Weekly Report for Week Ending March 23, 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 29, 1999 will be:

CANCELLED

PLEASE SEND WEEKLY REPORT INPUT TO GARY SANDERS NEXT WEEK EVEN THOUGH I AM IN JAPAN. THE REPORT WILL BE COMPILED AND SENT OUT ON THE WEEKEND.


Special Announcements:

LIGO Web Newsletter for February is now at:

http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/LIGO_web/9902news/9902main.html

I. POLICY ON TRAVEL TO JULY AMALDI CONFERENCE AT CALTECH:

This conference will be considered a special case. We encourage attendance by all interested LIGO scientific staff and will not consider this meeting as counting against the typical one conference per year guideline. Please register using the website entry form as soon as possible if you are interested.

II. NSF Review Agenda: April 27-29, 1998 Livingston

>NSF LIGO REVIEW
>Livingston, Louisiana
>April 27 - 29, 1999
>
>LIGO-L990103-00-M
>
>AGENDA
>Draft:  March 16, 1999
>
>
>Tuesday, April 27, 1999
>
>09:00 am - 09:30 am    Executive Session
>09:30 am - 10:00 am    LIGO Status/Overview   (B. Barish)
>10:00 am - 10:20 am    LHO (Hanford) Report   (F. Raab)
>10:20 am - 10:40 am    LLO (Livingston) Report    (M. Coles)
>10:40 am - 11:00 am    Break
>11:00 am - 11:45 am    Detector Construction/Installation (D. Coyne)
>11:45 am - 12:15 pm    LIGO Commissioning (S. Whitcomb)
>12:15 pm - 02:30 pm    Working Lunch and Lab Tour
>02:30 pm - 03:15 pm    LIGO Data Analysis Systems (A. Lazzarini)
>03:15 pm - 03:45 pm    LSC - Detector Characterization Group  (D. Sigg)
>03:45 pm - 04:00 pm    Break
>04:00 pm - 04:30 pm    LSC - Astrophysical Source Identification  (B.
>Allen)
>   and Signature (ASIS)
>04:30 pm - 05:00 pm    LSC - Detector Characterization and    (S. Finn)
>   Statistical Analysis
>05:00 pm - 06:00 pm    Executive Session
>
>
>Wednesday, April 28, 1999
>
>09:00 am - 12:00 pm    Group I - Detector
>   Group II - Facilities
>   Group II - Data Analysis
>12:00 pm - 06:00 pm    Executive Session
>
>
>Thursday, April 29, 1999
>
>11:00 am   Closeout
 


Weekly Report Highlights
 
Livingston Ham1 and HAM4 are receiving seismic isolation support tables and beams

 LLO logo coffee cups now available for purchase through LLO and Caltech Project Office
 


LIGO Hanford Observatory (LHO) Operations


Facilities:
-----------
O. Matherny

Water System modification
The control problems are fixed, all functions except the
irrigation was exercised. The irrigation will be tried out
next week, and the contract can be closed.

New staging Building
The contractor is off the site until the steel structure arrives.
Expected first of April.

Compressors
Levernier and Apollo are trying to get Kaeser and their
representative, Electric Air and Pump, to honor the
guarantee. Even if we decide to change the air
compressors the ancillary equipment should be as
Kaeser recommended.

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

LHO Vacuum Bake Oven A load #21 consisting of two LOS structures (s/ns D970551-002,
-003) was released earlier this week.

LHO Vacuum Bake Oven A load #22 consisting of three BSC support tube bellows (s/ns 008,
010 and 013), two SS weights and one view port is presently in the middle of its vacuum bake.

Load #23 should start 3-29 and will consists of ?.

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

Received covers for the Air Bearings this week.  Will begin installing for all four chambers which
have naked Air Bearings.

HAM work
nothing to report

BSC8 work
In-vacuum hardware installation was completed on Friday. After the alignment problems due to
badly machined holes in the Support Table, we found that the alignment of the Leg Elements
afterward was far better--Leg Elements were obviously machined more desirably. Once the stacks
were built up, the Down Tube was rotated and set down on the stacks.  Measurements were taken
to check the "centered-ness" of the Down Tube w.r.t. the Support Table--range was very small
showing that the problems we had with the bad holes didn't carry up to the Down Tube((Hugh's in
situ machine work was a success)).  The cables were installed.  500 lbs of payload were distributed
on Optics Table according to layout plan supplied by D. Coyne.  A check of the level of the Optics
Table was also taken (note:  no vertical adjustments can be made until the Scissors Tables are
connected to the soon-to-be-arriving electronics racks).  The Table looked really level (within a
mm), the elevation may need to be changed however.
Finally, the dome and doors were re-installed on the chamber.  Currently, the left beam manifold is
being pumped down.

