Weekly Report for Week Ending December 1, 1998



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

The Project Control Meeting Agenda for Monday  December 7, 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/Activity (10 minutes each)
Special Items:


Special Announcements:


Weekly Report Highlights
 
The HAM8,9 crossbeams are in!

Hanford is now on a T1 line

Bullets fired at Livingston west end station!

LSU/LIGO seminar series started

40 Meter Loss of lock mystery grows new measurements are performed

2km IFO PSL locks for a record 11 days!

Mode matching measurement accomplished in IO

Zernikes abound from core optics metrology reference surface

COS FDR is done
 


LIGO Hanford Observatory (LHO) Operations


General Items:
--------------
(Fred Raab)

Facilities:
-----------
(O. Matherny)

George Grant Construction Co. is building the forms for the concrete
footers and the large retaining wall for the staging building.

Apollo is 30% complete with water modification project. The tank
delivery is a long lead item. All other work is complete.
 

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

The installation of the BSC Piers in the X-Mid station was completed.
The BSC Pier positioning jig was moved to the Y-Mid Station. Scissors
Tables were installed on Piers for HAMs 8 & 9.

Installation of the pair of Crossbeams between HAM 8&9 was completed
this week. This was a tough manuever because Support Tubes (supported
with jacks) and Bellows were already in place for both HAMs. With the
help of several people, we were able to "needle" the Crossbeams in;
Actuation Stacks and jacks had to be removed from the insertion end to
make it possible along with a few other tricks.

One of the Bellows with a "small" leak was replaced on HAM 8. It is
currently slated to be leak tested.

Work with the Air Bearing is slated for this week on HAM 7. We hope to
replace the Air Bearing Dummies with the Air Bearings and transfer the
load of the SEI system onto the Crossbeam, Actuation Stack, etc.

Plans for the next few weeks:

11/30-12/4--    Work with Air Bearing (HAM7)
           Install remaining Actuation Stacks for HAM 8&9
       BSC Pier alignment

12/7-12/11--    Installation of SEI components in HAM 8 & 9
       Install remaining payload in HAM 7
       Cont. BSC Pier alignment

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

LHO vacuum bake oven A recently completed load #5 which consisted of
the remaining 26 ten pound optical table counterweights intended for
HAM #7. The approval/release of this load was delayed as the result of
the appearance of contaminates in the RGA section of the system. This
volume was valved off from the chamber containing the load at the time
the contaminates appeared. The RGA spectra of this isolated volume is
consistent with that of hydrocarbons. The likely source of these is the
small secondary turbomolecular pump used to pump this volume.
 
Independent baking of the effected volume along with extra heating of
the pump in question verified the pump as the source. Unfortuneately,
we could not bake this pump hot enough (limited to 100C by spec) to
completely remove the "nasties".  Eventually, the background was
cleaned up enough to valve the RGA into the chamber containing the load
and approve the post bake scan of the weights.
 
LHO vacuum bake oven A load #6 consisting of four 3" IOO optics and
some misc. suspension magnets has been loaded and will begin an 80C
vacuum bake today. These are the first non stainless steel items to be
processed through oven A and present some special temperature concerns
as the Curie temperature of the magnets is close to the temperature at
which they are to be baked.
 

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

This week I have been working with a part time local high school
student, training him to take the readings from the particle counters.
He will be converting them into histogram type graphs to determine the
level of cleanliness in several locations. We will be plotting the
results for twenty-four hour periods, from samples taken at 30 minute
intervals. The plot will show the total of the samples taken, for both
.3 micron and .5 micron particle sizes and larger, the times and places
at which they were taken. We will also try to determine what types of
activities have the greatest effect on the cleanliness. We will also
monitor dust level changes under the soft wall enclosures, which cover
the chambers, when we have to penetrate the walls with the forklift
during installations. The air flow escapes rapidly during these
operations.

A series of tacky mats have been put in strategic locations to in the
LVEA to determine the quantity and source (direction) of dirt which is
being brought into or out of the LVEA. We will require over shoe covers
to be worn in the LVEA starting on Monday the 7th. We hopefully will
see a notable difference in the condition of the tacky mats. The LVEA
cleanliness has been improving with time and with the implementation of
different procedures. Hopefully with some qualitative measurements we
can determine whether there is a need to seal the floors.

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

All the computers have been moved to the T1 line! All the computers
have their Washington state mountain/stream names, so we will have to
get to know each other's new computer and printer names. Also, I
installed the latest versions of Exceed and Norton Anti-virus on all
the PCs. So far the only problems have been with figuring out FTP on
the new Exceed software.

The name of the server will now be changed from ligo168 to rainier.
There are lots of places where the server name is used so it will take
a while to find them all and change them. Some software is licensed to
the server name and host id number, so depending on how each software
license responds to the change, I may have to re-license some software.

The General Computing connection in the LVEA for the bakeout crew seems
to be working fine. They have a P5-90 computer which is painfully slow
and requires frequent re-boots. I re-installed Windows95 and tried to
cleanup the hard drive as much as I could. That helped a little, but I
think it's just going to be slow and require re-boots no matter what.
Anyway, they can now transfer files to Caltech and to other machines
here on site as well as run the electronic log software, if they decide
to use it.
 

Electronics/Electrical Systems:
-------------------------------
(R. McCarthy)

Cable tray installation is complete.  The contractor has a couple of
minor items to complete after final walk through. These will be
completed as the work on other items associated with the CDS racks.
Power and grounding to all CDS racks should be completed early next
week. The Y arm is done and the X arm is being worked now.

The phones out to the mid and end stations are much closer to being
completed. The phone company is making connections this week and I
assume final punch down and phone number assignment next week. We will
then need to decide where to run phone cables in the buildings for
optimal use of the six lines.

Three more GPS antenna cables were run to the roof of the LVEA. One has
been connected for testing.
 

