Weekly Report for Week Ending September 29, 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  October 5, 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:  NSF review preparation


Special Announcements:

Revised operational documents have been placed on the Hanford operational procedures web site. The site is:

http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/~sanders/Hanford_Operational_Procedures/

The revised procedures pertain to venting a 2 kilometer beam tube module and the training certificate for each employee or working visitor. These can be found at:

http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/~sanders/Hanford_Operational_Procedures/Hanford_Certificate_of_Training_m980051-b-m.PDF

http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/~sanders/Hanford_Operational_Procedures/Hanford_BT_Module_Vent_m980098-a-m.PDF


LIGO Hanford Observatory (LHO) Operations



 
Date: Fri, 02 Oct 1998 07:04:41 -0700
From: Fred Raab <raab_f@ligo.caltech.edu>

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

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

The PSL laser has been shut down following an incident where the 10-W
beam escaped the laser-table enclosure. The PSL team works
within a secondary, movable safety enclosure that surrounds the laser
table and work area (about a 24-ft square work area), so there was
never any danger to other workers in the LVEA from the incident.
Members of the PSL team inside the secondary enclosure were eye safe
with their goggles on, and no one was contacted by the beam. But we now
have some serious burns in a computer monitor to underscore the need
for vigilance in working with this powerful laser source.

An analysis of this incident and an explanation of the need for prompt
notification when similar incidents occur was the topic of the weekly
Business & Safety Meeting at LHO on 9/29, which included participants
from Pasadena (via conference phone) .Steps to improve the safety
of laser operations were discussed and Peter King and Doug Cook were
tasked with drafting a revised Standard Operating Procedure for the PSL
operation in the LVEA. It is hoped that this work can be concluded and
laser operation resumed by the week of October 5.
 
 
 

Seismic Isolation Installation:
-------------------------------
(C. Gray & H. Radkins)

Completed the surveying task for locating the Grout Plates for the
Optical Levers in the LVEA. Still need final approval on the positions,
then we can mark and drill holes, and finally, locate the Grout Plates.

Protection for the Bellows is on the table with comments incoming for
decision 10-1.

HAM--All 2K Piers have been torqued down and the grouting was scheduled
to start 9-29 but should go 10-1. Apollo has completed the floor
roughing on the 4K pier so now Piers can be installed.

BSC--All the BSC Pier locations (Anchor Bolts) have been marked in the
LVEA!  We need to make check measurements on a few still. The first
Piers were located on the anchor bolts late 9-30!

BSC 1st-Article Test:
---------------------
(H. Radkins)

Actuation(HYTEC)--Motion has been going on for a couple weeks now.
Position monitoring is in progress. Complicated motion (multi axis) is
soon to follow.  Next week: Fine-x motion!
 

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

VAT Technicians were out here last week to adjust the 10" valves on the
ports for the 3 remaining modules at Hanford (Y1, X1, X2). Adjustments
were completed and leak checking of valve bonnets seals is proceding.

The Bake Out has continued with some minor problems. PS2 (DC power
supply) breaker tripped Sunday (9/20/98). We investigated the possible
causes and have been unable to determine a specific cause (we are
continuing to monitor this very closely). We are also investigating
possible replacements, refurbishment or bypassing of these breakers to
preclude any further problems. The Cryopumps are working and there have
been a couple of temperature transients, we are investigating these to
try and determine what could be the cause.

The required outgassing target for water has been achieved and the
hydrocarbon outgassing appears to confirm that we have a clean module.
We have therefore begun reducing the Y-2 module temperature. This is
being done in steps to diagnose the source(s) and strength(s) of
hydrogen seen in the beam tube.

 


LIGO Livingston Observatory (LLO) Operations



 
Date: Thu, 01 Oct 1998 12:56:24 -0700
From: Mark Coles <coles@ligo.caltech.edu>
 

We are working on a layout for the additional office needs that will be
required once detector installation starts. We are getting quotes for the
furnishings from several suppliers.

We are also getting quotes for additional landscaping at the site. We hope
to have some sketches and cost quotes soon that we can discuss with LIGO
management.

We received a quote from Aetna Insurance for health insurance at the site.
This has been passed on to Liz Wood for evaluation by Caltech HR.