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

Power measurements made last week with a recently purchased (and calibrated) power meter
reveal that the power meter that has been used to measure the PSL output power is not accurate
and that the PSL power is about 0.8 watts lower than previously reported (7.2 W rather than 8.0
W). This was verified by a third power meter that was purchased for the PSL effort as a calibration
standard and by checking the meter calibrations by an electrical substitution method.

An attempt was made to increase the 10-W Laser output power by increasing the current to the
amplifier pump diodes.  The current had already been increased to 24.65 amps from the original
setting of 23.15 amps.  The output power no longer increased significantly with amplifier current at
25.6 amps.  The maximum stabilized output power is thus 7.2 W.  A new 30-W power meter will
arrive today and will allow us to measure the output at the laser head.

The PSL shut down unexpectedly due to a fault in the power supply to the 10-W laser.  We
suspect that the circuitry that protects the diode lasers from current spikes may have triggered the
shutdown.  We have asked Peter King to question Frank Adams of Lightwave regarding means of
avoiding this type of failure.  This has occurred approximately six times during the past four months.

We are investigating making a temporary connection of some of the PSL fast channels to the data
acquisition system.

All non-essential equipment (including the large tool box) has been moved out of the laser area
enclosure in order to limit unnecessary access.

A new general computing Sparc station was set up (with help from D. Barker and C. Patton) in the
computer users room in anticipation of B. Bhawal's visit next week to work on the end to end
model for the PSL. With help from H. Yamamoto, the e2e software is now running again at LHO.

Contamination Control:
----------------------------------------
(C. Gray, K. Ryan, R. Savage, B. Weaver)

Samples of a black substance wiped from the down tube in BSC8 was sent by B. Weaver to Seal
Labs. for analysis.  We expect it is just aluminum oxide, but want to make sure.

F. Henderson, the Kennewick High School student who has been monitoring particulate levels in
our labs gave a sack lunch seminar today on his work.  He will start working on a writeup of what
he has done.  He expects to finish the writeup by May 1.

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

Hopefully we will have finished the LOS installation tooling
modifications, cleaning and reassembly done by the end of the week. We have
the new 6'x10' soft wall enclosure staged in the LVEA. I have worked with
Helena and the CO2 "snow gun" in the optics lab on one of the ITM,s. So
far, its does a much better job of removing dust particles than the ionizing
N2 gun. It had some effect on removing residue, caused by drag wiping areas
of  the optic prior to baking. The drag wiping was to touch up areas after
replacing a magnet which had come off. We will be using the "snow gun"
Thursday and Friday to clean the in-situ optics in HAM 7, after the OSEM
rework is completed. The RM mirror in HAM 8 will be cleaned and it,s
alignment checked after the OSEMs are replaced. We will be staging for BSC
8 Installation for the ITM and FM. The next ITM and FM are being processed
in the optics lab.

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

No report received.

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

The Livingston Communication router for the modem pool is on the network
and accessible from my PC.  A modem has been connected to it.  However,
the modem is not talking to the Livingston box and although the
Livingston box recognizes that it has a modem plugged into it, it is not
talking to the modem.  I'm still working on trying to get them talking
to each other.

All guest Sun workstations are now running the Solaris 7 operating
system, the current Y2K compatible release from Sun.  The server is
still running Solaris 2.6 and will have patches installed to make it Y2K
compatible.

The Sun Workshop compilers, upgrade and additional license, have arrived
and will be installed on the server this week.

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

The cables for PEM microphones on the 2k arm have been pulled in but not
terminated.  Terminations should start 3/26/98.

Power circuits were run for all the ISC tables.  There is a receptacle on a
whip under the cable trays that can be pulled out when the tables are in
place.  This is CDS power and should not be used for anything other than
isolated CDS equipment.

Installed safety screen on the crane lights.  The bulb could break free and
strike some unsuspecting soul on the head.

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

The Turbos and Cryopumps have been installed and leak checked at X2-1 and
9.  We are currently pumping on X2 module.  The data system has been
installed on X2 and running.   All power has been removed from X1 by the
local Public Utility District and Sun River has removed all the 45 KVA
transformers from X1.  The Calibration cart and aux turbo have been
installed at X2-5 for the RGA.

 


LIGO Livingston Observatory (LLO) Operations



 
Detector Installation (Rich Riesen, Fred Asiri, Joe Giaime): HAM-1 Installation of the support and table are completed and the bellows have been installed. The doors have been closed up and the station is ready for leak check. Ham-4 installation of the support tubes and table are in progress. By the end of the week the station will be closed up and pump down should commence by the end of the week for leak check of the system by next week.

