Weekly Report for Week Ending March 16, 1999



 Project Control Meeting Agenda   Highlights   Hanford Observatory     Livingston Observatory     Detector    Project Office    System/Data Analysis    Administrative    Past Weekly Reports

The Project Control Meeting Agenda for Monday  March 22, 1999 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:

Though you may not notice - Caltech will have a major power outage the weekend of April 18! Thus, computer networking in and out of Caltech (and within) will be dead from late Saturday till Monday early. If we are lucky!!!

The official notice looks like this:

   CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
         PHYSICAL PLANT
       UTILITY & SERVICE INTERRUPTION

**PLEASE POST**

Building:   Alles
       H.E.P.(Downs/Lauritsen)
       Arms            Isotope

       Athenaeum          Kellogg
       Braun Gym          Kerckhoff
       Brown Gym          Millikan

       Bridge(East,West,Annex)     Mudd (North & South)
       B.S.B.(Keith Spalding)         Parsons Gate
       C.A.B.S. Office & Annex(Housing)  Robinson
       Chandler          Sloan
       Church              Sloan Annex
       Crellin             Spalding Lab
       Dabney Hall          Synchrotron
       Fairchild          Thomas
       Gates Annex          U.G. Houses (North & South)
       Guggenheim          Winnett
       Health Center          1245 Arden Rd.

Date:      Sunday April 18,1999

Time:      8:00 a.m. TO 6:00 p.m.

Interruption:     All Electrical Power

Contact:       Mike Anchondo x-4999 or Joe Rodriguez x-4729

*Electric power for all the above buildings will be down,
to service Substation #1 switchgear.

(If there is a problem with this Interruption, please notify
the Service Center X-4717 or the above Contact as soon as possible.
If no response is received we will proceed with the interruption.)
 
          Reza Ohadi,
          Manager,Campus Operations
          and Maintenance


Weekly Report Highlights
 
 Additional LHO laser safety procedures established after fourth(!) close call incident

Livingston installation in vacuum chamber begins with LHAM1 seismic kickoff!
 


LIGO Hanford Observatory (LHO) Operations



 
Facilities:
-----------
O. Matherny

Water System modification:  The 8000 gallon water tank is installed and
plumbed in. The reverse osmosis system is producing clean water; the Health
Department declared our water safe for drinking. The system still does not
run automatically, there are control problems.

New staging Building:  The contractor is off the site until the steel
structure arrives. Expected in two weeks.

Compressors:  We received the Kaeser position in writing. Our best bet may
be to work with them and get a system that they will guarantee.

Bake Oven:
----------
(K. Ryan)
 

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

HAM 10 Work:  Stack installation was completed last friday--500 lbs of
payload was evenly distributed (will be specifically placed when a layout
is given later). A check of baseline elevation of Optics Table was made as
well. So, installation of Air Bearings and elevation/leveling of Optics
table on HAM 10 are the only remaining tasks for all seismic work on the
HAM chambers for the 2k interferometer.

BSC 8 Work: The south door and the dome were removed from BSC8 on 3-16 in
preparation for the Stack Installation and the Counterweight and Cabling
installations. And, on 3-17 the first layer of Springs and Leg Elements were
installed. We had anticipated getting more accomplished based on past
installations on the BSC 1st Article and much experience with the HAMs, but
it seemed the Alignment and Safety Pins were regularly out of square due to
the tapped holes in the Support Table not being square with the Table.  We
'modified' the Safety Pins where required to allow installation; and, we'll
find out if the stacks are close enough to where they should be when we go
to placing the Downtube onto the Stacks.

PreStabilized Laser:
--------------------
(Rick Savage)

The 10-W laser was accidentally shut down this week when the engineers
installing the interlocked power for the IOO alignment lasers in the LVEA
accidentally tripped the interlocked power for the 10-W laser power supply.  We expect to restart
the PSL later today.

During the past two weeks, we have attempted to eliminate ground loops in
the PSL that have caused large spikes (30 dB) at 60 Hz and harmonics in
signals such as the frequency stabilization servo error monitor. There were
numerous instances of equipment being plugged into facility power and a
cable connecting the equipment to other equipment (e.g. the laser table for
the equipment racks) that is grounded to CDS power. After making sure that
everything that will be connected to CDS-grounded equipment is also
connected to CDS power, the 60 Hz and harmonics spikes on the frequency
servo error signal were eliminated except for a 60 Hz spike about 4 dB
above background (-122 dB Vrms/rtHz) and a spikes at 180 Hz about 7 dB
above background (-115 dB Vrms/rtHz. These appear when we connect one of
the CCD cameras to the monitor which is connected to CDS power. We may have
a problem with the ground between the optical table and the PSL rack; the
large diameter grounding cable seems to have a bad swage so we are replacing
it.

We are taking advantage of the PSL being down to permanently install CDS
power inside the Optical Table Enclosure.
 

D. Barker investigated changing the grounding of the VMICS 3113 ADC card in
order to reduce the noise on some of the PSL EPICS signals. Unfortunately,
he found that a fix that had been implemented by P. Russell on other VMICS
cards will not remedy our problem. Some of the EPICS signals for the PSL
became quieter as a result of the grounding changes. J. Myers, who is taking
responsibility for the PSL electronics at Hanford, will investigate further.

We have been having difficulty with the current control on the 10-W laser
power supply. The supply misinterprets the rotation of the dial used to
control the current and gets into a state where the current increases with
both clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation of the dial. We swapped out
the faulty supply for one we had in the optics lab and will try the
replacement supply when we restart the laser later today. R. McCarthy will
investigate the problem with the faulty supply.

We have been trying to understand why the pre-modecleaner (PMC) loses lock.
It was previously attributed to insignificant range to accommodate length
variations in the PMC PZT. However, rough calculations indicate that
temperature swings of 10 deg. C or more would be required and it seems
unlikely that the PZT is seeing such high temperature swings. S. Whitcomb
suggested, based on 40-m lab experience, that temperature-related drifts in
servo electronic offsets may be the culprit. We will investigate this
further as time permits.