Several safety issues were addressed: 5 MPH speed limit signs were
installed in all areas that forklifts will be
operated, and a first draft of the LLO Accident and incident investigation
report was created. Modified generic forklift "pre-operation" checklist for
our needs. Each forklift will have its own checklist aboard.

We have scheduled our first outreach participation in "Family Science
Nights" with three minority elementary schools in East Baton Rouge Parish
later this year. We have been working through Mignon Morgan, who is the NSF
Program Coordinator for science education in the EBR schools and is a
former participant in Caltech's CAPSI program.


WBS 1.1    Facilities Group



 
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1998 16:34:52 -0700
From: John Worden <worden@ligo.caltech.edu>

WBS 1.1.1 Vacuum Equipment(Worden)
    GNB hopes to complete the Hanford work this week
    and move on to Livingston.
    50 cycle tests are underway on the last two beam
    tube valves.
 
    1. Gate Valves:
    a. WGV11 (Y-end) Complete.
    b. WGV12 (Y-mid BT) Complete.
    c. WGV17 (Y-end BT) Complete.
    d. WGV14 (X-mid) Complete.
    e. WGV18 (Y-mid) Ready for in-situ leak test
    f. WGV20 (X-end) Complete.
    g. WGV16 (X-mid BT) Complete.
    h. WGV15 (X-mid) Complete.
    i. WGV19 (X-end BT) Complete.
    j. WGV3 (LVEA-48) Ready for in-situ leak test.
    k. WGV5 (LVEA-44) Waiting for bellows.
    l. WGV10 (Y-mid) New bellows passed leak test.
    m. WGV6 (LVEA-BT) Ready for in-situ leak test.
    n. WGV8 (LVEA-BT) Ready for in-situ leak test.
    o. WGV1 (LVEA-48) Complete.
    p. WGV13 (X-mid BT) Complete.
    q. WGV4 (LVEA-48) Complete.
    r. WGV7 (LVEA-44) Waiting for bellows.
    s. WGV9 (Y-mid) Waiting for bellows and ball screw.
    t. WGV2 (LVEA-48) Complete.

Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1998 07:48:28 -0700
From: Larry Jones <jones_l@ligo.caltech.edu>

a. Livingston Installation
 
    CBI performed the Y Arm preview accum on 9/23 and Shaw's
    first cut check of air signature taking AMUs 32 & 40
    directly is 8E-7 & 5E-7 tl/s--an encouraging level at
    1000 hr pumping, for the whole arm.

    CBI's data collection equipment was again damaged by
    lightning, losing a circuit board and a computer.
    Shaw has proposed that temperature and pressure monitoring
    only take place during accumulations, and that the system
    be disconnected from the tube at all other times to
    minimize future damage. A compromise is being considered.

    Worden has requested one of the roughing carts used by CBI
    to be shipped to Hanford for use in pumping down modules
    prior to bake. CBI and Sibley have agreed, and Franklin
    is taking care of crating and shipping the unit.
 
b. Other Issues: VAT Valve Adjustments

    VAT valve adjustments at Hanford are complete; Hanford
    personnel are performing leak checks.

No report received on civil construction.


WBS 1.2, 1.3    Detector Group


Date: Thu, 01 Oct 1998 20:22:00 -0400
From: David Shoemaker <dhs@ligo.mit.edu>

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

(WBS 1.2, 1.3)
----------------------------------------------------

No report this week.

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

ASC fabrication (Smith)
----------------------
Finished the drawings of the wedges for the Optical Levers to the 2K
Beam Splitter and Recycling Mirror(WBSC4 and WHAM9).  They will  be
sent out for quotes this week.  Started the drawings for the wedges to
the 2K ITM in BSC 7 and 8.

We have received a large quantity of the parts needed for IOT7.  The
remaining items are from Laser Metrics-a Q-switch due Oct 18, Karl
Lambrecht-a Polarizer due Oct 18, and the enclosure due Oct 23 .

Myron is just about finished with preparing the Optics Lab and has
started kitting the parts, getting them clean and ready for assembly.
We will start IOT7 assembly early next week.
 

ASC initial alignment fab (K. Mason)
------------------------------------
Doing design and calculations for
IAS theodolite platform and tooling.  All theodolite/autocollimator
adapters and fixtures are now out for fabrication.