Vacuum equipment (Allen Sibley): PSI has accepted responsibility for the leaking gate seal on GV-1 & 2. These valves will be repaired by GNB. We hope to do this work when GNB is on site to replace the mid point valve O-ring with new fluorel material. As
of now this doesn't appear to hamper the detector installation work. Leak checks can be preformed by pumping out the adjacent VE manifolds.Four more HAM bellows have been processed in the vacuum bake oven and a new load is being prepared. We are staying comfortably ahead of the need requirements for detector installation.

Preparation for beam tube bakeout (Cecil Franklin, Kerry Stiff): We have installed hooks on the beam tube enclosure for ca. 150 feet at the ends of each module. We have installed hooks on the bte for 50 feet at each pump port in both directions. We are preparing to install light strings.  We have checked the thermocouples on the beam tube and replaced those which were pulled loose. These will have to be checked again after insulation is completed. The insulation contractor's portion of the warehouse has been cleared. Watt plans to make use of this space beginning April 1. We have spent time cleaning up the site in anticipation of the safety review meeting.

Facilities issues (Gerry Stapfer): The Crane contractor (All Crane) has been on site to adjust the crane interlock system to facilitate the load transfer by crane. The pest control people were called out to help combat the wasp infestations that are occurring at the mid and end stations. Spraying around the door openings should help in preventing the wasps from building nests inside the building.
The eyewash and emergency shower station was moved to a more convenient location (approved by the LIGO safety officer). We have acquired materials necessary for Carrier to install pressure gages on air and coolant lilnes at the corner station and end stations (Kerry Stiff).

Construction on the access road is proceeding. There is visible activity by the contractor.
 

Electrical engineering (Rus Wooley, Juilien Svoboda): We are now receiving vacuum signals from both end stations via the new fiber optic cable which was installed by MCA!  The fiber optic cable was terminated at panel 1X22 and at the mass storage room. The laser safety signs have been wired and installed. Also, 400' of conduit and 4 pair cables were pulled to tie the fire alarm at the end stations to the corner station. We also pulled in one additional cable from the weather station to the mass storage room to allowing paralleling of data acquisition of the weather station signals by LSU and LIGO if necessary. New electrical outlets have been installed in the electronics lab and 120 VAC twist lock receptacles at the end stations have been replaced with general purpose receptacles. We are continuing to receive additional test equipment for the electrical lab and storage cabinetry.

Servo test Stand/Suspension test Stand/Weather Station (Anthony Rizzi):
I successfully wrote and compiled a C program on Vxworks. I obtained "C" code/EPICS written by Robert Schofield for
communicating with the Davis weather staion. Obtained 162 processor Manual. Obtained information from Davis about Link isolator from
Davis. Made RS-232 cable to hook from Davis to 162; this setup will, among other things, be used to understand Davis code to be
used as starting point for talking to LSU data logger. A. Rizzi coordinated discussions with James Finney, D. Barker, T. Evans, R. Bork and Robert Schofield to decide best way to incorporate LSU weather station into the CDS system. James Finney to have partially functioning weather station tomorrow, Friday.

GRASP installation: GRASP successfully extracted lock acquisition periods from 40m data. "Animate" command is having problem with Xmgr.

Administrative issues (Bonnie Wascom): Eye exams in connection with laser safety have been scheduled.The check books are in balance. We have received LLO coffee mugs at LLO. LLO mugs are also available from Liz Wood at Caltech. (Cost is $13/each and profits support the LIGO Livingston Employees Recreation Club and free coffee at LLO.)
 


WBS 1.2, 1.3    Detector Group


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

NO REPORT RECEIVED.

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

NO REPORT RECEIVED.

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

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

- The motion damper brackets for the reference cavity were examined and
were found to be made from the incorrect material (stainless steel).
Replacement brackets made from 4140 mild steel are scheduled to ship overnight
from the manufacturer 03/26.  Other carbon steel brackets are in-house,
should another schedule slippage occur.

- There has been a schedule slippage for the anti-reflection coated zero
length vacuum viewports.  Originally they were supposed to ship 03/26 but
there have been delays at the coater.  They will now ship 04/05.

- The servo cards for the LLO PSL are currently being stuffed and tested.

- RF photodetectors are currently under construction for the LLO PSL.

- All intensity stabilization related photodetectors for the PSL have
arrived.  These will need a simple modification for intensity stabilization
at the IO handoff point.  For intensity stabilization at the COC input, a
more complicated modification, involving differential inputs, is involved.

- Installation of the LLO PSL is scheduled to commence 04/05.
 

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 -

Finished OSEM installation for MMT22k01-1.

Set up and leveled a bread board in a soft wall clean room enclosure by
HAM7 to do the OSEM installation for the mirrors out there.