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

The bake out continues on Y1. We shut down 12/01/98 to regenerate the
Cryopump at port Y1-7 and to correct some thermocouples at the fixed
supports that were mounted in the wrong place. We also found that the
heater belts used to add heat where the DC cables clamp on to the tube
needed to be adjusted to a higher set point and add some additional
insulation at these fixed supports.
 


LIGO Livingston Observatory (LLO) Operations


Beam tube: The y arm was back filled to atmosphere with the clean air compressors after a successful leak check of the mid point gate valve. PSI has completed the vertex bake and has submitted an acceptable test report. The x are manifold is being prepared for bake. VAT reps. have repaired all the 10" pump port valves. CBI is now leak checking them. (Allen Sibley).

Beam tube bakeout preparation: Bill Althouse arrived on Tuesday 12-1-98 for a two day site visit. The purpose of this visit was to inspect the area for any potential problems that might be a site specific issues. As a result of this visit the following list of item will be worked on:

The cleaners finished cleaning out the X arm Thanksgiving weekend. This week we began organizing the mechanical shop, purchasing stock fittings and personal tools. (Cecil Franlin, Kerry Stiff).

Preparation for detector installation. We are continuing to order all necessary material handling equipment and SEI installation material. Ordering is approx. 70% completed. We are also setting-up a SEI installation schedule for 1999 and building an inventory list of all equipment that will be needed. (Rich Riesen)

Juilien Svoboda is in Hanford to help with Jay Heefer's suspension controllers and to collect information for the fiber optics installation and the EE lab.

Optics & Vacuum Labs  The overhead cable trays in both labs are now installed. Our tall cabinets were delivered from Fisher/Hamilton on 11/25 but I refused them. The rep
ordered the wrong color; they did not match the installed cabinets. He is going to repaint them, using an electrostatic process in the staging building and plans are that he will complete this task by DEC. 14. The Culligan rep has been on site to finalize the location and plumbing for the RO/DI water system. He is now awaiting material from Culligan. Laser curtain track installation is completed; the curtain will ship late this week or next. Caroline spent last weekend removing the ceiling tiles in the lab areas, and thoroughly blowing the rails and lights free of dust and particles (Doug Cook's suggestion as result of experience in hanford). Caroline will begin the final cleaning of the labs over the next few weekends, as soon as Woodrow Wilson removes the threshold plates from the doorways. Airtec called to advise that 2 flow benches, as well as the clean garment storage rack were being shipped (12/2). Bids are being received for the PSL safety enclosure in the LVEA. (Jonathan Kern)

Facility related activities: Wye Electric, the Hensel Phelps subcontractor for the electrical work, has started the re-work necessary to bring all aspects of the work within the contractual specification. Hensel Phelps has a resident CM at the site to supervise this work. We have received a preliminary copy of the mechanical QA audit. As soon as we receive the formal version, we will forward a copy to Hensel Phelps.The necessary data required to evaluate our power factor has been compiled by Gulf Western Electric. The contractor is now in the process of evaluating the data and will issue a report, providing us with recommendation of how to improve this parameter, to reduce our electric power cost. (Gerry Stapfer)

Responding to their recent correspondence, a letter was issued to Hensel Phelps, requesting their formal approach and schedule on complying with the outstanding contract issues which were discussed during the recent meeting with them. This letter states that a formal reply by Hensel Phelps was required to resolve these issues.

Office space, Control Rm., and Computer Users Rm. furnishing installation will begin on or about Dec. 14,'98. (Rich Riesen)

There was a serious shooting incident at the west end station  on either Monday or Tuesday, Nov.23-4. 9 bullets were fired into the west wall of the end station, two entered into occupied space. Fortunately, no one was injured, nor was there damage to any technical equipment, but the building is damaged and will require repair of the external panelling, internal sheet rock, and ceiling tiles. The local sheriff was contacted, along with LSU, Weyerhauser Lumber Co, the hunting club, Skip Smart and the LEDC, and through Gary Sanders and Barry Barish, Caltech and the NSF. The Sheriff has stepped up patrols of the site during evening hours and the La. Wildlife (Fish and Game Dept) has posted surveillance on our site which will continue for the forseeable future.

Over the past weekend, the barbed wire fence surrounding the site had been cut in several places. A local contractor, Hawkins & Son, was hired to fix the breaks.

We arranged with a local contractor to place a small concrete pad for the industrial grade weather station. This will be between the pull box and the fire access road in the interior of the LIGO arms. We also obtained vendor information and will purchase these items immediately. LSU has agreed to install and maintain the weather station without cost to us in exchange for sharing the data obtained. Bob Svoboda has expressed interest in involving a graduate student in the data acquisition for this system as a way of getting started participating in LIGO.

LSU related activities: A. Rizzi and R. Svoboda have initiated weekly LIGO seminars (Tuesday, 10:30AM) at LSU. Talks have been given by Warren Johnson, Anthony Rizzi, and Andrew Morse. Plans have been made to begin having every third or fourth meeting at the site. Gradually increasing frequency of on site meeting is planned as the site science activity ramps up. Anyone visiting the LIGO site on that day is invited and encouraged to come tell us of your LIGO work.

LSU has announced fellowships for graduate students to work on LIGO ($17,000-$20,000 per year for up to for years with tuition waiver and no teaching duties). See http://beavis.phys.lsu.edu/~svoboda/post/ligoFellowship.html

La Tech related activities: LaTech gravity gradient / microsiesmic peak measurement work began with a visit from LaTech faculty and students. Two siesmometers were
set up and debugged; an oscillation problem was resolved and begining ideas on particulars of hardware and system were hammered out.


WBS 1.2, 1.3    Detector Group



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

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

40 m Interferometer (Nergis Mavalvala)
---------------------------------------

Most of our recent efforts have been spent trying to understand the
behavior of the full recycled interferometer, in particular, why it
falls out of lock when we align:

1) DC and AC power fluctuation trends:
In simultaneously monitoring the arm cavity power levels and those
at the antisymmetric port (APD) and symmetric port (SPD) we noticed
that while the DC trends are always reasonable (arm cavity power
increases while APD becomes darker as the arm is aligned), the 1
to 2 Hz fluctuations were often correlated in the opposite way. A
simple model of alignment fluctuations about a constant misalignment
verified that the AC fluctuations can be correlated or anti-correlated
depending on the sign of the DC misalignment.