We also noticed that the PMC loses lock if the transmitted light
photodetector is blocked. This may be related to a problem with the
automatic lock acquisition code for the PMC. Together with P. King, we are
working on understanding what is going on.

We recently purchased a Scientech calorimeter for use on the PSL/IOO optical
table. Using this recently calibrated meter, we measured the output power of
the PSL at the PSL/IOO interface to be about one watt lower than what we
have measured with our Gentec power meter. We have checked the calibration
of both meters using the electrical substitution method and will make a
careful optical comparison when the laser is restarted. Also, L. Cardenas
has shipped a third meter, one that was purchased by the PSL group for
calibration, from Caltech and we will make measurements with it as well.

Biplab Bhawal will visit during the week of March 29th to work with R.
Savage on the end-to-end model for the PSL. A second general computing
SPARCstation is being set up in the computer users room to accommodate this
work.

As a result of a recent safety incident involving a visitor who was
observing work inside the Laser Area Enclosure, we have implemented the
following changes in our working procedures:
 
    - All work inside the PSL/IOO Optical Table Enclosure must now be
          coordinated with either Haisheng Rong or Rick Savage. The doors to
          the enclosure should not be opened without approval from one of
          them. Haisheng and Rick will communicate very closely to make sure
          that both are always aware of the status of the work on the table.

    - All tours of the PSL/IOO optical table must be coordinated in
          advance with either H. Rong or R. Savage. Entry into the Laser
          Area Enclosure should be kept to a minimum; items inside the Laser
          Area Enclosure that might encourage entry for non-PSL/IOO-related
          reasons (e.g. general purpose tool boxes) are being moved outside
          the  enclosure.

    - Yellow tape indicating the beam path has been applied to the
          optical table as a temporary measure until the red anodized
          permanent beam tubes arrive in about two weeks.

    - When a visitor is in the laser area enclosure, all normal work on
          the optical table will stop until the visitor leaves.

    - Escorters must make sure to tell the people they escort that they
          should not touch or place anything on the optical table. In
          general, they should be closely escorted.

    - Groups of three or more visitors will require two escorts - the
          main escort and an assistant to keep an eye on things.

[GHS note: We have had 4 near miss incidents at the PSL and all involve at least some damage to equipment or the room. This is a very ominous trend! It is only a matter of time before we lose someone's retina. Every incident has involved a scientist experienced with lasers. If the measures above don't eliminate those incidents involving visitors, we will have to eliminate all visits to LIGO lasers. PLease contact Doug Cook at Hanford before any work using lasers and optics in order to be informed of our procedures.]
 

Laser Safety & Optics:
----------------------
(D. Cook)

Laser Safety Issues:

We unfortunately had another laser incident, the second to involve a
visitor. I am now requesting that anyone wanting to bring a visitor into
the PSL/IOO Laser Area Enclosure make prior arrangements ahead of time at
our 7:50 AM work permit meeting. Also, any work that is required on the
PSL/IOO laser system must first be clear through Rick Savage or Haisheng
Rong. Work permits may need to be filed.

If you post your name as the "Responsible Laser Operator" at the PSL
enclosure, or on any other laser system here, take it seriously. You have
full control of the activities. If you are uncomfortable with the way
others in the enclosure are working, make a change. Ask them to leave if
necessary. You are responsible for the safety of anyone you admit in. If
you wish to relinquish your responsibility, secure the area and remove your
name from the list. If you bring in a visitor, you are to assume
responsibility for their safety and their behavior. Please make them aware
of the dangers and the do's and don'ts. We may have a stricter working
environment than many of us are use to working with, but we have some
complexities to deal with that make the rules necessary. Please be informed
of the site requirements and do your best to work with them.

We will remain in Laser Hazard condition at least until Friday for the ISC
alignment operations.

Optics:

The FM and ITM are out of the bake oven and ready to be cleaned. We will
not rehang them until just before they are ready for installaton in hopes
this will keep them cleaner. Betsy and I will set up two optical
breadboards under a soft wall enclosure to rework the SOS optic OSEMs
outside of HAM 7. We will connect a cable to a satellite control box to
align the OSEM positions and check the balance and dampening of the optics.
This will save transporting them back to the optics lab.

I will be working with Helena on the in-situ cleaning of the core optics
next week. This involves the CO2 and ionized N2 process. I am still
reworking some of the installation fixtures. We will have 10 more work
tables and a 10' X 6' soft wall enclosure here by Friday to stage set ups
in the LVEA.

Core Optics Support:
--------------------
(B. Weaver)
 

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

The Matlab Control Systems Toolbox now appears to be working properly.
I have received and installed the latest upgrade from Mathworks of the
Matlab and Simulink software.

I will be upgrading all Sun workstations to Solaris 2.7.  The three Sun
Ultra 10 workstations received last month came with Solaris 2.7
pre-installed.  According to the Sun web site, Solaris 2.7 is Y2K
compatible, while Solaris 2.6 requires several patches to be Y2K
compatible.  I will be installing the 2.6 patches on the server for now
and will upgrade the server to 2.7 in the near future.

One of the CDS ATM ports in the Right End Station has been programmed to
the GC network.  The bakeout elog computer, in the Right End Station, is
now connected to the GC network.

The modem pool Communications router box is on the network.  I'm in the
process of learning how it works and what needs to be done to get it
working.

I have also done the usual weekly backups, added several more user
accounts, dealt with a duplicate computer shipment from Sun, and updated
the Data and Computing budget reports.
 

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

After finishing wiring on IOT7 with Jay and Paul, we tested some of the
signals out to the equipment. This included turning on and off the
illuminator in Ham 7. We could not connect the camera due to the
housing not allowing enough bend radius for the cables.  We will work this
out with Matt Smith.

Installed another shutdown circuit for the ISC table assembly area. This
was quite involved due to the location of the work area. While this was in
progress decided to make other modifications to the system for robustness
reasons. We changed out the power supply and rewired the 2k PSL switch and
relay.