The MC curved mirror had another magnet standoff failure (side
magnet) after baking. No  good theories exist for this yet, but anecdotal
evidence suggests a problem with the fixturing and possibly cleanliness of
the sides.  We removed all the attachments from the MCCM2k01-1 and
re-glued and cured the face magnets.  Side magnets, wire standoff and
guide rod for MCCM2k01-1 are curing.

OSEM installation for the mirrors in LVEA has begun.

Balancing of the spare MC curved mirror (MCCM2k02-1) has been done.

Analyzed the PSL spot size measurement made at LHO. The spot profile at
the effective mode cleaner waist location are 1.9 mm (horizontal) and 1.7
mm (vertical).  Possible causes are misalignments in the MC mode matching
lenses.  This is not a high priority yet.
 
4K IFOs -

No significant activity to report.
 

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

NO REPORT RECEIVED.
 

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

NO REPORT RECEIVED.

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

BEAM-DUMPS
Awaiting delivery of five sets housings for cavity beam dumps to be
installed into BSC8.

PO TELESCOPE
Most of the first article parts of the telescope housing and support
structure have been received and are being assembled and checked by Mike S.
and Ken M. Several missing parts have been re-ordered, and several wrong
parts are being reworked.

ETM TELESCOPE
Release of the shop drawings is pending.

PO MIRROR
The PO mirrors for the 2K IFO were received. We are awaiting delivery of
three sets of mechanical mirror mount assemblies.

VACUUM WINDOW
27 fused silica windows with normal AR coatings were received. 6 uncoated
windows will be shipped to REO for high transmissivity AR coatings. 33 sets
of conflats were ordered from Varian by Jonathan K.

NEW CONICAL BAFFLE at MID STATION
Design is pending.

TRIPLE FLEXURE BRACKET and SUPPORT MEMBERS for CAVITY BEAM DUMP
Craig C. has completed working drawings for the vertical support structure
for the cavity beam dumps; the drawings will be sent to a shop this week. A
set of commercial flexure joints was received for evaluation. Paul K. and
Craig C. are completing the layout of the horizontal support structures for
the beam dumps in BSC8.

ELLIPTICAL BAFFLE/BEAM DUMP
We are awaiting delivery of the AR coated elliptical baffles for RM, ITMx
and ITMy. Craig C. is redesigning the vertical locating tab to provide
adjustable compensation for the large spacing tolerance between the bottom
base plate and the optical centerline of the LOS structure. Mike S. and
Doug C. measured the spacing on 7 representative LOS structures to
determine the tolerance range.

ITM/ETM ARM CAVITY BAFFLE
Angel R. completed the 3D layout of the arm cavity baffles and is no longer
working on the project. Paul K. is in process of making 2D working drawings.

FARADAY ISOLATOR
Awaiting delivery of three Faraday isolator assemblies plus one spare TGG rod.

INSTALLATION PLAN
item                                            completion          install

Mode cleaner baffle                                                  done
IO baffle
done
Elliptical baffle 2KRM, HAM9         3/31/99                4/12/99
Elliptical baffle 2KITMy, BSC8        3/31/99                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
PO mirror 2KITMx, BSC4               4/12/99                5/7/99
PO mirror 2KITMy, BSC4               4/12/99                5/7/99
Beam dump RMHR3, BSC4           4/12/99                 5/7/99
Beam dump BSHR3P-2, BSC4       4/12/99                 5/7/99
Beam dump ITMXAR1, BSC4          4/12/99                 5/7/99
Beam dump ITMXAR4, BSC4          4/12/99                 5/7/99
Beam dump ITMyAR1, BSC4          4/12/99                 5/7/99
Beam dump ITMyAR4, BSC4          4/12/99                 5/7/99
Elliptical baffle 2KITMx, BSC7         3/31/99                 6/7/99
Beam dump FMXX, BSC7               4/21/99                 6/7/99
Beam dump FMXY, BSC7              4/21/99                 6/7/99
PO mirror BS, BSC7                      4/12/99                 6/7/99
 

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

Seismic Design (Mike Fine)
--------------------------------------
1. Electronics Rack:
The rack has successfully gone through the tests driving the actuators
on the first article BSC at HYTEC and is now getting readied for shipment
to Hanford. Also will be shipped are 8 scissors tables. HYTEC will send
Erik Swensen and Ralph Lomax to Hanford to support the installation next
Monday for two days and Greg Hayman will arrive for work on the 30th
and stay for two days.

2. Near-Term SEI Hardware Delivery Schedule:
BSC SEI rack (Hanford)                                     3/29/99
8 scissors tables (Hanford)                                3/29/99
4 air bearings (Hanford)                                   4/2/99
1000 # balance weights  (Livingston)                    4/8/99
1 set of HAM leg elements (Livingston)                     4/8/99
4 HAM optical tables  (Livingston)                         4/8/99

Suspension -- (Janeen Hazel/Mark Barton/Mike Fine)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Report form Janeen:

-Helena and I reworked the SOS sensor/actuator heads on Monday and Florida
personnel are replacing them now.