LSC lock acquisition (Ware)
----------------------------
No report.
 

LSC supervisory control (P. Fritschel, E. Daw)
-----------------------------------------------
o Following last week's ISC meeting in Hanford, Ed & Peter have begun
to look more carefully at the functions & requirements of the ISC
'Master CPU' -- this is the processor(s) that will interface the
DAQ/GDS data to/from the ISC servo processors, run EPICS, provide
network communications, etc.
 

-------------------------------------------
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
--------------------------------------------

- Installation of the 2k IFO PSL was not completed during the allotted 3
week time period.  A number of problems arose during the installation
phase, ranging from insufficient supplies being shipped to the site and an
over-estimation of the facilities available.  Whilst consideration was
given to the equipment needed to install the PSL, the PSL was not
self-sufficient in equipment needs.

    The experience gained will come in handy for the next installation
period and for subsequent installation at Livingston and Hanford.

- A safety related incident, in which the main laser output went beyond the
confines of the optical table enclosure, has lead to a review of the
temporary standard operating procedure and current beam handling practices.
The incident occurred when an attenuator was being installed in the main
beam of the laser.  The beam dump installed was not large enough to contain
the dumped beam.  The stray beam hit a computer monitor located at the edge
of the IOO/PSL optical table.
 
 

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

Installation:

Sany has just returned from Hanford; Qi-Ze will be heading out next week.

Cleaning of the in vacuum non-suspended optics for the 2 km IOO has
commenced.  Removing the surface contamination layer has proven difficult;
in fact, we have not been able to satisfactorily clean any of the mirrors.
The reasons for this is under investigation. We are
doing further investigations to assess the condition of all of the optics.

An SOS test stand has been set and is fully functioning; the dummy 3"
optic has been successfully balanced and damped using the first article
SOS electronics.

Sany, Hai Sheng, and Dave hung a test 3 inch optic in an SOS tower. After
balancing the optic and gluing the wire standoff, we activated the magnet
actuators. We first used a molybdenum wire to hang this optic. (The wrong
wire was sent by Cal. Fine Wire) We measured the photodetector signal of
actuators using an audio spectrum analyzer. Peaks were observed at 1.69
Hz, 18.9 Hz, 27.7 Hz, 28.9 Hz, 34.9 Hz and 37.8 Hz. Among these peaks, the
one at 18.9 Hz was very sensitive to the orientation of the actuator
around the axis along the magnet. When the actuator is oriented at a
certain direction, this peak was hardly seen.

We replaced the molybdenum wire with (the correct) steel wire and made the
same spectrum measurement. This time, peaks appeared at 1.63 Hz, 14.5 Hz
(only in the lower right and upper right actuators), 21.18 Hz, 29.3 Hz and
38.3 Hz. Among these peaks, the one at 21.18 Hz was sensitive to the
orientation of the actuator. The peaks appear sharper in the case of the
steel wire than the molybdenum wire.

The final batch of 2 km IOO in-vacuum components has been sent to Caltech
for baking.

Mode Matching Measurement:

Bullseye: Pre-mode cleaner is locked to the laser in high finesse mode.
The output mode seems satifactorily round. Currently Qi-ze is
struggling to align the laser to the reference cavity and matching the
TEM00 resonant frequency for both cavities.

Procurement:

The mode cleaner curved mirrors are being reworked by GO.  They should be
ready next week for re-coating.

The periscope have been received at the site; they will need to be cleaned
before being put on the PSL table

Four MMT3 mirrors have now been received by UF; waiting on radii of
curvature measurements.

Mechanical Design and Machining:

PSL beam tubes and holders ready to go.

High Power Measurements:

No significant activity to report.
 
 

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

The IR interferometer arrived Friday.  Acceptance testing took place
Saturday and Sunday.  The instrument showed good repeatability during quiet
times, these quiet times come and go even on a Saturday evening.  The
interferometer was found to have changed alignment in shipping, we think
due to the fact that a pellicle was removed for protection of the optic
during shipping.  The subsequent replacement of the part was not exact.
A representative from Veeco is coming out Sunday morning the 4th of October
to realign the system.  An acceptance test is scheduled for Monday.
 