With the 2k PSL down we decided to run CDS power to the table surface in an
effort to eliminate potential ground problems. This work was completed
3/17.  Rick Savage and Josh Myer's brought up the PSL.

Worked on ground isolation for the CDS racks along the 2k input. When the
contractor installed the power to these racks the flexible conduit used was
not PVC and has a metal lining that shorts the racks to the facility
ground. I am in the process of changing this conduit out to PVC flex.
 

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

The post bake RGA measurements are complete on X1 and this data is
available for viewing.  We have completed verification of the soft closure
of the 44" gate valves on X1.  Sun River has finished installation of the
blankets and control panels at the mid and end station for X2 bake.  The
RGA has been removed from X1-5.  The Turbos and cryopumps have been removed
from X1-1 and 9 and are being moved to X2 for mounting.   The RGA has been
installed at X2-5 and has been baked.  We are baking out the last three
ports on X1(X1-1, 5, 9).   The data system has been turned off and moved to
XC2.  We are currently setting it up for X2 bake.
 


LIGO Livingston Observatory (LLO) Operations



 
 
Detector Installation (Rich Riesen) A BSC clean room has been placed over
the HAM-4 and is in the process of being cleaned. Cleaning should be
completed this week. After cleaning, prep work will begin for door removal
next week.

HAM SEI Installation
         HAM 1
  We have installed the support tubes (2) and the support table, all went
fairly well. We will have the 4 bellows installed today and should have the
doors back on by late tomorrow (Fri.)
 

Cleaning has been stopped in the LVEA until HAM 1 doors have been put back
on. Cleaning will resume and continue only when chambers are sealed.

Control Room/Mass Storage Area:  Two tables and some desk parts are still
outstanding and should arrive within two weeks. Power strips have been
installed on the back side of the computer tables and have been energized.
Labeling of the 4 circuits is in progress. Three duplex outlets have been
installed inside 3 equipment racks and have been labeled and energized.
 

Optics & Vacuum Labs: (Jonathan Kern): Lab water quality is steady at 15/16
meg-ohn in the Culligan system, and 18.3 at the optics cleaning station.
Erection of the large Laser Safety Enclosure is halted, until SEI
installation in HAMs 1 and 2 is completed. Labs and LVEA have transitioned
to a "bootie" requirement this week. Completed LLO Laser safety plan, and
several SOPs in preparation for the site safety review. Assisted the
mule-drivers Wednesday afternoon in removing the site's cattle guard.
 

EE Lab: (Juilien Svoboda) New shelves and drawers from LISTA are assembled
and will be filled with lab parts which have been an organization
problem in the past. We plan to buy few more open shelves for lab
instruments. Right now we still don't have enough space for every
instrument. Some missing lab equipment are found and being put in the
inventory list.

CDS installation:   (Juilien Svoboda, Rusyl Wooley) After some communication
with D. Ouimette from CDS group, we are purchasing more lab equipment to
support the coming CDS installation.
One UPS supporting CDS control server is broken. I am still in the process
of negotiating with the vendor.

Tested the fiber and copper cables from the corner to the end stations with
MCA. Test data sent to Rolf Bork.
Installed fiber from 1X22 to the Mass Storage Room.
Installed patch panels at both end stations.
Ordered 7.5 KVA UPS for CDS.
Ordered materials for fire alarm tie-in form the end stations to the corner
station

Seismic Measurement: (Juilien Svoboda) Helping M. Coles to continue our site
seismic measurement.

.
Vacuum Equipment: (Allen Sibley) Four additional HAM bellows have been
processed in the vacuum bake oven. A new load has been started and should be
complete on Mon. PSI has agreed that two GNB valves (GV-1, GV-2) were not
inspected after bake and will have to be inspected, and repaired,  when GNB
is on site to replace the mid point valve o rings. PSI will bear this cost,
and it should have no effect on the detector installation.
 

Instrumentation and Codes: (Anthony Rizzi) Suspension test bed: A Sun has
been setup and configured for temparary dedication to Suspension test stand.
With the help of D. Barker, boot room info loaded on 162 and accessed
through a Sun. Waiting for hardware to complete installation. Due to
shipping delay at manufacturer, Bajha processor boards now expected this
week.
Weather Station: A. Rizzi organized a meeting with James Finney
of LSU, R. Bork and D. Barker to begin activities necessary to
incorporate weather data into CDS system. Robert Schofield of U
of Oregon has also been brought into this loop via email.
Servo test stand: T. Evans and A. Rizzi have setup a user to
receive epics software on Basin and eventually probably will be
ported to Bart. Rolf to put on Epics this week. Waiting on CD with
code for Bajha boards.
Epics vacuum software setup to be accessible from my office. The
setup was done so that the program could be run with a minimal
number of key strokes.
PEM particle detectors placed, mounted and installed. T. Evans
mounted the detectors coordinating with myself. Dust monitor
software has been ftped, but zip file does not seem to unpack
correctly. Robert Schofield to advise.

Beam Tube Bake Out (Cecil Franklin) 1. A conference call was held on 3-17-99
between Bill Althouse, Ed Chargois, Mark Lubinski, and Cecil Franklin the
topic for discussion: " Best way to Transport Power Supply trailer from HLO
to LLO". We decided that it would be best, to dismantle each power supply
trailer and ship on separate tractor and trailer. Due to our lack of our
knowledge as to the history on the older trailers this means of
transportation of this equipment will  limit our exposure to Highway
equipment breakdowns.
2. We have complete the installation of hooks within the doorway of the
bean tube enclosure along the X-arm.  The Y-arm is approximately 50%
completed.

3. Ed Watt of Pacific Industrial Insulation has a Firm-Fixed Price Contract
with LIGO Livingston for the Furnishing and Installation of Beam Tube
Insulation to start on 4-5-99.
 

Facilities: (Gerry Stapfer) Check out of the mechanical equipment
installation is continuing. The remaining item needing attention is the
water integration set up. Clorination and the back flush filter system are
not working.
The water tower contractor was on site to inspect the access ladder. He will
provide us with a drawing of the access that will be OSHA approved.

