review September 8, 1998.  Review comments are due
9/15/98.

Initiated effort on fault tree analysis of ISC.

__Integrated Layout/Drawings:

ELEVATED PLATFORMS

    Sample platform w/deeper top step is being ordered as possible work
station. Also
    plan to model two versions of a working platform in mock-up area.

SEISMIC BALANCE WEIGHTS

    Waiting for quotes from two vendors.

X-BEAM & Y-BEAM SPOOL BAFFLES

   Design is finished and detail drawings have been started.
 

__Mock-ups: Nothing to report
 

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

Hiro:
 

1) Mechanics part of e2e

Report from Cella
 

     I am currently working on two subject:

     1. I am writing the code for the initialization of the Mechanical
     simulation engine. This is composed of a translator, which
     convert information extracted from the configuration file in
     an internal representation form, and of an
     optimizator/configurator,
     which reduce the model to the most efficient form to solve a
     particular problem.  Actually I am working on the first part.

     2. I am constructing some lumped parameter models for the elements
     which compose the Seismic Stack. The main aim of this activity
     is
     to recognize which pieces of old software can be
     reused/adapted.
     Also, I want write a complete model (though not detailed) of
     the
     Seismic Stack and use it as a test bed for the code I am
     developing.

     I think I can work efficiently for approximatively two week
     without inputs from you, however as soon as possible I would start
     to integrate my code with your End-to-End model (GUI+Adlib).

Cella has setup an account for us on his machine, and Ed is going to
install our current codes on his machine. Ed has sent him exmple codes
of mechanical modules so that he can implement his code easily.

Cella said he is using a commercial software library by NAG. It turned
out that Caltech has site licence of the library. Hiro is checking if
this is a good way to go or not.

2) single mode part of adlib

A long standing difficult problem of the michelson cavity has been
solved. Now we go into the final full validation of the LIGO
configuration.

3) multi mode part of adlib

Biplab is back working on the multi mode field of the adlib.  The code
is written in such that the code can be easily modifed when blitz++
library is adopted

4) alfi

Ed kept working on the revision of alfi based on a much more robust
structure.

5) Ed worked to setup the new server machine on Millikan 6th floor.
This included the installation of new egcs and blitz. He found that,
finally, blitz could be compiled successfully.

Anderson:

Evaluating XML as a proposed replacement for the LIGO light weight data
format.

Working with LIGO/SRL/CACR systems people to maintain reliable
high-speed network connectivity on campus between these organizations
in the aftermath of the CACR move to the basement of Booth, and the
LIGO data anlysis group move to the 6'th floor of Millikan.

[Kent will be out for a few days]

Farnham/Ehrens:

During the last week I have been creating C++ classes to represent the
LIGO light-weight data.  This consists of classes which represent
arbitrary XML tags, CharData, etc. along with the code to read/parse
and write in XML format.  I have also written some sample classes to
represent specialized tags (such as vectors).
 

Adapted the HTML Tcl library for arbitrary tag
  processing.  This involved changing the overall structure of the
  library to a more open model.  It worked.

Majid:

Tried to compile some data on the population of galactic matter within
a 200 Mpc distance from us, to better understand LIGO's need for future
enhancements.  I will expand my list to include the objects in the
Tully Catalogue of nearby galaxies.  A preliminary plot of the
integrated galactic distribution can be viewed at:
    http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/~wmajid/gal.gif

I spend some time this week helping Bruce Allen with some of the timing
conversion issues as they relate to our DAQ and Frames.  There have
been a number of hardware changes as well as software updates, which
has added to the confusions.

I had a meeting with Rolf this week, where we discussed the status of
DAQ and what role I can continue to play.  I have agreed for now to
look at the output of our prototype DAQ and check the validity of the
written frames.  We also discussed the need for a better way of
encapsulating our slow monitoring data.  Currently we are using two
static data classes and one slow monitoring class in the frame library
to write the slow monitory data.

Tilav:

Serap has begun exploring applicability/utility of wavelet analysis for
detector diagnostics.

1.4.4.2  General Computing (LW/TE/SS/BK)
 

MIT:

1. Setup mirrored disk for the /dtadsk/data2 disk at Caltech.
 

Livingston:

1. Received another PC and set it up for Mark Coles. Moved a number of
the existing machines around to accommodate the users.