-Dennis sent the LOS sensor/actuator heads early this morning. They should
make it to Hanford by 1:30pm today. We plan to replace the MMT3
sensor/actuator heads tomorrow morning, in situ, and then clean the optic
with the CO2 snow.

-Helena and I worked with Doug Cook and Betsy Weaver using the CO2 snow to
clean the freshly baked ITM01. It was quite impressive.

-Larsen is working on the support beams for the BSC LOS installation. The
alignment fixture did not make it here (LHO) yesterday so we will hopefully
receive it today and assemble it. All of the parts are here. Steve Bell
should have sent the cleaned lift table out yesterday for a friday delivery.

2. SUS Hardware Delivery:
SUS Structure Delivery Dates: [numbers in parentheses are quantities.]
LOS1(for ETM, ITM, MMT): 4/9(2), 4/23(1)
 

---------------------------------------------------------
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 continued to work on the Data Monitor Tool chapter of the GDS Final
Design Report. I spent Monday and Tuesday discussing GDS interfaces with
Daniel and representatives of CDS and LDAS. A first release of the C-language
interface for the background environment is almost complete and Keith Riles
has expressed an interest in using this as soon as it can be distributed.
Unfortunately, it currently chokes on invalid Frames that are produced by
FrameL at a ~1% level. I started to look into this problem and Alex is also
looking into it from his end. I have also continued the development of
interface routines for use in the root environment.

Daniel Sigg

A diagnostics meeting was held at CIT on 3/22. The following topics were
discussed:
1. Data Interfaces:
a. test point interface: D.S. will finish the software for the test point
manager. it will provide functionality identical to other data collection
units plus
the capability to select and change test points.
b. interface between NDS and GDS: the current frame builder will be able to
support the diagnostics test tool, but the data rates for the data monitor tool
(DMT) are high and further tests are necessary to determine the best way to
bring the data out (i.e. ATM or reflective memory).
c. Channel information database: for now every tool will read the channel names
from its own ASCII configuration file. In the future, this will be replaced
by a
query tool to the NDS and/or LDAS database.
2. Graphical user interfaces: no decision was made for the GUI of the
diagnostics test tool; possible candidates (all with their own strength and
weakness):
medm/xmgr (quick and dirty), C++/motif/XRTgraph (complicated?), Labview or
Java (will need modification of existing diagnostics kernel).
3. Dave B. will start working on the driver software for the ICS115
(digital-to-
analog converters) boards which are part of the excitation engine.
 

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

    2.More work has been done for the detailed PEM installation plan, which
will be posted soon.

    3. Test were done using the B&G microphones and the power speaker system
driven by a signal generator. We established a new system for the mounting of
the microphones on HAMs and BSCs.

    4. Matt is in Hanford and will start the installation of the PEM plates
on HAMs 7,8,9 as well as on other tanks, in function of windows of
opportunities. Also he will try to measure the transfer function of the
HAMs at
low frequency, between the external accelerometer and various PD signal
from the
optical table. Electromagnetic shakers will be used.
 

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

NO REPORT RECEIVED.

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

Near Term Installation
==================
- Jay & Dale @ Hanford 3/29 - 4/2 : Continued IOO ISC installation.
- Rolf @ Livingston 3/29 - 4/2: Continued Control room & DAQ installation.
- Rich @ Livingston 4/5 - 4/9: Begin PSL installation.

DAQ
=================================
- A generic DAQ interface module has been developed that can be used by PSL
and
the MC to "temporarily" interface signals to the DAQ system. It should be
available for use in ~1 month.

ASC
=================================
- 25 each of the WFS PD and new optical lever PD boards have been received
from
the vendor. They will be stuffed and tested as needed.
- The optical lever controls for all LVEA optical levers have been
incorporated
into the rack 2X6 controls. The cables and wiring will be installed next week.

IO
=================================
- The new MC WFS and alignment whitening boards for the WA 2K IO DAQ signals
are
stuffed and ready for test. They will be ready for operation of the MC in
early
April.

Suspensions
=================================
- The wiring harness for the LA 4K IO suspensions is approx. 50% complete.

GDS
=====
- Held two days of discussions with Sigg and Zweizig to firm up designs and
interfaces.

PSL
****************************
1.  Held FDR for PSL.
2.  Preparing material for shipment to LLO to begin installation on 5 April
99.
3.  Doing final checkout of PCBs for LLO installation.

MC LSC:
=============
The MC Servo electronics is ready to ship to Hanford. A couple of the
filters showed some instability so we reconfigured them. They are working
fine now.