A false fire alarm at the end station showed that the Livingston Fire
department did indeed show up.
 


WBS 1.2, 1.3    Detector Group


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

No report. Nergis has been swallowed up in the Hanford LVEA.

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

Fab/integration status:
------------------------
IOT7           complete
ISCT7           complete except WFS/LSC PD heads
RM, MMT3 optlev inst.     complete
ITMy, FMy optlev inst.   3/28

ISC Installation (P. Fritschel/N. Mavalvala)
---------------------------------------------
- Three ISC optical tables were received, assembled on their
support legs and moved to the ISC 2k assembly area.

- Installation and alignment of all available optics for ISCT7
was completed. The remaining components to be installed include
the length and alignment photodetectors, UF "bull's eye" detectors
(and associated GP telescopes) for mode matching, the optical spectrum
analyzer, and a camera, some of which are en route.

- Tuning and calibration for the wavefront sensors on IOT7 was
completed.

- Some acoustic blankets were installed on table enclosure panels

ISC supervisory control code (Ed Daw)
-------------------------------------
This week I documented my ddcu code for the ASC system. The
documentation can be found on:

http://space.mit.edu/LIGO/Welcome.html

once at the web site, click sequentially on current research,
gds, software library, digital data collection unit code.
Currently the documentation consists of descriptions of each
of the routines written by me (and others) to perform the
ddcu function.
 

ISC Table Design/ IAS Initial Alignment (K.Mason, M. MacInnis)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Completed a layout of ISCT9 assembly (Pickoff Port). Bill of Materials
were created for the three pickoff port tables (WISCT9,WISCT3,LISCT3)
and for the three Dark Port tables (WISCT10, WISCT4, and LISCT4) and
given to Matt for ordering.

A 6.0" dia viewport was ordered and sent overnight to Yehuda at Caltech
for cleaning. This viewport is needed urgently for the y-arm folding
mirror optical lever.

-------------------------------------------
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
--------------------------------------------
- All components to make current design pre-modecleaner bodies have, or
are, in the midst of being processed for cleaning and baking.  These include
the fused silica spacer bodies and prisms, the PZT and a holder for the PZT
and mirror.  It is hoped that these will be finished by 03/26.

- Vacuum hardware such as the ConFlat gaskets, blank flanges, nut plate
kits and screws for the reference cavity vacuum chamber have arrived.
These will be scheduled for cleaning and baking.

- Photodetectors to be used for the PSL intensity stabilization after the
modecleaner have arrived.  They require a simple modification to get the
transimpedance required in order for the PSL to reach the -140 dB per root
Hz level after the modecleaner.

- Insulated bases for the rf photodetectors have been completed and picked
up from Central Engineering Services.

- The adapter plates for holding the intensity stabilization AOM have also
been completed by Central Engineering Services.
 
 # DHS all that and an excellent FDR as well! Good job from the PSL team.

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

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

Vacuum Prep
    - suspensions                   complete
    - nonsuspended optics           complete
    - suspended small optics        in progress
    - suspended MMT3                complete

In Vacuum Optics Installation           in progress (MMT3, several SOS)

In Vacuum Alignment        4/1

Mode Cleaner Characterization     4/30
------------------------------------------------

2K Installation -

The OSEM problem has delayed the installation of the SOSs.  THe last mode
cleaner mirror, MC2 (MCCM2k02), has come out of the oven.  The spare MCCM
(MCCM2k01) had a glass break when one of the dumbells on the side of the
optic was removed for regluing.

Optical components on PSL/IOO table and realignment
All the 1/2 wave plate/polarizer combinations that were used to attenuate
the PSL power have been removed from the PSL/IOO table. Thus presently
there is one 1/2 wave plate at the PSL-IOO hand shake point and one
polarizer before the first EOM on the IOO side of the table. We have
adjusted the locations of the the optics accordingly. Thus the PSL beam
has been realigned all the way to the periscope.
 

(2) PSL beam shape
During the above-mentioned realignement, we checked the PSL beam profile
after each lens (mode matching lenses to the EOMs and mode matching
telescope lenses to the mode cleaner) by measuring the beam width by a
scanner, and fine tuned the local beam path so that the beam becomes as
circular as possible. The PSL beam's ellipticity at each location is now
at the same level as that measured at the PSL/IOO hand shake point (~+-
3% ellipticity).

4K IFOs -

SOS manufacture:
The last parts have been fabricated at UF and sent off for wire EDM.  THe
complete set of LHO and LLO 4 km SOSs should be ready in about two weeks.

4K layout-
David Tanner and Aaron Bengston have finished up the complete IOO 4 km IFO
layouts.
 
 

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

We have measured the seismic characteristics of the North and South
annexes of the 40 meter lab.  We find them similar to Lauritsen up to 30
Hz, then  lower through to 200 Hz. There is an intermittent, but large,
peak at 97.5 Hz which is not present in Lauritsen.  Overall these data
are similar to those from the CRS.  Thermal measurements have not been
made.

We have had great difficulty getting 45 degree incidence measurements on
FM02.  We now have 3 levels of enclosures, including an aluminum box
directly over the experiment.  We have managed to get the thermal
gradients in the room very low, but are still experiencing noise from a
mixture of sources.  A source as yet unidentified forms very small (5
pixel-ish) islands in the difference maps.  The typical rms for
difference maps is double what we have been seeing on the recent ITM
measurements.
 
 

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

CO2 cleaning: Finalized testing CO2 cleaning procedure. Conclusion: Under
the appropriate settings, such as a clean room environment, CO2 removes
most of dust particles and smudges. So far, is the best approach to clean
suspended optics "in situ".
The CO2 system has been shipped to Hanford to be used next week. Also,
2kITM04 has been cleaned and shipped.

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

BEAM-DUMPS
Fabrication is in process for five sets of cavity beam dumps for
installation into BSC7 and BSC8.

PO TELESCOPE
All first article parts of the telescope housing and support structure
except for the primary mirror mount are expected to be completed by 3/15.
Bids are being received for the primary mirror mount and a purchase order
will be let early next week.