2) Optical gain of lm and lp signals:
In measuring the power spectra of the error signals for the lm (BS)
and lp (RM) loops as a function of better alignment, we found that
the optical gain (error signal outside the servo bandwidth)
decreases as we align. Since both signals are derived from the
reflection port this is no surprise. To verify that they do not
go to zero or change polarity with better alignment, i.e. go from
under-coupling to critcal or even over-coupling, we set up a lock-in
amplifier to measure the demodulated error signal when a dither at
several 100 Hz (above the loop bandwidth) is applied to the RM or
BS coils. Much to our surprise (and horror), both the BS and RM
optical gains tend towards zero as we align and are in fact very
nearly zero at the moment we lose lock. We're surprised because
this is only possible if the carrier is overcoupled in the ifo,
and previous visibility/mode matching/storage time measurements
have implied that the carrier is undercoupled. Other reasonable
trends were also observed: when the RM optical gain is very close
to zero, i.e. lp is effectively uncontrolled, then we see
increased fluctuations in the Lp (CM) error signal and loss of
arm cavity power. We have set up the signal from the lock-in as
a trigger to sign-flippers in the RM and BS loops and a test of
locking a well-aligned ifo with TWO sign flips is imminent.

3) Control systems diagnoses:
We modified the servo filter module in the lm servo to increase
the phase margin of this loop and have included a low frequency
gain boost stage. This servo filter eliminates the need for a DC
offset adjust which we tune by hand (i.e. human servo). The
bandwidth of the lm servo can be greater than 2 kHz, with phase
margin of 90 degrees. All other servo loop gains were also measured
and the relevant cross-overs reset to ensure that our locking
problems are not exacerbated by servo instabilities.

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

Component fab/delivery status (MEZ)
-------------------------------------
item              status
----------------------------------------------------
IAS initial alignment tooling     delivered*
WA2k&4k viewports      delivered
WA2k IO optical lever (MMT3)       delivered
WA2k COC optical lever optics    in fab, delivery 12/20
WA2k COC optlev supports (MMT3 type)    delivered
WA2k COC optlev supports (BSC type) in fab
WA2k COC optlev supports (TM type)  in final design
WA2k video/illuminators        delivered
WA2k IOT7 WFS table        in final assembly, delivery ~ 12/15
WA2k ISCT7,9,10          in layout, delivery 2-4/99 (scheduled)

Initial Alignment
-----------------
 

The orders for the optical wedges for WBSC4 has been placed with
Southbridge Machine.  I visited them this week to discuss the prints
with no major problems encountered.  I have received quotes for the
optical wedges for WBSC7 and will place an order for those, this week.
Wedges for WBSC8 will be next.

The support table for otical levers to the input test masses is coming
along.  I have laid out the mounting holes for the optical levers and am
just about finished with the table top weldment drawing.  The legs will
come next.  These will be sent out for bid next week.
 

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

ISC supervisory controls (Ed D/Peter F)
---------------------------------------

o We worked with Lori R to define a common header file (common to the
ISC supervisory and front-end processors) that defines the ISC
reflective memory layout containing DAQ data, test point data, and
slow control channels.

o Ed is beginning on the code to move data from the ISC reflective
memory to the DAQ/GDS reflective memory.

o Peter is working on defining the filter modules that are needed
for the LSC front-end servo calculation. This entails a bit more
servo modeling to determine some of the dewhitening filters.

o Dave B is in the process of remotely installing EPICS for us on the
machine we use to develop ISC code.

ISC and ISC/GDS software (E. Daw)
---------------------------------
This week, with much assistance from Peter Fritschel and Lori, I wrote
a common header which defines the layout of reflective memory common
between the ASC / LSC front end crates and the ISC supervisory processor.
I incorporated this header into the ISC supervisory and
tested it on the VMIC5588 reflective memory boards here at MIT.
All elements stored in the reflective memory can now be accessed
using elements of a structure. The only hard coded address is the base
address of the board.

On the GDS side, my heterodyning function now conforms to the LIGO coding
standards, and allows for heterodyning of either real or complex data.
It is being incorporated into the GDS diagnostic library. The code,
together with documentation will soon be available on the GDS web site.
 

-------------------------------------------
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
--------------------------------------------
- Prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, a meeting was held to discuss an
acceptance test plan for the PSL.  Present were D. Coyne, S. Whitcomb, R.
Abbott, P. King, J. Camp and D. Shoemaker.  Topics discussed were which
tests to conduct and what documentation should accompany the delivery of
the PSL to the site.

- The 2k IFO PSL remained locked to the reference cavity for a period of
about 11 days.  The loss of lock occurred when the laser power supply
indicated a power supply fault (PS FAULT on the LED indicators).  The
reasons for the fault occuring are not clear but will be investigated next
week. The power supply has been reset and is working normally.

    The 11 day period during which the PSL remained locked to the
reference cavity is a record.

- Installation of the PSL intensity stabilization servo resumes next week.
The optics necessary to give a beam of the right size at the right location
to IOO will be installed as well.

- Testing of the frequency servo commences at the end of this week.
Transfer functions and other measurements (such as cavity visibility ...)
will be taken and logged.

- The status of the PSL construction for the other IFOs is unchanged from
the last reporting period except for the following:

    i. The installation of frequency servo and pre-modecleaner lock
acquisition software should be completed by 12/19 for the LHO 2k IFO.

    ii. Delivery of the new reference cavity vacuum chambers is
expected to take place by 12/07.
 