 

Core Optics Coatings -- Helena Armandula
--------------------------------------------------
REO Contract - COC's coatings: Received two 2ITM's from REO. They do not
show cleaning problems. We are in the process of evaluating how the
imperfections on the surface (coming from polishing or coating) relate to
scatter.
Also, we would implement a quick QA coating procedure suggested by the
Florida's group and proven very useful, where the mirrors are looked at with
a YAG laser to observe scatter.
We are working a schedule that would allow me to be present at REO during
all future COC's coatings.
We are supporting the group from Florida by inspecting their 2" mirrors
after coating, and evaluating their cleaning techniques.
 
 

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

BEAM-DUMPS:
Ara has redesigned the vertical support structure for the generic
beam-dump. M Smith is re-calculating the expected resonant frequencies
before releasing the drawings to the shop for the prototype modification.

ITM BAFFLES:
A. Rosa has moved the ITM-Lx baffle slightly so that the spot reflected
onto the wall of the spool piece from the 2K ETM beam during lock
acquisition can be viewed through a pump-out port in the WBE-5 spool.
Moving the baffle required repositioning the support structures for the
glass frame and relocating the optical lever beam holes in the baffle. The
redesign was completed for the ITM-Lx baffle. The redesigned baffle works
okay in the mid and end station positions ETM-Lm, ETM-Le; and the reflected
beam spot can be viewed through one of the horizontal optical ports in the
spool piece. The ITM-Ly baffle design will be different from the ITM-Lx
because the pump out port in the WBE-6 spool is a miror image of the WBE-5
port.

A unique baffle ETM-Rm is required at the far (right) side of the mid
station BSC facing toward the 4K ETM. This large baffle must be mounted
inside the BSC, and the reflected beam spot of the 4K IFO onto the walls of
the BSC during lock acquisition must be viewable from an appropriate port
in the mid station BSC chamber.

ETM and PO Telescope-
A preliminary design review for the mechanical design of the PO telescope
was held by CC Development at CIT on Friday 9/25/98. A final design review
will be held on 10/2/98 at CIT. A preliminary design review of the ETM
telescope will be held on 10/2/98 at CIT.

The optical design of the ETM telescope was changed to incorporate a
less-troublesome SF6 glass for the smallest eyepiece lens. Optics 1 will
discuss the preliminary results of the mechanical tolerance analysis
of the PO and ETM telescopes on 10/2/98.

FARADAY ISOLATOR SYSTEM
A specification has been completed for the Faraday Isolator Assembly. A
quotation is expected from the vendor. Irena is preparing a sole-source
procurement package.

COS VIEWPORTS
The specification for the COS Viewports has been revised to incorporate
appropriate QA/QC wording and submitted to Irena for preparation of a
sole-source procurement package. A quotation is expected from the vendor.

ALIGNMENT SYSTEM
The alignment telescope was mounted using a tilt/yaw mounting bracket onto
the Velmex two-axis positioning apparatus. The alignment beam short-term
pointing reproducibility was tested to be < 10 arcsec, and the pointing
resolution approx 1 arcsec.

MOCK-UP
The three PO telescope mockups have been placed on the HAM mock-up
facility. A mounting structure for the BSC SEI table is being constructed.
An outside table is being set up for placing the alignment telescope, from
which a simulated alignment beam will be projected onto a simulated
pick-off mirror on the BSC table and beamed down to the PO telescope on the
HAM table. The proposed elevation, pitch, and yaw alignment procedure for
the PO telescope will be evaluated.
 

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

Seismic Design (Mike Fine)
--------------------------------------
1. Rack Assembly/Checkout:
Hytec completed the conversion of the limit switch signals to 24 volts.  The
junction box was installed and tested.  They did locate one faulty limit
switch
during these tests, but have already received a replacement from Daedal. They
will be installing this switch early next week.

2. BSC Coarse Actuator Test:
Hytec drove the system in the W direction last week and experienced under
voltage and motor faults on one of the W axes.  They still need to identify
the
source of these faults.  More data is needed before any conclusions are
possible.

3. Air Bearing Testing:
Hytec is continuing the air bearing testing.  They have received the flowmeter
and have installed it into the system.  They have identified a discrepancy
between
the flow measurements of Specialty Components and Hytec, and are currently
trying to identify and correct any errors.  This should be completed sometime
this week.