ETM TELESCOPE
Release of the shop drawings is pending.

PO MIRROR
Three sets of production assemblies are in process of being fabricated.
Delivery of all parts, including the mirrors is expected by 3/24.

VACUUM WINDOW
All parts are on order and are expected by 4/14.

NEW CONICAL BAFFLE at MID STATION
Design is pending.

TRIPLE FLEXURE BRACKET and SUPPORT MEMBERS for CAVITY BEAM DUMP
Working drawings are being detailed by Paul K. and Craig C. A production
order will be placed next week for five assemblies of flexures brackets and
support members for BSC7 and BSC8.

ELLIPTICAL BAFFLE/BEAM DUMP
The polisher had difficulties in polishing the inside edges of the
elliptical holes. Therefore the holes will be left unpolished. AR coating
of the glass is in process. All parts for RM, ITMx and ITMy elliptical
baffle are expected by 3/30/99.

ITM/ETM ARM CAVITY BAFFLE
Angel R. will complete the detailing of the 3D layout of the ITM and ETM
arm cavity baffles for LHO, and LLO by 3/19/99.

FARADAY ISOLATOR
All three Faraday isolator assemblies are expected by 3/29.

INSTALLATION PLAN
item                               completion          install

Mode cleaner baffle                                        done
IO baffle
done
Elliptical baffle 2KRM, HAM9     3/30/99                4/7/99
Elliptical baffle 2KITMy, BSC8  3/30/99                4/12/99
Beam dump BSAR3, BSC8           4/12/99                4/12/99
Beam dump FMYX, BSC8             4/12/99                4/12/99
Beam dump FMYY, BSC8             4/12/99                4/12/99
Elliptical baffle 2KITMx, BSC7   3/30/99                5/3/99
Beam dump FMXX, BSC7             4/21/99                 5/3/99
Beam dump FMXY, BSC7             4/21/99                 5/3/99
 

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

Seismic Design (Mike Fine)
--------------------------------------
1. Electronics Rack:
Last week Hytec had a problem floating the prototype air bearing which is
the replacement unit they received from Specialty Components in January
to swap out a production bearing  that was needed in LHO to support BSC8
installation. The prototype air bearing was designed with larger initial lift
pockets and this may be the source of the troubles. Since then SC has
shipped another bearing to Hytec, which arrived Wed. Hytec now has
resumed the rack testing; however, the delivery of the first rack to Hanford
is delayed for another week.

2. Scissors Tables:
The IDC vertical actuators have begun to arrive at HYTEC. Hytec has
received 5 of the 8 and expect more of them to arrive early next week.
Hytec will need to install and check encoders prior to installation on the
scissors tables and will complete this early next week, then will install the
actuators on the scissors tables and prepare for shipping.
The 1st article scissors table from Superior Jig is still untested due to
limited manpower resources at Hytec.  Hytec will begin testing immediately
after the rack issues are resolved.

3. Near-Term SEI Hardware Delivery Schedule:
1 SEI electronic rack (Hanford)                                     3/28/99
4 HAM optical tables  (Livingston)                                   4/2/99

Suspension -- (Janeen Hazel/Mark Barton/Mike Fine)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Report From Janeen:
-Supporting Oliver McCulluogh's
sensor/actuator rework. He believes that he can
have 20 LOS osems here at Caltech by friday
morning. For future osems, he will wind the coil
and then airbake the heads (without the LED and
photodiode in place.) I bought a roll of the
teflon tape Oliver is using and will bake it on
friday if this second bake for the SOS osems
turns out unacceptable.
-I have completed redesigns for the alignment
fixtures that are needed for a suspension
installation in a BSC chamber.
-Working with Steve Bell to get the lift table
cleaned and shipped to LHO on friday. Working
with Astro Pak to get the alignment fixture
cleaned of Krytox, reassembled and shipped to
LHO on friday.
-Placed an order with Pierce Precision Sheet
Metal in Pasadena for the bridge spanner for the
BSC installations.
-Placed an order with Molding Solutions for the
fluorel tips for the 1/2 and 3/8 bolts. The PO
invokes the same fabrication specification used
for the spring seats.

2. SUS Hardware Delivery:
SUS Structure Delivery Dates: [numbers in parentheses are quantities.]
LOS1(for ETM, ITM, MMT): 3/15(1), 3/22(2), 4/9(2), 4/23(1)
LOS2(for BS): 3/18(1)
LOS3(for FM): 3/15(2)
 
---------------------------------------------------------
Detector Systems Engineering -- D. Shoemaker/D Coyne
(WBS 1.2.1.1.9)
---------------------------------------------------------

Global Diagnostics System
(Daniel Sigg, John Zweizig)

John Zweizig

This week I worked on the Data Monitor Tool chapter of the GDS Final
Design Report. I also tested and improved the C++ version of the
background monitor environment. This is now running semi-reliably online
to the 40m NDS which was updated on monday by Alex. I suspect that there
is a memory leak in the frame library which will prevent monitors from
running on a very long term basis, but should not inhibit monitor
development. I am also preparing a C-language interface for the
background environment.

Daniel Sigg

Continued to work on the GDS FDR.
 

Physics Environmental Monitor(Matt Smith, David Shoemaker & Alex Marin)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    1.The delivery schedule is posted at :
       http://web.mit.edu/marin/www/PEM_Delivery.html
The main issue is that the seismometer delivery are due on April 30.
Accelerometer cables (Endevco) are delivered to Hanford.
Supply for the railings are due on March 26.
 
    2. five refurbished RGA heads are on their way to Hanford
    3. All the RGA hardware will be ready for cleaning and vacuum bake early
next week
    4. Beam tube interface plates are due on March 26
    5. 8 more spacers needed for mounting the PEM interface plates on the
seismic support tube were delivered by Caltech to Hanford.
    6. At Stan request, a tiltmeter and the PEM PC/DAQ system was used to
measure the floor tilts near the HAM 7 and its optical lever.
    7. The granit plates for the tiltmeter were ordered, due in two weeks.
    8. More work is been done on the PEM detailed installation plan for the
2km IFO.
    9 At MIT one complete set of cables for the seismometer breakout box has
been made. They will be tested for the final installation.
    10. Work is in progress for a new mounting hardware of the microphones.
 