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

Task                  Current Completion Date
__________________________________________________
PSL IOO installation
    - optics on table               complete
    - periscope on table            complete
    - beam alignment                underway 12/15
    - beam characterization         underway 12/15

Vacuum Prep
    - suspensions                   complete
    - nonsuspended optics           complete
    - suspended small optics        12/15
    - suspended MMT3                1/6

In Vacuum Optics Installation           1/7
------------------------------------------------

IOO Installation -

Sany Yoshida is at Hanford now, remaining through the 20th.
Qi-Ze Shu is at Hanford now, remaining through the 10th.
David Tanner will be at Hanford from the 14 to the 20th of December.

· All 4 non-cavity 3" in-vacuum optics have been balanced.

    - Tentative vacuum bake schedule: 12/2.
    - Fixtures have been made and are being air-baked (Kyle).

· New method of positioning the first wire standoff has been tested. It's
easier and works fine.

Electro-static charge (on the mirror) can cause a noticeable unbalance up
to 0.2 mrad. The 4-40 conductive Teflon safety screws which shed
particulate have been replaced by spring-tipped 4-40 stainless steel
screws.  These have arrived at UF and will be sent to Yehuda for baking.

Continued working on setting up the Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor at the
IOO table in Hanford.

Mode Matching Measurement -

After much hard work, Qi-Ze has finally overcome the problem of
misalignment signals polluting the mode-mismatch signals! The 3 mode
matching lenses which are set on translation stages are finally
aligned to the limit set by mechanical and acoustical noise of the setup.
The aligned system allows easy adjustment of mode match without affecting
the alignment. The bullseye measument will continue when QZ gets back from
Hanford.

The Guoy Phase Telescope calculation for the LIGO mode-match measurement
is underway.

Procurement -

We have received a 12 mm aperture Faraday rotator (unanodized version for
vacuum use) from Electro-optics Technology that will be used as a spare
for the 2 K. We will check wavefront distortion (thermal lens), isolation
performance at Hanford.

Talked with Karl Lambrecht and confirmed that the adaptor for the
polarizer on the IOO table (the component needed to fit the cubic
polarizers to the CVI rotary mount) would be shipped directly to Hanford
some time this week.   These are the last IOO parts for the 2K IFO.

Mechanical

The shop has produced 30 additional guide rods for the small optics
suspensions. These were taken to Hanford by Qi-Ze Shu and will be baked
there. There are now adequate small parts (magnets, magnet standoffs, wire
standoffs, and guide rods) for all 7 suspended mirrors in the 2-k
interferometer.

Arron has been concentrating on finishing the beam tube drawings for the
PSL/HAM beam feedthrough, compiling global coordinates for all
IOO optics, design work on positioning tool for fine alignment of the
SOSs, and compiled dcc numbers for all UF parts.
 
 

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

Another three flat combination has been measured.  We are working on
combining the results to find the lower order polynomials which describe
the reference surface C.  It was previously reported that we are have
reasonable agreement with  CSIRO results in our higher order terms and
less agreement in the lower order terms.  There has been a request to
list this result term by term.
Subtracting the CSIRO measurement of COC-A001, side two (polished by
HDOS) from the CIT measurement, the residual Zernikes (in waves of 1064
nm) are:

Zernike_15[03]   0.002592  Power
Zernike_15[04]   0.001070  Astigmatism at 0 degrees and power
Zernike_15[05]  -0.002707 Astigmatism at 45 degrees and power
Zernike_15[06]   0.002598 Coma and X tilt
Zernike_15[07]   0.002545 Coma and Y tilt
Zernike_15[08]   0.000837  Spherical Abberation and Power
Zernike_15[09]   0.000158  Trifoil
Zernike_15[10]  -0.000397  Trifoil
Zernike_15[11]   0.000525
Zernike_15[12]  -0.000383
Zernike_15[13]  -0.000284
Zernike_15[14]  -0.000720
Zernike_15[15]   0.000236

These are based on a fifteen term decomposition and are of the form used
in Vision software, they do not compare directly with the terms defined
in Born and Wolf.

We are concentrating now on better characterization of terms 3-8 using a
term by term analysis published by Bernard Fritz, "Absolute calibration
of an optical flat."  Optical Engineering /July/August 1984/ Vol. 23
No.4
 

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

COC's coatings: The research of several "in-situ" cleaning methods resulted
in a very promising cleaning process utilizing ultra pure CO2 gas
(99.999999%). A suitable cleaning technique has to be developed for our
application. CO2 cleaning removes light hydrocarbon contamination in
addition to particles as small as 0.1 micron. We are in the process of
acquiring a unit, on loan for 30 days, for further evaluation. Must be
noted that this cleaning method is only effective after we remove from the
mirrors the heavy initial contamination applying our original cleaning
procedure. The best application for CO2 cleaning is to spray the optics
after suspension to remove fine dust particles.
 

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

BEAM-DUMPS
The shop has completed the fabrication of the double cavity
beam-dump. The parts are being assembled with the glass. Ara has officially
left the project. Ken Mailand will take over all of Ara's pending design
work.

ETM and PO TELESCOPE
Completed sets of working drawings have not been received yet. They are
expected during this week of 12/3/98.

VACUUM WINDOW
Jonathan and Mike S. measured the depolarization loss of several sample
windows from ISI. A sample obtained from SLAC, which used a copper sealing
ring, exhibited 8 parts per 650 lossmeasured between crossed polarizers @
633 nm ( 1% loss at 1060 nm) close to the edge of the window where the ring
was silver-soldered to the window edge. A sample for ISI with a stainless
steel sealing ring, which is typical of the windows that will be ordered,
exhibited 2 parts per 650 loss near the edge. The depolarization loss at
the central clear aperture of the window where the beam will be passing is
estimated to be < 0.1% @ 1060 nm for the windows COS will be ordering.
Therefore, it appears that the stress induced depolarization loss is
negligible and is not a issue.

PO MIRROR
A prototype PO mirror assembly has been received and is awaiting evaluation
of long-term pointing stability.

NEW CONICAL BAFFLE at MID STATION
Design has not yet begun on the new conical baffle at the mid station.