4. Fine Actuator Test:
The tests are planned to start around October 8.  Besides overall system
functionality, the bulk of the testing envisioned at this point will look at
synchronization issues between the 4 PZT drives and the effect on possible
U to yaw (Rz) coupling, the static range and frequency response, and the
impact
of coarse actuation motion on PZT external preload.

5. WHAM7 Hardware:
Allied shipped 1 complete set of HAM hardware to Hanford this Wed and expects
arrival on Friday. 4 scissors tables, alignment pins, and 16 x-y translation
plates will be shipped out of Los Alamos on 10/6, expecting arrival at LHO
on 10/13. 4 airbearings from Specialty Components have arrived at Hanford
this week.

Suspension -- (Janeen Hazel/Mark Barton/Mike Fine)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1. LOS Welded Structure:
Brookfield delivered the last five LOS1 height adpaters yesterday. Janeen
will
be visiting Brookfield next week to inspect their first structure with welded
brackets that have cleaning slots.

2. Alignment Fixtures:
Superior Jig will deliver first two sets of fixtures early next week.
The support beam will be a week later due to changes we initiated
at the piece part level.
 

---------------------------------------------------------
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)
-------------------------------------------
Most of the work was done on Wilcoxon accelerometers
evaluation. Results will be given soon.
 

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

The approved vac-seal and viton have been removed from cavities 1
and 2, which are now loaded with teflon wires soldered with connectors
and air baked metal parts (aluminum and steel).  Cavity 2 containing
the metal parts has been relocked while cavity 1 is still pumping.
The previous noisy ringdown detector for cavity 3 (empty) has been
replaced with a quieter one and data taking is going on with the new
detector.  This replacement will help judge whether the previously
observed instable ringdown data were due to a noisy detector or not.

The communication problem between the stepper motor controller and the
PC has been solved.  Automation programming for the Loss Scanner is
currently going.

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

No report.
 


WBS 1.4    Project Office



 

 1.4.1.2 Project Controls (Lindquist)


CHANGE CONTROL (Lindquist)

The following Change Requests have been submitted:
 
CR-980041 WBS 1.2.1 Seismic Isolation System, Left Handed Spring Seats S. Whitcomb
CR-980042 WBS 1.1.2 Beam Tube Module Testing and Equipment Purchase L. Jones
CR-980043 WBS 1.1.2 Cancellation of Beam Tube Module Alignment Checks L. Jones
 


LIGO Weekly Site Telecon (Jasnow)

The Site Telecon is scheduled to be held Friday, October 2, 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 October 1, 1998
4 Proceed with Credit Cards for Sites Jasnow August 6, 1998 October 15, 1998
5 Determine how we pay BO tax due State of Washington Jasnow August 6, 1998 October 8, 1998
7 Funding for Louisiana Access Road Stapfer August 20, 1998 October 8, 1998 
10 Procedure to Cover Late Charges for Invoice Payments Jasnow August 27, 1998 October 8, 1998
14 Secure Domain Name for Livingston System G. Sanders September 24, 1998 October 1, 1998
15 Set up Off Campus Accounts for Site Travel P. Lindquist September 24, 1998 October 1, 1998
 
 

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (Chargois)

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

Received the approved Transfer Order (S 122) and Screener Tally Request (DRMO Form 103) from the National Science Foundation for the equipment located at Keelser AFB. This equipment was scheduled for pick up on 9/27/98 however, Hurricane George would not permit. New scheduled Pick up date is 10/7/98. All telephone lines are down.

Received information from the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) concerning the release of several vehicles (1-Stake Body Truck w/ Lift Gate, Front Loader and Pick-Up Truck) to the LIGO Livingston Observatory.


DOCUMENT CONTROL CENTER (Turner)

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

689 documents were added to the database.  The following numbers reflect the breakdown by category of these new documents:
 
Contractual/Procurement (C)
88
Drawings (D)
526
Engineering Documentation (E)
27
Graphics/Presentations (G)
23
Letters/General Correspondence (L)
10
Management/Policy (M)
4
Publications/Formal Notes (P)
1
Technical Notes/Informal (T) 10
 


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

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

I have been working on errors, corrections, and troubleshooting with regards to the various reports I put out. [We should note also that the Invoice for MIT for July has been paid, but the invoice for August is being held pending information from MIT that will permit us to issue a change order. -pel]

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

No report.