Timing System:
=============
The pair of GPS Timing boards that we just completed have passed Dave
Barker's testing at Hanford and are being shipped to Livingston for the
Data Acquisition system being set up next week. I am making one final
change to the new design of the Clock Driver board so that it can drive an
ICS 110A ADC. By changing the jumper settings the board will now drive a
110A, 110B and a 115. The layout will be going out for fab next week.

 


WBS 1.4    Project Office



 

 1.4.1.2 Project Controls (Lindquist)


Change Control/Contingency (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
CR-990005 WBS-1.1.4 Livingston Site Fiber Optics Cable Installation F. Asiri
CR-990006 WBS 1.2.1 Seismic Isolation System - Epoxy Filled Spring CO2 Cleaning S. Whitcomb
Press Here for the latest Contingency Needs Projection


LIGO Weekly Site Telecon (Jasnow)

There was no site telecon held Thursday, March 25, 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 is in Hanford this week -pel.]


DOCUMENT CONTROL CENTER (Turner)

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

STATISTICS

Over 40 LSC presentations were scanned, numbered, entered into the DCC database, and added to both the electronic library and made accessible on the web[GHS note - not yet available on the website, it seems].  There are several yet to come in electronic format for posting.  This was a labor intensive effort due to the numerous electronic and paper formats received. A total of 67 documents were added to the database. During the past three weeks, a total of 57 packages were received and distributed.  An additional 22 packages were sent out.  The DCC processed 55 incoming faxes and the project transmitted 51 faxes.  Also, efforts were made in rearranging the DCC files to accomodate the growing number of incoming documents.  Press here for a complete report on ACTIVITIES IN THE DOCUMENT CONTROL CENTER.


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

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>
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.


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 and A. Sibley requested review by the Vacuum Board of the plans for change out of the GNB gate seals (O-rings) at the Livingston corner and mid-stations. The Board concurred with the plan to not alter the PSI warranty and to proceed with the use of existing spare baked Viton o-rings in the corner station gate valves. The Board however, did recommend that the replacement mid-station Fluorel gate seals should be subjected to the Walker & Sons' Fluoride extraction process prior to installation in the valves.

The 44 inch gate test seals were vacuum baked and sent to GNB by R. Weiss. Arrangements have been made with GNB to ship these O-rings to Walker & Sons by the end of this week assuming that GNB "accepts" these parts. M. Fine and I. Petrac are working the procurement details for Walker & Sons for processing the gate seals and return of the seals to GNB. GNB will again perform acceptance inspection after this process and if acceptable, the seals will be installed in the bake test valve. LIGO QA (R. Vincent and W. Tyler) will witness the installation, test setup, and start of the bake test. The post bake O-ring inspection will also be witnessed by LIGO QA. The set of 48 inch mid station gate seals are at MIT for vacuum bake out by R. Weiss. These O-rings will also be inspected for acceptance by GNB and subjected to the Fluoride extraction process unless unacceptable problems develop with the 44 inch gate seal tests.

LIGO QA has also been working with LIGO and Caltech safety, Livingston site personnel (G. Stapfer and B. Wascom), E. Wood and R. Torres to complete the Review Agenda, supporting operation/safety documents and other "details" for the April Livingston Operation and Safety Review.
 


WBS 1.4.3    Systems Engineering / Data Analysis and Computing



 

Systems Engineering

No reports received.

Modeling  & Simulation

adlib :

Hiro started validating multi mode codes, including detectors and telescopes, by comparing
with Ray's code.
Malik and Hiro worked to ensure that the shotnoise implementation is correct. Hiro will
improve the telescope code by including the thickness effect using Malik's implementatio in matlab, whose
result has been compared with IOO beam profile at Handord.

Hiro and Malik talked about an implementation of a very simple 3d suspended objects, which
may be worked out in a week.

Biplab worked on triangular mode cleaner, and the comparisons between primitive, summation
cavity and existing pre-mode cleaner data showed good agreement, except for the width of the resonance.
The obsered width of the resonance is too broad compared to the prediction using given finess.  This will be
discussed with Peter and Rick.

alfi:

Ed has released a new version 3.3, with bug fixes and a few new features. He also installed
Xlab to automate testing of certain aspects of Alfi.

MOU:

Copies of drafts of attachments of MOU for the exchange of softwares between LIGO and
TAMA and LIGO and GEO were sent out, and got a feedback from GEO approving the content.  Ed has already
contacted Andreas about the installation of e2e on their machine.

Data Analysis

 * (JKB) Attended CDS/GDS/LDAS meeting to discuss system
         interfaces between these. Discussed LDAS deliver-
         ables and schedules and soft/hardware components.
        [AL NOTE: Meeting was with: Bork, Sigg, Zweizig,
        Lazzarini, Blackburn, Anderson]

*(AL/JKB/SBA/Wallace) Met to create list of components
        that needed to be procured by late Spring/early Summer for
        LDAS phase alpha installation at LHO. Wallace getting quotes,
        putting together PRs, etc.