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

Cavity one loaded with DI water washed viton pieces has been locked
under continuous light illumination. No contamination on the cavity
mirrors has been observed from the loss measurements undertaken for
a week.

Still no observable data change found in either ringdown or mode
spacing measurements for cavity two loaded with another set of fresh
viton pieces, even after the cavity has been vacuum sealed without
pumping for a week.

Received 50 1" flat mirrors and 22 curved (curvature of 1 m) mirrors.
Both types are low-loss mirrors coated by REO for 100 ppm transmission.
The new quantity should feed our three contamination cavities for a
while since I am running out of them. In addition, a bunch of these
clean mirrors will be sent to Hanford to be placed into the vacuum
chambers there exposing to the large amounts of viton for sometime, and
then sent back to Caltech for loss evaluation.

Implementing commments of internal reviewers into the manuscript of the
contamination results. The revised manuscript will be distributed
widely in LIGO for feedbacks before submission.

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

Near Term Installation
=================
- Jay and Dale at Hanford week of Mar. 29 for continued IOO ISC installation.
- Rolf at Livingston week of Mar. 29 for continued CDS infrastructure
installation.
- Rich at Livingston week of Apr. 5 for start of PSL installation.

Data Acquisition
=============
- Replaced 40m DAQ GPS module with new version and updated software;
  system is now properly writing GPS timestamps.
- ADC modules for Livingston system due to ship March 27.
- Installed DAQ Sun U450 Frame Builder/Network Data Server. This has ATM
and reflective memory cards.
- Installed DAQ controller VME crate (3 baja, 2 GPS receivers, 2 RFM
cards).
- Installed 3 GPS antennas onto LVEA roof.
- LHO LVEA Weather station running on EPICS. Met One dust particle monitor
EPICS code almost ready.

Control Area / Networking
===================
- Placed order for two Sparc10 computers for Livingston: one to act as gateway
  machine between CDS and General Computing; other is for suspension test
  stand.
- MIPS VME processors for Livingston due to ship this week.
- Installed solaris and ATM into LLO control room sun workstations.
- Installed CDS gateway server in MSR. This is an ATM machine with
connections to both GC network (london.ligo-la.caltech.edu) and CDS network
(gateway). This replaces the gateway function of the main CDS Server.
- Configured the main CDS server (Sun E2). This is now not on the GC
network. Added 50GB disk array to this machine.
- Installed cable into control room (fibre optics and ethernet).
- upgraded LHO NDS to solaris 2.7. Major problems found in ATM and RFM
drivers under new 64bit OS. Re-installed Sol 2.6 until these problems are
resolved.
- LVEA-X ATM 3810 failed after power cycle. Reconfigured system and it is
now working.
- LHO control room: working on projection system, installing all CDS
workstations (2 U60, 2E2 plus GC U60).
- Working on CDS sys admin tasks (propagating CDS user account, and
solaris databases over all CDS workstations and servers).

Suspension
===========================
- All LVEA COS and IO suspension systems for the WA 2K IFO are installed and
ready for operation.
- The LLO IO suspension cross connect assembly has been started.

IO
=============================
- Cabling to IOT7 is complete.
- Rack 2X6 cabling is 90% complete.
- IO controls are 50% tested and should be ready for operation the first
week of
April.
- The new whitening modules that are required to handle the signals on the
final
DAQ/GDS signal list are stuffed, but not tested. They will be ready for
operation the first week of April.

ASC Front End Controls
=============================
- WFS PD boards will be received next week. They will be stuffed and tested.
- A small modification to the optical lever PD boards is required. Two boards
have been modified for use on MMT3 and RCM. Final design boards that have the
modification included are due next week.
- Optical lever controls schematics for the WA 2K LVEA optics are 75%
complete.
Cables will be pulled and cross connects installed for the remaining
systems the
first week of April.
- The design guidelines document for the front end controls is 50% complete
and
should be ready for comment and review within the ISC group by 3/26.

MC LSC:
=============
We are almost finished testing the MC Length servo boards. We will install
them at Hanford on our next trip (probably the week of March 29th). We plan
to finish the cabling then and do final in-place checkout of everything.

Timing System:
==============
The GPS Clock Driver board will be ready to send out for fab this week. We
plan to have the first tested board in about four weeks. We will have a
fourth set of GPS timing boards (version 1) ready to send to Livingston by
end of next week.

LLO Vacuum Controls
==============================
- Version 1.2 of the Vacuum Controls system for Louisiana has been built
and is ready for installation (waiting for LLO networks to come on
line).
- Version 1.2 Vac Controls system has been tested on LHO Y arm mid
station.
- GC network installed in X Arm End station to support bakeout ELOG.
 


WBS 1.4    Project Office



 

 1.4.1.2 Project Controls (Lindquist)


Change Control (Lindquist)

The following change requests have been submitted:
 

CR-990001 WBS 1.3 Return Unused Budget for Construction Related R&D to Contingency P. Lindquist
CR-990004 WBS 1.1.4 Livingston Site Erosion Control and Landscaping G. Stapfer


LIGO Weekly Site Telecon (Jasnow)

A site telecon was held Thursday, March 18, 1999.  The list of current actions assigned may be found at ACTION LIST


PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (Chargois)

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

No Report This Week [Ed has been sending materials to Atlanta for the APS Centennial Exhibit this week -pel.]


DOCUMENT CONTROL CENTER (Turner)

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

STATISTICS

During the past two weeks, 17 electronic documents were processed and made available on-line.  Additionally, a total of 180 documents were added to the database.  During the past three weeks, a total of 91 packages were received and distributed.  An additional 51 packages were sent out.  The DCC processed 102 incoming faxes and the project transmitted 147 faxes. Press here for a complete report on ACTIVITIES IN THE DOCUMENT CONTROL CENTER.