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

Prepared and distributed materials for the Cost/Schedule Review held on Monday, September 28.  An action item list was prepared and work has been initiated to resolve issues resulting from the meeting.  Final reports were distributed Wednesday, September 30.

Initiated review and analysis of the following Change Request's for inclusion into the September 1998 Performance Measurement Baseline:
 

Request No. WBS Description Amount
CR-980035 1.1.4 Livingston Electric Power costs for FY 1999 $  221,500
CR-980036 1.1.4 Electric Power at the Livingston site (5D532) $  100,000
CR-980037 1.1.4 Hanford Water System Integration (5D522) $  129,000
CR-980038 1.2.1 COC Re-polishing (5F514) $  130,000
CR-980039 1.1.1 Miscellaneous Vacuum Equipment Charges $    71,099
CR-980040 1.1.1 PSI Contract and Payment Milestone Modifications $    37,079
Distributed first draft schedules and Earned Value worksheets to task managers for the end-of-September 1998 inputs.  The worksheets are due back to Program Control on Friday, October, 2. Updated the Schedule Value of Milestones for the facilities and vacuum equipment tasks for the September 1998 CSSR. Revised the Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) and the Contingency Log for inclusion with the August 1998 data. Completed the actual cost and commitment reconciliation for August 1998. Completed electronic and hard archival of Open Plan Professional Schedule for Facilities and Detector.


SUBCONTRACTS MANAGEMENT (Petrac, Jasnow)

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

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

A contract was awarded to MCA Communications in the amount of approximately $78,000 for fiber optic telephone communications cables for Livingston.

A purchase order in the amount of $4,000 was issued to Professor Philip Krider of the University of Arizona for a report detailing the results of an audit performed at both sites concerning lightning protection.

A consulting contract was issued to Ms. Florence Kaufman to perform continuing accounting services for LIGO in connection with resolving encumbrance issues.

The contract with DEMCO to provide electric power to Livingston was increased by $371,000.  This amount was approved by the CCB to cover the remainder of FY98 and half of FY99 with construction funds.


COSTS AND COMMITMENTS AUDIT (Lindquist)

[The following summary of efforts to date was provided by Kay Hattori.]

Activity completed to date:

The list of large contract accounts provided by LIGO has been completely reviewed and incorrect posting of expenses have been removed from the beginning balances and journaled to specific contractor Purchase Orders to properly reflect expenditures and uncommitted funds on a line item basis.

Amounts in excess of $25K in 3220 accounts (for the first $25K of subcontracts) have been identified and corrected.

A recommendation was made to LIGO to attach an instruction form to invoices which have retention to make sure that Accounts Payable has all the information that they require.

A recommendation was made to Purchasing to create a more "user friendly" form for managers to fill out to facilitate re-allocation of encumbrance amounts.

Petty cash charges to the 2010 account for Supplies and Expenses have been identified for LIGO to facilitate follow-up.

LIGO Accounts Payable staff  have been provided with a binder containing all of the reconciling adjusting journal entries that were made during the period of June through August 1998.


Reports and Proposals (Lindquist)

The FY 1999 Operations Work Plan is being finalized pending one final review by Dennis Coyne. A draft of the end-of-August Quarterly Report is being prepared. The performance measurement data has been finalized.


TECHNICAL CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT (Althouse)

>From: wea@acrux (William Althouse)

No report. See Bake out.


1.4.2.1 Quality Assurance (Tyler)

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

LIGO QA effort this reporting period includes completing a write up for the LIGO quarterly report and  working with R. Torres on editing and review of new and revised Hanford operational procedures. Prepared LIGO QA input for the Section 506 MMR.
 
 

WBS 1.4.3    Systems Engineering



 
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 15:24:14 -0700 (PDT)
From: kent@ligo.caltech.edu (Kent Blackburn)
 

1.4.3  Systems Engineering

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

ELEVATED PLATFORMS
    Sample platform, with deep top platform, arrived in receiving
Tuesday, 9/29/98 & sent to the High Bay. Alternate platform being still
being investigated.  Anticipate doing a simple mock up within the next
two weeks.

SEISMIC BALANCE WEIGHTS
    Vendor has been selected and order should be placed in the next week
or so for
deliveries to start in October or November.