 * (JKB) Discussed a newer, more efficient model for using
         the assistant managers in conjunction with the
         communications sockets within the managerAPI with
         Bruce and Phil. This model mimics the behavior of
         web servers and will allow a closer coupling between
         the server and client sockets. Good work Phil!

 * (JKB) Revised the GenericAPI Specifications to reflect
         the newer Internal LDAS Lightweight Data Format
         Objects and the supporting commands in the shared
         object library. This LIGO Doc (T980094-05) has been
         submitted to DCC and posted on the web.

 * (JKB) Met with Albert and Tom to discuss recommendations
         from the LDAS PDR review and formulate a response
         to these, as well as propose activities based on
         expected actions.

 * (JKB) Presented the usage model for the Internal LDAS
         Lightweight Data Format at the weekly LDAS group
         meeting. Also discussed uses of the LIGO Lightweight
         Data Format and XML parsers at the meeting.

 * (JKB) Met with Ed Maros to discuss usage of flat files
         for database table storage within the framework
         of our ODBC complient metaDataAPI (client). Such
         architectures are easily supported under Windows
         but a bit more problematic under Unix. An alter-
         native would be to use mySQL for these small tables
         that have been discussed as needed by the LSC
         groups at their home institutions. This does not
         effect our own use of a commercial database within
         LDAS.

 * (PSE) Checked the development status of a variety of Tcl
         packages and extensions, including new releases of
         TclBlend, Jacl, TclXML, TclDOM, CGITcl, and FTPTcl.

 * (PSE) Met with Kent Blackburn and Bruce Sears to discuss
         the LDAS API communications and data flow model.
         Proposed a likely format for the command structure
         which will be accepted by the manager API.  See:
         http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/~pehrens/asstMgrtcl.html
         (Page will not be available until 5pm 5/25/99)

 * (PSE) Fixed some bugs in the genericAPI.tcl which were
         introduced by the necessary changes in the logging
         system.  Rationalised all logging to a consistent
         format.  See:
         http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/~pehrens/logtcl.html
         (this code is a module of the genericAPI.tcl)

 * (DF)  Finished converting ObjectSpace to automake &
autoconfig.  We now have a single version of the ObjectSpace library
which compiles on both the Sun & Linux machines.
Autoconfig automatically configures the package for each machine.

 * (DF)  I have also been investigating the current state of XML
parsers for C++, as well as the feasibility in
extending the parser for the internal light-weight data to a
validating XML parser.

 * (DF)  I have been working on generating another release of
         FrameCpp with full compression/decompression support
         as well as other changes which have been discussed by
         myself, Kent, and John.  The coding is complete, I am
         writing a series of test programs to ensure the proper
         functioning of the library.  I am also using 'ccmalloc'
         to check for memory leaks.

 * (XHU) worked on CDS ilog tables

 * (XHU) worked on database views

 * (XHU) worked on database queries

Kratochiwill:
- Finished up the web application for searching the frame
tables.  Tried
out Javascript for form edits; worked like a charm.  Web
application is
awaiting 40m data in the tables.
- Began working on display and update forms for CDS channel
configuration
table.

Williams:
Designing "Scientific Notebook" based on LIGO_LW file format
Implementing parser and XML-based visualization tools for
LIGO_LW
Deploying TclBlend as glue layer between Tcl and Java code

Bruce 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

Majid:

Started to implement a method by which we can efficiently
generate templates for a binary spiral using a scaling technique.  Once
the implementation is finished and validated, I will try to
benchmark it against the methods used in GRASP.

Anderson:

The 16 processor prototype Beowulf cluster has finally passed
the initial 100 hour "acceptance" test.
 
 

General Computing

Livingston:

Tom has installed the current version of TeX and now running
Samba on the server. The Livingston group has also been setting
up web pages.

MIT:
Nothing to report.

Hanford:

The Livingston box for the modem pool is configured and
accessible through a terminal console.  The modem is programmed as per the
manual.  However, the two are not talking to each other.  The manuals say
they should work.  I'm still trying different things to get them
talking.

All of the Sun Workstations have been upgraded to Solaris 7.
The patches for the server to make Solaris 2.6 Y2K compatible are
being installed this week.

The Sun Workshop compilers, upgrade and additional licenses,
have arrived and are being installed this week.

CIT:

The new scanner for general usage had a mechanical problems
which has been  repaired and presently is being re-installed by Samantha.
Once again having problems installing the zip drive on a NT
computer.
Samantha is working the issue with Gateway.
Samantha is continuing her work with the Y2K checkouts on the
PC's as well as  working a number of PC hardware issues.