MODE CLEANER BAFFLE

Ken M. has completed a preliminary layout of the mode cleaner baffle.
Working drawing are expected to be completed by 12/4/98, and drawings will
be sent to a machine shop for fabrication next Monday. This is the critical
path item, and must be ready for installation in the LHO on 1/5/99.

COS FDR
A successful COS FDR was held on 11/25/98. Mike S. hosted a champagne toast
for the CIT participants. The Spanish champagne was good, and he regrets
that the other members of the design review couldn't participate.

# DHS the chair feels likewise. Well done.

MANUFACTURING

item                             receive date
PO telescope mirrors               3/12/99
PO telescope assembly                TBD
ETM telescope lenses                 TBD
ETM telescope assembly               TBD
Faraday isolator                    2/18/99
Steering mirror mounts              1/12/99
Periscope hardware                  11/26/98 (partial)
Steering mirrors                    11/20/98

INSTALLATION

item                             install date
Mode Cleaner Baffle         1/5/99
IO Baffle          1/15/99
 

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

Seismic Design (Mike Fine)
--------------------------------------
1. Preparation for Installation at Hanford:
Hytec delivered 71 non-epoxied RH and 65 non-epoxied LH springs to
Astropak for cleaning before the holiday. They had to remove the
springs from their 1st article BSC stacks because the non-epoxied
springs are in short supply. The required LH epoxied springs, after
cleaning off the last traces of epoxy on the exterior, were delivered
to Astropak from CIT Monday. Astropak is now scheduled to ship the
acid-cleaned articles UPS-red on Friday. The leg screws, received
from Allied, and vented washers, from Hytec, now are being vacuum-baked
at South Annex, and will be scanned Friday morning and Fedex'd overnight
to Hanford after RGA results are OK'd. Allied shipped the 3rd HAM
optical table along with a HAM support table and 5 sets of HAM legs
Tuesday, expecting arrival at Hanford Friday.

2. BSC Dynamic Test:
Hytec, with help from H Radkins, is testing resonances and transfer
functions of BSC 1st article this week. They had to delay a day
to replace the removed non-epoxied springs with the epoxied types.
The preliminary results will be available for review in next week.

3. Near-Term SEI Hardware Delivery Schedule:
1 HAM optical table and 1 HAM support table and
5 sets of HAM legs                                          12/4/98
8 scissors tables                                           12/3/98
4 air bearings                                              12/7/98
16 HAM Bellows (Livingston)                                ~12/15/98

Suspension -- (Janeen Hazel/Mark Barton/Mike Fine)
-------------------------------------------------------------------

1. LOS Prodction:
Brookfield is late on delivery of the first RM suspension. Irena sent
Brookfield a letter requiring explanation for schedule slips on Wed.
afternoon with a response required this week. No word yet.

2. Alignment Fixtures:
Janeen is working on action items from the suspension/IAS installation
dry-run. Most issues involve the support beam.

3. SUS Hardware Delivery:

SUS Structure Delivery Dates: [numbers in parentheses are quantities.]
LOS1(for ETM, ITM, MMT): 11/23(1)*, 11/30(1)*, 12/08(1)*, 12/18(1)*,
                         1/1(1)*, 1/22(1)*, 1/29(2)*, 2/5(2)*, 2/12(2)*,
                         2/19(2)*, 2/16(1)*
LOS1(for RM): 11/30(1)*, 12/08(1)*, 12/9(1)*, 12/18(1)*
LOS2(for BS): 1st artcle on 12/9*, 1/11(2)*, 1/22(2)*
LOS3(for FM): 12/28(2)*, 1/1(1)*
SUS Height Adapter Delivery Dates:
MMT3, RM: 11/30(6)*
BS, FM: 11/23(4)*, 11/30(1)*

SUS Fixtures and Components Delivery Dates:
Clamps: 12/10*
BS Test Mass: 11/24*

* change

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

Physics Environment Monitoring
-------------------------------
(Matt Smith, Alex Marin)

More work has been done in the design of the muon monitor. The software
which has been used in the past, has to be transfered to a new machine,
with all the CERN library. We started this process last week.
We have few new seismometers delivered to LA and WA. Toghether with CDS,
custom made cables to interconect the seismometers with the CDS system
and the DC power supply will be made soon. They will be used for initial
measurements of the seismic noise on the corner and end stations, and then
mounted in the "PEM Stay Clear " zone.

There are no changes to last weeks delivery schedule.  See
http://web.mit.edu/marin/www/PEM_Delivery.html

Shourov is working on the simmultaneous ground measurements at Hanford and
Livingston.
Matt requested a quote from Endevco on the new cable lengths
associated with the change to use racks 1x5 and 2x5 for PEM equipment,
in Hanford.  This should result in a cable cost savings of about 3K.  The
list of the accelerometer locations and direction(u,v,z) with the required
 
cable length will be soon posted.  This list will be used to mount the
accelerometers to the PEM interfaceplates, run the correct cables to the
accelerometer locations on the chambers and to the racks.  We are
planning to purchase these cables with the 10-32 connection to the
accelerometers attached and with the BNC connection included, but not
attached so that the cables can be run and cut to length as required.
The BNC connection will be terminted after the cables are run to the
racks.
The purchase order for the refurbishment of the CBI RGAs is now placed
so that we can start returning the RGA heads and RF generator to
Balzers.
 

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

Contamination cavities 1 (with viton), 2 (empty), and 3 (with Faraday)
are still running with no significant change found in either ringdown
or mode spacing data.  Before terminating the above qualification
actions, I am going to do a few cycles of vacuum venting and pumping to
each of the three cavities with the turbo pump to see if the losses will
change or not.

Several high points on a 3" REO flat optic (T=1500 ppm) were picked up
by our scatterometer in contrast with a constant signal background found
elsewhere on the optic surface using a lock-in amplifier.  These high points
were very reproducible geometrically (~ 0.1 mm) when scanned by an 1064 nm
laser beam with a beam waist of 0.3 mm measured with a beam profiler.  These
high points represent some types of defects rather than dust (by the way, the
scatterometer is also a very good dustfinder) on the coating surface because
they were not removable even after the optic surface was drag-wiped with
Methanol.  Right now efforts are taken estimating the scatter losses those
high points induce.