Hanford:

0.      Lazzarini has been in contact with LBNL (Rich Wilson) regarding
the DOE PO being prepared as an attachment to the MOU between DOE and
NSF. Wilson believes the contractual issues will be complete within the
month.

1.  Added a couple more user accounts.  Did the weekly backup of the
user directories.

2.  Continued with software procurements and installations. Also,
working details for future procurement needs.

3.  Continued with making a .cshrc_global file and with cleaning up the
root and usr directories on the server.
 

CIT:

1. Barbara K continued to work on setting up DCC webbase application on
NT machine.

2. Barbara K. researched problems some external users are having with
web site.

3. Suresh installed application software on Irene Baldon's PC after the
motherboard and disk had been replaced(Micron unit). Apart from minor
adjustments that are needed it appears to be working fine.

4. (Suresh)About 10 Sun boxes have been upgraded to Solaris 2.6.

5. Dorothy's PC has been connect to the 115 subnet. Dorothy had
reported some problems but we were not able to duplicate them.
Everything appears to be working at this time.

6. Completed monthly backup remaining home directories in sirius
(home6, home7 and home8). The tape robot has problems when it has to
backup the external disk drives on multiple tapes. This is an issue we
will look into at a later time.

7. Resolved the issue with /dtadsk/data2 not exporting correctly. There
was an extra carriage return in the export file (probably from using
cut and paste).

8. Multiple e-mail accounts have been fixed along with a few user
accounts having setup problems.

9. All of the old ligo server machines have been disconnected. So far
the only problems have been from people that still reference those
machines in their startup files.

10. The printer on the second floor of W. Bridge has been repaired,
returned and is working.

11. Finally, (hopefully) we have the SUN maintenance contract on Sirius
worked out. Hanford is paying for the maintenance on the server there
from their account and we were having a problem getting it taken off of
the CIT contract.

12. We have been working with Ed M. and Kent B. on getting the LDAS
programming server setup and going. Along that line the polaris has
been switched over to be the server, so, polaris no longer exists as a
work station.

13. We spent some more time with Caltech property in getting equipment
labeled.

14. Still working on the CCB items. Most of the data has been acquired
and now working on the write-ups for the change requests.
 
 


WBS 1.4.4.1    Administrative Group


 Rita Torres

 For I. Petrac did first pass to contract with University of Pisa, edits to Brookfield Machine change order No. 5.

 For E. Jasnow did edits to RFQ EJ-305 for Mechanical Maintenance at LIGO Livingston; included 53 pages of general provisions. Obtained 20 copies of RFQ then sent to G. Stapfer who will send to bidders. Did PC278721 with Siebe Environmental Controls for Mechanical Maintenance at Hanford; did letter to FedEx the contract for signature. Did letter to George A. Grant to FedEx with contract for signature. Did RFQ EJ-306 for Photo Copiers, faxed then FedExed to vendors.

 For S. Whitcomb did distribution to MIT and CIT science groups.

 For P. Lindquist distributed: CCB minutes of 8/18/98 meeting, also material for upcoming CCB, Draft end of July monthly progress.

 For W. Tyler emailed final version of M980005 for sign off.

 Arranged for three airfares and a cash advance in I. Baldon's absence. Chased delivery of office supplies from Viking Products.

 

Elizabeth K. Wood

 Began the preparations for the semi-annual NSF review at Hanford, ordering supplies, typing letters, arranging with Irene for travel for the participants, among other things.

 Made contact with John Saris, the technical recruiter over in HR to help us hire some difficult-to-fill positions. We will be meeting with him sometime next week to discuss filling some positions in Albert’s group.

 Continued working on relocation issues.

 Went with the PMA Administrator and LIGO’s safety people on a pre-inspection inspection of LIGO’s labs and offices. The official inspection will be on or about September 22.

 Applied what I have been learning from Dorothy about POs and purchase requisitions by typing up a few in Dot’s absence.

Dorothy Lloyd

Dorothy has been on vacation this week and, unbeknownst to any of us, has been sneaking in to work while we weren't looking. Is that dedication or what?
 

Irene Baldon

 I returned from vacation on Tuesday, 9/8, only to find my computer was still disabled. It originally crashed on Monday morning, 8/24, and I've been without since that time. The necessary hardware was finally replaced on Wednesday,9/9, and my software was then reinstalled. This took until noon on 9/10. While this was going on I did as much as I could by hand and by phone, and I also used someone else's machine when I could. Thank you for your patience during this difficult time.

  


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