Barbara hanged Livingston links on LIGO home page to point to
www.ligo-la.caltech.edu.  LLO is now managing their web site.
Fixed problem with broken links on home page.  Turns out the
Excite search engine somehow picked up
www.ligo.caltech.edu/LIGO_web/LIGO_home.html as our home page.
Put a redirect page at that location.
Made a number of changes to Amaldi web site.
Installed February newletter and made several other LIGO web
site changes.
Worked with Samantha to try to get zip drive working on Antares.
Attended town hall meeting on new Oracle financial system.

Suresh installed a 18 GB external hard drive to pollux
(replacement for sirius)  to test out the newly installed scsi board. Also putting on the
last s/w pkgs.  needed so that testing can start on the unit.

Presently, testing a system monitoring and management software
called "SyMON" from Sun. This allows realtime performance and
statistics evaluation of  a Sun system in network.

Set up couple of user accounts. Restored some deleted users
files/directory  from backup tapes.

Taking care of printers maintenance. Follwing up on purchases of
new  hardware/software.

We have been working a number of security issues. Mainly,
attempts from the  outside world. On the SUN boxes someone has been trying to
exploit a known NFS bug. Installation of the latest patches appears to prevent the
problem. If you notice a file called /tmp/bob on your machine notify someone in
the admin. group, the unit has been comprimised.

Updating the systems documentation and putting it in a central
location with web access for internal use.


WBS 1.4.4.1    Administrative Group


 Dot 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.

Continued to monitor and support the temp.
 

Irene Baldon

Worked on preparing the paper work for various new trips taken recently (23 Purchase Requisitions and 16 Advance Requests). There are 9 additional new trips in various stages pending completion of travel arrangements.

Travel arrangements have started for the NSF Review at the Livingston, LA, site and I have made arrangements for a block of rooms at The Hampton Inn. The NSF has requested a separate block of rooms at The Holiday Inn Express. I am waiting for confirmation of this at this time. At the moment I am reserving cars for the NSF participants and encouraging the traveler to share with someone else who might be traveling on the same, or close to, flight. A decision has not yet been made as to whether we will be using vans again.

Completed 26 Expense Reports. Some of these were still not taped or completed by the Traveler and required more time for completion. Also worked on a number of problem issues which required a good portion of my time. Received yesterday and late Tuesday, but not yet completed my audit, 13 Expense Reports. These should be completed today barring unexpected delays.

Continued to clear 1998 folders, sending them to DCC for permanent storage. 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.

With the recent mailing of delinquent letters from Travel Audit, I received several calls from the traveler requiring my help in solving problems created when Travel Audit intermingled T numbers or failed to notice the submission of the Expense Report.

Prepared Travel/Vacation Itinerary for the Week of March 22nd, 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.

 
Rita Torres

Was away on vacation 3/15 through 3/19.

For I. Petrac change order No. 5 to Galli & Morelli, change order No. 9 to Butler Services Group. For E. Jasnow did letter to Pacific Insulation to transmit executed contract PC293660.

For S. Whitcomb copied and distributed Virgo articles. For R. DeSalvo copied and distributed science paper. Ongoing updates on the web page for site trips.

With Safety committee coordinated details for eye exams resulting in prescription laser glasses. Issued memo on the subject to all sites. Sent related material to Livingston.

INFORMATION

Area code change. According to Pacific Bell insert B13397: Beginning April 17 you must dial 1 + the area code for ALL calls within area code 310. All calls require this because beginning on the 17th there will be two codes within the same geographic area. Programmed equipment (fax machines) must be checked.

Time change. Set your clocks forward 1 hour on April 4th, Easter Sunday, for Daylight Savings time. And don't forget to change your VCR clocks.
 

Elizabeth K. Wood

Worked with Donna Driscoll, the physics graduate student overseer, to arrange for tours of LIGO for the physics graduate admits.

Continued working on preparations for the NSF site visit with Irene, Bonnie, and Vic Cook.

Attended two meetings concerning the conversion to ORACLE. Don't know what to say about it; it may drive some of us to drink or it may be the greatest thing since saran wrap.

Oh by the way, LIGO contractors can now join the Caltech Credit Union. Don't all rush over at once.

Played with a new program (okay so it's not that new) that makes organization charts.

Discovered the inner door to Phil's new office had been keyed to a non-standard Caltech lock, thus locking everyone out of his new office. We called the lockshop and have now, we believe, successfully locked Phil out of his office.

Dealt with the usual and unusual personnel issues.

ATTENTION K-MART SHOPPERS:

The LIGO Livingston mugs have arrived and yes, as Mark said, they really do look neat. Be the first on your floor to get one. Each: $13.00, four for $50.00.
 


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