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

Near Term Installation
=======================
- IOO suspension controls - Dec.1 thru 4
- Initial DAQS - Dec. 7 thru 11
- Livingston fiber optics - installer waiting on cable
- 2k PSL testing and characterization - Dec. 3 thru 17

IOO Suspension
===============================
- Rack 2X4 wiring is complete and tested.
- All trunk cables have been run and tested.
- Satellite amplifers for HAM7 optics (6 total) are
installed and cabled to vacuum flanges. Satellite
amplifiers for HAM8 will be installed after cable
tray is re-installed.
- Software for IO suspension systems is 95% complete and tested.
- All HAM7 suspension systems should be ready for
operation by 12/4.

IOO Controls
==============================
- VME crate, Eurocard crate, power supplies and cross
connect wiring harness is installed in rack 2X6.

Timing System
==============
- In process of installing antennas/cables at Hanford LVEA.
- Still waiting on new EPROM from GPS vendor for new receivers
  (Time readout format in first version not as specified)
 
Data Acquisition
=================
- Fix from VMIC for Sun reflected memory boards works on Ultra10,
  but not Ultra60. We are now loading it into the Sun450 at Hanford
  to see if it works on that machine. If not, we will probably
  loan an Ultra60 to VMIC for them to debug on.

- Temporary workaround of using fast ethernet is complete for now.
  Acheived system thruput of >5MByte/sec. Higher thruput would
  require a fair amount of code modification, which we do not want
  to do unless the VMIC reflected memory problem cannot be solved.
 


WBS 1.4    Project Office



 

 1.4.1.2 Project Controls (Lindquist)


Reports, Proposals, Work Plans (Lindquist)

The end of October Monthly Status Report has been distributed (via EMAIL) for comment and corrections.

We are requesting materials for the end of FY 1998 Annual Work Plan to be submitted to us by Friday, December 11, 1998.


Change Control (Lindquist)

The following Change Request has been submitted:
 
CR-980048 WBS 1.1.4 Extending Parsons Support in Livingston F. Asiri


LIGO Weekly Site Telecon (Jasnow)

The next Site Telecon is scheduled for Friday, December 4, 1998. The open action list is as follows:
 
Action No. Description Responsibility Assigned Date Due Date
1 Prepare Operations Budgets for FY 1999  Lindquist August 6, 1998 November 19, 1998
10 Procedure to Cover Late Charges for Invoice Payments Jasnow August 27, 1998 November 19, 1998
17 Louisiana Road Access M. Coles/G. Stapfer October 8, 1998 November 19, 1998
19 Consider Lawsuit Against Panel Manufacturer at Livingston R. Pool/E. Jasnow October 15, 1998 November 19, 1998
20 Schedule Meeting on Shadow Accounting System for Operations P. Lindquist October 15, 1998 November 12, 1998
21 Letterhead and Business Cards for Sites F. Raab/M. Coles November 5, 1998 November 12, 1998
22 Chart of Operations Off-campus Accounts for Staff P. Lindquist November 5, 1998 November 19, 1998

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (Chargois)

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

Property Inventory was conducted on the 2d and 3d floor of the West Bridge and Lauritsen during the period of November 23 through December 2, 1998.

Arranged transportation via International Moving Services for the Street Sweeper to the LIGO Livingston Observatory with an expected delivery date of November 30, 1998.

Arranged transportation for the delivery of a 10,000 lbs. Forklift from Briggs Equipment Co. of Baton Rouge to the LIGO Living Observatory with an expected delivery date of November 30, 1998.


DOCUMENT CONTROL CENTER (Turner)

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

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES
COST SCHEDULE CONTROL SYSTEMS (Duncan, Rianda, Leonhardt, Akutagawa, Kaufman)

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

I have been working on the FTE Roster, as well as dealing with the usual monthly errors and troubleshooting that comes with the distribution of the regular monthly reports.

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

Acquisitions and Payables have been coordinating with Dorothy Lloyd to pay invoices and to create changes to Purchase Orders as requested.  I have also been working with Florence and Kay to help them in their report analysis.  Price Waterhouse and another internal auditor have also been requesting information and copies that I have so that I can aid them in their projects.

The following is a status of the incoming documents for the past 2 weeks [Estimated activity (these are partial weeks. Data was not available for full week.) -pel]:
 

WE Date Incoming Invoices and Receivers Wire Transfers Large Contract Invoices New Purchase Ortders
10/08/98 248 2 9 155
10/15/98 225 0 4 157
10/22/98 247 0 1 58
10/29/98 182 1 4 42
11/5/98 141 2 20 41
11/12/98 132 1 11 63
11/19/98 118 2 8 14
11/25/98 61 1 4 4
12/3/98 186 2 15 102

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

Finalized and distributed the LIGO October 1998 Cost Schedule Status Report (CSSR). Completed and distributed the draft October 1998 monthly NSF report for review and comments. Incorporated the following change requests into the November 1998 Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB):
 
CR-980041 Seismic Isolation Left Handed Spring Seats $   50,000
CR-980042 Beam Tube Module Testing and Equipment Purchase $   48,025
CR-980043 Cancellation of Beam Tube Module Alignment Checks $  (30,000)
CR-980044 General computing Revised ETC $  550,000
CR-980045 Seismic Isolation system In-vacuum Components $  350,000
CR-980046 Seismic Isolation System final Design Costs $  223,000
CR-980047 Seismic Isolation system Scissors Tables $  140,000
Distributed to task managers the earned value worksheets and draft schedules for input to the November 1998 baseline.   Updates are due back
to Project Control today, 12/03/98. Began preparing and collecting materials for the NSF annual report.