COST SCHEDULE CONTROL SYSTEMS (Duncan, Moore, Akutagawa, Kaufman)

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

From: Sarita Moore<moore_s@ligo.caltech.edu>

Press here for HISTORY OF AP ACTIONS.

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

From: Florence Kaufman <fkaufman@ligo.caltech.edu>
SUBCONTRACTS MANAGEMENT (Petrac, Jasnow)

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

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

Replacement of the O-rings in the Livingston mid-point gate valves will probably occur in two weeks.  This will be performed under a new contract directly with GNB, the manufacturer of the valves.  Additionally, PSI will be using GNB at this same time two inspect two valves in the corner station that were not inspected after being baked.

The selection committee has approved the sign design submitted by Davies Associates of Beverly Hills, after seeing both sides of the sign.  They will now be directed to finalize the design, including materials to be used.  Additionally, they will be directed to submit concepts using their logo for letterhead and business cards.

Hanford Sign
Livingston Sign


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 received the remaining quantity of Fluorel o-rings from Dimension Seal Products along with splice joint test samples. This last batch of Fluorel o-rings are the replacement items for the mid station valves. R. Weiss has advised me that he expects to ship the 44 inch bake test o-rings to GNB on Monday, 22 March. GNB will be advised of this status and asked to perform the valve bake test as soon as possible after receiving the o-rings. LIGO QA (R. Vincent and W. Tyler) will witness the o-ring installation, test assembly and set up and post test o-ring inspection.

LIGO QA has continued to work with G. Stapfer and others to complete plans for the Livingston Operation/Safety Review. A draft agenda has been reviewed and accepted by G. Sanders and LIGO Safety. LIGO QA is in the process of distributing this latest version of the Livingston Review Agenda to LIGO personnel.
 


WBS 1.4.3    Systems Engineering / Data Analysis and Computing



 
Systems Engineering

Klohoker:
Attended Pre-Stabilized Laser (PSL) Final Design Review (3/18/99) to support completion of the
maintenance plan for LIGO.

Lazzarini: Completed documentation of the LLO site global coordinate system. Last round was a compilation
of 19 primary GPS monuments and their positions with respect to the vertex in the site global coordinate system.

Modeling  & Simulation

1. adlib multi mode implementation ( Biplab )

* Astigmatism is being introduced in Adlib. It will now be
   possible to handle elliptical beams.
* "mirror" class is being modified to incorporate lensing features.
   The already existing "lens" module will be utilized to represent
   ordinary lenses used mainly in IOO or PSL.
*  Polarization information will also be carried by the "field" and
   phases on reflection from a mirror will be calculated accordingly.

2. adlib code parallerization ( Matt )

* A possibility of parallerizing adlib code was discussed. By utilizing
   the pre-tick <->  delay module concept and repordering the ticking
   of modules, the adlib code will be able to be modified to use thread.

3. adlib other tools ( Hiro )
* Shotnoise had been implemented. The result has been compared with
   the analytic calculation by Malik. Two versions are implemented, a slow
   while accurate version, and a fast while limited version.
* Detectors for multi mode fields are prepared.
* sideband_gen can now amplitude modulation, as well as phase modulation.
* The comparison of the multi mode calculation with Ray's code has started.

4. alfi ( Ed )
* Ed got a laptop PC to reproduce bugs observed at Florida. He fixed one bug
   cased by loosing tracks of events. He found another anoying fature of window
   managers which prevents alfi getting control back, and the only reasonable
   choice of the user is to save all changes and quit.

5. e2e distribution ( Hiro, Syd )
* At the LSC/STAIC meeting, GEO and TAMA showed interest in using
   e2e package. Hiro worked with Syd to prepare MOU attachments. They will
   be sent to each group for their review.

Data Analysis

Anderson:

Preliminary architecture design for on-site archives (several weeks of
IFO data).

NIS+ is now in production mode on the Linux server for the Beowulf cluster.

Continued testing and negotiating with Alta Technologies to obtain a fully
working Beowulf cluster.

Majid:

Put together a list of core algorithms, identifying their input/output as
well as some of the relevant parameters and passed them along to Bruce to
be considered for his list of core algorithms.

Spent some time trying to understand the stationary phase approx to the FT
for the signal produced by a binary inspiral.  Started working with Tom to
work out a very efficient procedure for calculating the templates on the
fly with much less CPU and memory requirement.  Spent some time trying to
findout if there is an equivalent N*LogN method to further reduce the
compute time for the templates.

--- LDAS Software Development ---

    * (XHU) worked on LDAS log tables

    * (XHU) worked on CDS ilog tables

    * (XHU) worked on LDAS frame tables

    * (XHU) worked on frame table queries

    * (XHU) worked on database views

    * (DF)  Finished converting the ObjectSpace package to use
              GNU Automake and Autoconfig.

    * (DF)  Finished converting all of the LDAS code which I have
              written to use Automake & Autoconfig.

    * (DF)  Successfully ported the generic & frame API's to Solaris.
 

    * (PSE) Migrated the logging and error reporting functions
                of the genericAPI.tcl to the log::* namespace.  This
                was done in response to requirements placed on the
                logging system by the metadata API.
 
    * (PSE) Began to code the various data and server loops
                required by the manager, frame, and metadata
                servers.  These are the "front-end" modules which
                use the API code already developed.

    * (JKB) Met with Xiao, Barbara, Ed to discuss progress on the
      LDAS database components. Made several iterations on the
      LDAS Event and Ilog table designs.

    * (JKB) Met with Bruce Sears, Xiao, Ed and Albert to discuss
      how to submit Ilog updates from the Ilog side of the "fence"
      over into the LDAS LAN (martian network). This discussion
      has similar design strategies for GDS table updates.

   * (JKB) Continued reviewing resumes and interviewing for new
     LDAS software developers.