X-BEAM & Y-BEAM SPOOL BAFFLES
   Work on detail drawings was stalled but is scheduled to restart next
Monday, 10/5/98.

OPTOMECHANICAL INTEGRATED LAYOUTS
    The plan and elevation views for the LVEA in Hanford are being
released this week.

Reliability:
    Nothing significant to report FOR  PERIOD  09/28/98 - 10/04/98
 

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

e2e modeling :

multi-mode :

Several validation testings for the multi-mode implementation
have been performed. Comparison with 40m FP results was successfully
completed. It shows that Guoy phase calculations are being properly
done and related data is being passed correctly among various elements.
Evolution of fields due to changing pitch and/or yaw in mirrors of 3-Km
Virgo and 4-Km LIGO FP cavity was also studied. Results tallied quite
well with other codes. The new multi-mode versions of propagater and
mirror and other optical components like modulator, demodulator,
power-meter etc seem to be interacting quite well with each other and
with good accuracy.

mechanics :

A new data type clamp_data has been introduced, with a few new and
modified modules so that Adlib modules and mechanics modules can
communicate. The mechancis part of the code has been modified to use the
new data type. An example using the new data type will be sent to Cella
with examples.
 

Data Analysis Group:

Philip Ehrens:

* Specified user functions implemented in TCL layer of the
  generic API.

* extended and isolated TCL function set for generic API.

Dave Farnham:

* Wrote specification for the extended Tcl commands which are exposed
  by the C++ layer in the genericAPI.

* Added support for n-dimensional arrays, XML comments, and 'container'
  elements to the LDAS internal light-weight format needed in the
  genericAPI.

* Added support for sending arbitrary tags through sockets to the
  genericAPI.

Stuart Anderson:

Fiber optic cable has been run on the 6'th floor of Millikan to reistablish
a high speed ATM connection to the HPSS tape robot system. The network
configuration has been upgraded from allowing just a single LIGO workstation
connection to now allow any LIGO workstation with a direct connection
to the LIGO ATM switch to connect through the CACR ATM switch
to either HPSS or a few of the ATM capable CACR parallel computers.

Kent Blackburn:

Spent most of the week reviewing applications for software engineering
positions and carrying out the follow-up interviews and reference checks.
So far I have contacted 4 individuals and have 2 more to consider for
LDAS software development.

Met with Phil and Dave to hash out the names, parameters and return types
for extended TCL commands written in C++ to provide socket communications,
store/restore, logging, help and other functions for the genericAPI. The
specifications for these will be recorded in a "genericAPI base
specification or implementation" documented.

Met with Albert on two occasions to discussion revisions and improvements
to the LDAS software and hardware schedules. These were then made into
transparencies just in case it was requested in the Syetems Integration
meeting on Thursday.

Spent sometime over the weekend learning how to use a Jazz drive and an
associated parallel port to scsi adapter for the purpose of backing up
LIGO PC based laptops. I was not able to get winzip or the window98 backup
utilities to work with this device so I used fastZip which doesn't make a
full backup, only copying non-empty folders. At the very least having
this level of backup will simplify the recovery of a disk failure, but it
is not as great a solution has I had hoped.

Bruce Sears:

* continuing work on porting bakeout tcl application to tclet and
  interfacing it with the bakeout database service.

Walid Majid:

I am preparing a note, summarizing the results of my studies of galactic
matter distribution in nearby sky.  I have mainly focused on the Tully
catalogue of nearby galaxies, which extends to about 50 Mpc.

I have also been working on a module that translates Frames into XML
(LIGO's light weight data format), not including the actual data
encapsulated in a Frame.  This would serve as some sort of a table of
content for Frames.  Using a Javascript I can already create a tree
diagram of the contents of any given Frame and display it on a browser.
 

1.4.4.2  General Computing (LW/TE)

MIT:
1. Installed version 5 of Maple V.

Livingston:
1. Setting up the PC's that arrived last week.

Hanford:
1.  Worked on procurements and budgeting.

2.  Working on getting a backup system going for the J. Berry's PC.

3.  Working on getting the Ligo Applications menu to consistently be the
default menu and on getting all the applications to work from the menu.

4.  Helped with getting Auto client to work for Ultra 30 and Ultra 60 Sun
workstations.

CIT:
1. (Barbara)Added keyword searching to the web DCC Search application.