Reviewed the FY 1999 Operations Budgets and account numbering system. Began investigating accounting software packages for potential use in
Operations reporting (basically a shadow system to use until Oracle is in place).

Advanced calenders, calculated and posted earned value for LIGO PMB3 (R&D) and LIGO PMB4 (Project Office).  Reconciled all invalid estimate dates in COBRA.

>From: Florence Kaufman <fkaufman@ligo.caltech.edu>

No report this week.


SUBCONTRACTS MANAGEMENT (Petrac, Jasnow)

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

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

No Report This Week. [We met with D. Lloyd and E. Chargois to establish a procedure for assigning the proper sub-account numbers to Purchase Orders for Caltech Owned and Government Owned Equipment to assure proper accounting in the Caltech Property Control systems. -pel]


TECHNICAL CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT (Althouse)

>From: wea@acrux (William Althouse)

No report. See Bake out.



AUDIT OF LIGO FINANCIAL DATA (Lindquist)

K. Hattori (Caltech Internal Audit) has been busy scrubbing LIGO Financial data.

She has been monitoring the amounts in the beginning balances (frequently an indication that transfers have been made improperly and commitments not relieved). It is noted that the beginning balance total has declined from $43,821,142 at the end of August to $13,146,255 at the end of September as a result of corrective actions.

Kay has compiled a list of balances in the LIGO accounts for Government Owned (sub account 3282) and Caltech Owned (subaccount 3283) Equipment. There are a number of suspicious entries in the Caltech Owned Equipment category (e.g., $1,181,726 for Core Optics Components) that will be looked at more closely.


1.4.2.1 Quality Assurance (Tyler)

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

LIGO QA (R. Vincent) completed his review of the PSI submitted "final" report for the Hanford GNB gate valve inspection, rework, and reacceptance effort. His review comments were compiled in a memo and distributed to LIGO along with a copy of the updated Hanford Site Large Gate Valve Status record.

LIGO QA is working with R. Torres to complete a draft of the LIGO Site Operational Safety Manual per M. Zydowicz's rough draft markup. This draft should be available for site personnel review within the next week.

A LIGO QA is continuing to review/audit the PSI final documentation submittal for the Hanford site.
 


WBS 1.4.3    Systems Engineering / Data Analysis and Computing



 
Systems Engineering & Integration (AL, DC)

__Detector Integration Support:

SEISMIC BALANCE WEIGHTS
    First shipment (1000#) has been received by the vendor who will be
cleaning &
    inspecting the balance weights. The second shipment (2000#) should
go out by
    the end of next week. Subsequent shipments of 2000# will go out
every two weeks
    or sooner to the cleaning vendor, if ready. Lot size is 10000#.

INTEGRATED LAYOUT DRAWINGS (ILD) FOR LIVINGSTON
    Work has started on the ILD's for the Livingston site.

COVERS & GUARDS FOR HAM & BSC CHAMBERS
    Drawings are being updated for purchase of final quantities of large
& small
    o-ring guards & nozzle covers, for Hanford & Livingston.

X-BEAM & Y-BEAM SPOOL BAFFLES
   Detail drawings are in process but, low priority.

__Analyses: A. Lazzarini modified the GUI database interface for the BT
bakeout to incorproate certain feature requested by its users.

__Reliability: Nothing to report

Modeling

Hiro reports:

multi mode in adlib

The entire adlib code now uses "field" which can carry both singne and
multi mode fields. Primitive mirrors and summation FP cavity have been
rewritten for the multi mode support. The michelson summation cavity
coding has just started. When this is completed, essentially all optics
modules are done which can do time domain modal models.

ioo modeling

The interface for ioo module is being developed so that the ufl group
can
easily writes adlib modules for IOO subsystem.

alfi

A new version Alfi3 has been released, which is based on a completely
revised robust internal structure. alfi4 is also going on in parallel
which will use new version of xwWindows, which enables to add new
capabilities to alfi.

Data Analysis:

Kent Blackburn:

* Increased requirements on ManagerAPI to include a mini-database to
  manage statistics on execution performance for all commands handled
  by the ManagerAPI.

* Wrote the FrameAPI baseline requirements document. These have been
  passed on to Albert, Walid, Dave and Phil.

* Met with Dave and Phil to discuss work on the FrameAPI and the
  ManagerAPI.

* Met with Dave and Stuart to work out some issues on the Beowulf and
  the Alpha workstation which is currently our gateway. One of the
  nodes on the beowulf (node 4) has been determined to be defective.

* Met with all LDAS hands to discuss job descriptions and schedules.

Dave Farnham:

* This week I have been primarily working on the Frame API.

* Updated the FCL version in my code to v1.01

* Wrote a 'draft' specification for the getAttribute API command (this
  is a complicated command since the frame objects have numerous
  attributes).

* Implemented openFrameFile, readFrame, destructFrame,
  destructFrameFile, getAttribute(partially), sendFrame, and recvFrame
  commands.

* I have also spent some time working with Stuart on the Beowulf (mostly
  troubleshooting).
 
Phil Ehrens:

* Began to write the managerAPI.tcl functions and resources.

* Installed software in the new /ldcg distribution directory
  structure.

Xiao Hu:

* Reading LIGO LDAS specifications

* Reading DB2 documents

* Reading XML documents

* Reading CVS manual

* Installing database environment DB2 for LIGO on NT machine
<bill.cacr.caltech.edu> over at CACR.

S. Anderson reports:

Initial validation testing of the LDAS beowulf cluster has identified
one bad motherboard.

Installed the latest version of Linux on the Dec Alpha beowulf server to
increase funcionality and stability.

Started to write a formal mass storage purchasing plan.

B. Sears is at LHO for the customization and installation of the E-log
[electronic log book].

General Computing [Wallace]
 

C. Patton:
1. Moved all the computers to the permanent T1 line. Also installed
the latest versions of Exceed and Norton Anti-virus.