   * (JKB) Met with Dave and Phil to discuss extentions to the
     Internal LDAS Lightweight Data Format which would allow
     wrapping up non-conforment tags within the Internal LDAS
     Lightweight data format. A new tag element will be added
     to the genericAPI software called <extern> to allow this
     support within the <container> tag.

Sears:
* Continuing work on the definition of Inter-API communications in LDAS processes

        Continuing communication with Kent Blackburn, Phil Ehrens, Dave Farnham,
        and Ed Maros to discuss this and clarify the TBDs in implementing
        inter-API communications.  Currently writing pseudo-code scripts for
        further discussion and later translation into an actual implementation.

* Defining scope of electronic log and LDAS metadata service interworkings.

        The LDAS metadata API needs to be able to gather information from the
        sites' electronic logs in cases where the operator makes a log entry
        which they feel should be flagged by LDAS.

* Porting electronic log to the Livingston facility.

        Involved preparing directory structure, ensuring correct perl
        installation, correct web server configuration, setting up user
        authentication, and other issues involved in running ilog on
        the Livingston web server.

* Maintenance on the Hanford electronic log software (ilog).

        Standard work on minor bug fixes.

Williams:

Last week's activities:
-- Completing LIGO-LW format specification, and registering it with with
the DCC

--Continuing the Java API to LIGO-LW. Integrating various kinds of
remote streams.

--Building tools to manipulate LIGO-LW:
>> To find a Table in the file and output a subset of the columns in plain tex.
>> A thin-client GUI applet to read LIGO-LW from a server and display its data with graphs rather than text.
>> Still trying to find a neat way to interface Java code to C++ or Tcl or Objectspace.

--Working with Barbara K to do the WebBase access to the frame catalog,
this time connecting to DB2 rather than Access like we did last year.

General Computing

MIT:
Nothing to report.

Hanford: (Christine Patton)
The Matlab Control Systems Toolbox now appears to be working properly.
Received and installed the latest upgrade from Mathworks of the
Matlab and Simulink software.

Will be upgrading all Sun workstations to Solaris 2.7.  The three Sun
Ultra 10 workstations received last month came with Solaris 2.7
pre-installed.  According to the Sun web site, Solaris 2.7 is Y2K
compatible, while Solaris 2.6 requires several patches to be Y2K
compatible.  Will be installing the 2.6 patches on the server for now
and will upgrade the server to 2.7 in the near future.

One of the CDS ATM ports in the Right End Station has been programmed to
the GC network.  The bakeout elog computer, in the Right End Station, is
now connected to the GC network.

The modem pool Communications router box is on the network.  Christine is
in the process of learning how it works and what needs to be done to get it
working.

Performed the usual weekly backups, added several more user
accounts, dealt with a duplicate computer shipment from Sun, and updated
the Data and Computing budget reports.

Livingston: (Tom Evans)
Worked out the final e-mail issues and preparing items in support of the
visitors for the NSF review.

CIT:
(Barbara)
- Investigated reports of a problem with hyperlinks on the LIGO home page.
Will try to fix the problem by using index.html as our home page and
removing the link that points index.html to LIGO_web/LIGO_home.html.  The
link appears to be an antifact from an earlier era.
- Added 2 new fields to the mailing list table/form/reports for the Amaldi
conference.
- Met with Linda Turner about a possible new directory structure for the
electronic documents.  Investigated a macro that will copy documents from
OUT to the docs directory
- Made a few web site changes.
- Worked with Larry W. on issues concerning the setup of PC's with NT and
Windows 98. Discovered that some hardware installs better with Windows98 than
NT.

Moved a number of workstations and upgraded a couple of the PC's.
Now have a number of installations of Netscape 4.5 which are being checked out.
There is a version from SUN and one from Netscape.
Looking at a new set of patches from SUN. They are being tested on a couple of
machines before we decide to distribute them.

Working on a number of purchases. Additional disk drives and supplies have been
ordered.

Sean and Larry have been working on a number of system monitoring items to start
tracking usage and performance of various systems.

Working a number of hardware issues. A number of PC's a couple of SUNS and some
old printers all in the process of being repaired or upgraded.


WBS 1.4.4.1    Administrative Group


 Rita Torres

On vacation this week.

Irene Baldon

Worked on preparing the paper work for various new trips taken recently (20 Purchase Requisitions and 15 Advance Requests). There are 14 additional new trips in various stages pending completion of travel arrangements. Travel arrangements have started for the NSF Review at the Livingston, LA, site. Completed 34 Expense Reports. Some of these were still not taped or completed by the Traveler and required more time for completion.

Cleared 14 - 1998 folders and sent them to DCC for permanent storage. These are folders containing Visitors, Consultants, and various conferences. I still have a few 1998 individual files not completed with the submission of an expense report. I will continue to contact these individuals as time permits. Please submit your receipts if you still have an outstanding trip.

Prepared Travel/Vacation Itinerary for the Week of March 15th, 1999.

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. Also worked on a number of problem issues which required a portion of my time.

Dorothy Lloyd

Continue to work on reconciling the status reports and entering AP30 reports into the database. Processed the usual heavy load of purchase requisitions, POs, change orders, etc. For further details see Cost Schedule Control Systems report submitted by Sarita Moore.

I am now currently caught up with invoices and have been processing them for payment as they are received. There will remain on my desk those invoices requiring end user approval, as in many cases the invoices appear before the packing slips are returned to me.

Continued to monitor and support the temp.

Elizabeth K. Wood

Have been working with Bonnie, Mark, Irene, and Barry to get the NSF Review in Livingston going. We’ve got a block of rooms at the Hampton Inn reserved under "NSF/LIGO/Caltech".

Helped Bonnie with a variety of issues including material transfers and figuring out wages for students.

Talked to phone office about getting voicemail set up for Bill Tyler and Mike Zydowicz---push "1" for Bill, push "2" for Mike. It’s all set up, except that it isn’t working correctly yet.

Handled with usual personnel issues.

Sent yet another memo to the bookstore clarifying who can charge to which account numbers.

Finally got Anderson Typewriter to come out and look at Dot’s typewriter and mine. They work much better now.

 


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