2. Moved a couple of workstations to different offices and set them up for the
users. Includes setups at Bridge, Lauritsen and Millikan. Hopefully, the moving
and new setups will taper down these have taken up a great deal of time the past
few months.

3. Began getting the new color printer in Millikan installed.

4. Worked on multiple procurement issues. Mainly, getting the new servers in.
Also, getting new quotes for computers, tape robot units, network equipment and
software upgrades.

5. Samantha made multiple corrections to the IP tables being used for
documentation.

6. Installed more cables for the networks as well as the small network hubs at
multiple locations.

7. Spent a good deal of time keeping the e-mail going. There are bursts of 70+
messages sent within a 1-5 minute period which causes the mail relay host to
generate too many mail daemons. The unit has to be rebooted to get everything
cleared out. It can be cleared out manually but this usually generates multiple
copies of the same message to be sent.
We are working on some procedures to keep closer tabs on this issue until the
new servers arrive. Hopefully, they will handle the e-mail load better. Also, it
will give us the chance to rework the configuration files.

8. Working on procurements for Livingston and going over items with Hanford.
This is also part of getting the GC financial documentation updated.
9. We were able to confirm that the addresses we currently have for the T1
connection at Hanford are temporary. However, doing more detailed testing for
the e-mail setup and other items will be worked on.
 


WBS 1.4.4.1    Administrative Group



Irene Baldon

 Arranged and processed the paper work for 23 new trips to various locations. Assisted some Oversight Committee members with travel and/or information regarding their meeting in Hanford on October 29th. Several of the 23 trips arranged this week were for the NSF Review in Hanford, WA. Hotel reservations (I have a block of 40 rooms at the Shilo Inn at $45.25 per night) and 6 van rentals have been arranged for.  Once again as soon as I know who will be attending the meetings I will ask for volunteer van drivers.

 Worked on the ever present backlog of Expense Reports and completed 17 reports.  I had hoped for more but several of these 17 were for foreign travel and they consume a considerable amount of time due to translating receipts and determining exchange rates then computing the traveler's charges using these exchange rates.

 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 Staff Payroll, incorporating various recent changes, new hires, terminations and the processing of Vacation/Sick Leave accounting.
 

Rita Torres

 For I. Petrac did a total of 6 JPL work order updates. Did change order No. 1 to University of Michigan, edits to CRDF, Moscow State University, change order No. 6 to Brookfield Machine. For I. Petrac/P. Lindquist did letter to NSF Re: RFQ IP-303 for Scissors Table Assembly; included informational copies of the RFQ.

For E. Jasnow did letter to George A. Grant to transmit the fully executed contract for the Hanford Building. Letters to Apollo Construction and Mowat Construction regarding IFB EJ-298 for the Hanford Building.

For P. Lindquist input to forms in Operations & Commissioning proposal.

For W. Tyler updated M980086, subsequently sent out for review. Also minor updates to other procedures.

For G. Sanders distributed over 100, the memo "Travel Policy to the Sites."

Helped create a table of contents for document worked on by Bill Baldwin, "LIGO Naming Conventions." Arranged for an exit eye exam. Sent to visitors no longer at Caltech, their mail received in boxes here. Ordered, then distributed office supplies.

 
Elizabeth Wood

After receiving a message from the keepers of the Caltech Personnel Directory giving me an extremely short deadline and upon realizing that a substantial portion of LIGO’s employees were not in the phone book, I set out the word to everyone to fill out P-53 forms. At last count, I had received 37 changes. Even the LIGOites at the sites should fill out P-53 forms. Yes, they can and should be in the Caltech Personnel Directory. They are Caltech employees, too.

Typed up changes on PAN forms so employees at the sites can have their paychecks and check receipts mailed to them directly from payroll rather than going through us here first.

Dealt with the usual personnel issues.

 
Dorothy Lloyd

Continued processing heavy load of purchase requisitions, POs, change orders, check request, etc. as well as an extremely heavy load of invoices.

 Followed up and tracked problems with invoice payments.

 More help arrived on Monday and I focused much of my time training this person as well as support my other helper. [At last -- I can see a little light showing at the end of the tunnel...thank you LIGO!]

 
 


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