2. Created several new user accounts and helped with many PC problems
from the move and new software installs.

3. Modified and restarted the samba configuration file to use the
server's new IP number and name.

4. Started the long task of finding and changing all occurrences of the
name of the server from ligo168 to rainier, as part of the change over
to the T1 line. May have to re-license some software if it turns out
the software is licensed by the server name rather than the server host
id number.

-- Livingston Observatory --

No report

-- MIT --

No report

-- Caltech --

S. Bench:
1. Tried to manually reset Bios on Gateway machine, didn't work.
2. Looked into printer problems, Larry had already taken care of it.
3. Installed a sound card into Irene's machine, looking for the drivers
to it
now.

S. Singh:
1. Completed the last month's (November) monthly full backup of sirius,
kater,
ligo and gsparc servers. Also made the full backup of pollux (to be
sirius) as
we have installed many softwares.

2. Upgraded Barry's PC by installing the 64 MB of memory. The printer
(HP
1600 CM) has been hooked up in the network.
3. Necessary paperwork has been completed for purchasing HP LaserJet
5000N, HP
Deskjet printers for 3rd floor west bridge. Also, paperwork has been
done for
the 25 units of 128 MB RAM for ldas system and tape cartridges for
backup.
4. Two HP printers in 3rd floor are currently under maintenance and hope
to be
online by this afternoon.

5. Some new accounts and email alises have been created.

B. Kratochwill:
1. Prepared and installed Safety and Operational Procedures page and the
PAC5
Transparencies pages for the web site.

2. Prepared a Photo Gallery page for the web site.

3. With Linda Turner, tested the web application to reserve a document
number.
Made minor changes  and installed the application on antares.  Now we
are
testing the database links to sirius.

4. Refreshed web DCC search application.  It is updated as of 11/25/98.

5. Worked with Jake Robinson, the consultant setting up the web site for
the
Amaldi Conference.


WBS 1.4.4.1    Administrative Group


 Rita Torres (two week report)

For I. Petrac did change order No. 3 to Allied Engineering, text and exhibits. Also change order No. 2, Univ. of Wisconsin, change order No. 10, Hytec; also memo to Purchasing Re: Hytec account distribution. Did change order No. to superior Jig, change order No. 1 to Hand Machining, change order No. 8 to Butler Services Group. Did PC286577 with Jake Robinson, to create a website for the Amaldi conference scheduled for July 1999.

For E. Jasnow did letters to bidders of RFQ EJ-305, Mechanical Maintenance at LLO, to inform them of selection of Carrier Building. Also helped with PC286578, Carrier Building Systems and Services for Mechanical Maintenance at LLO; obtained 3 copies to FedEx to vendor for signature. Did letter to Hensel Phelps Re: Items to be completed; FedExed letter and did distribution.

For S. Whitcomb distributed material to CIT, sites, and MIT science groups.

For W. Tyler, spent several hours over four days reformatting draft of LIGO Safety and Environmental Protection Manual (LIGO-M980242-00-M). The document was scanned to access it electronically, and it contained extra characters and symbols which were removed, and text formatted.

With S. Meshkov provided NSF with additional information as requested for the Amaldi conference.

For P. Lindquist distributed minutes for CCB held on 11/10/98. Distributed "Proposal for Operations and Commissioning of LIGO"; FedExed proposal to NSF.

Handled mail from Room 18 for one day in Cleveland's absence.

Distributed: PC285071 with SORL, Space Optics Research Laboratories, PC285072 with Dynamic Light Control, ad PC285070 with EOT Electro-Optics Technology. Also distributed change order No. 3 to Pegasus, change order No. 7 to Brookfield, change order No. 5 to Senior Flexonics, and change order No. 9 to Hytec.

INFORMATION

Attended an all-day class on sharpening writing skills. An interesting point: Envelopes should be addressed with all capitals, no punctuation as follows --
A J SMITH
XYZ COMPANY
1234 STREET
PASADENA CA 91125
Why this form? For fast reading by the postal service scanners; to expedite routing of your mail.

 

Dorothy Lloyd

Continued to process a heavy load of purchase requisitions, POs, change orders, check requests, etc. as well as heavy load of invoices.

Followed up and tracked problems with invoice payments.

Completed reconciling May status reports and began working on June.

Entered AP30 reports into the database.

Continued to monitor and support the temporary help.

 

Irene Baldon

Please note that Thursday and Friday of last week were holidays, thus no work was accomplished.

Work on the paper work for various trips taken while I was either off ill or arranged this week. Worked on the ever present backlog of Expense Reports. The backlog is slowly but surely going down.

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.

 

Elizabeth K. Wood

Made account distribution changes with the new numbers provided by Phil for almost everyone in LIGO.

Wrapped up a few loose ends concerning travel that I worked on while Irene was away.

Put in final form the Oversight Committee Report from the October NSF/Oversight Committee Meeting.

Helped Syd Meshkov interview a potential Amaldi assistant candidate.

Talked with Lenore Friese about jury duty for LIGO employees. In the past (like about two years ago), it was possible to get out of L.A. County jury duty in rare instances with a letter from HR. This is no longer possible. The county will not accept letters to get people out of jury duty. The county has, however, changed the procedure somewhat as I understand it, in that after the first day of jury duty, one needs only to call in to the court to see if it necessary to come in. Sorry about the news. We tried.

When international visitors are planning to come to LIGO, unless they are arriving under an F-1, J-1, or H1-B visa, make sure they/you talk to Ben Ortega, Caltech’s immigration specialist, so visitors get the correct visa stamp. If an international visitor arrives with a "tourist" (as opposed to a "business") visa, he/she cannot get reimbursed for living expenses while here in Pasadena. LIGO can pay for hotels and airfare, but nothing else (like per diem or honoraria).

If you want to order a LIGO sweatshirt, let me know as soon as you can. I can get them fairly quickly, but with Christmas coming up, it may take longer. I’ve got t-shirts for $12.50 except XXL and XXXL which are $13.50. Sweatshirts are $21.00 except sizes XXL and XXXL which are $23.00
 


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