Weekly Report for Week Ending September 28, 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  October 4, 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:


Weekly Report Highlights

TAMA-40 Meter coincidence run summary available
 


LIGO Hanford Observatory (LHO) Operations



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

LHO Vacuum Bake Oven A load #58, consisting of one LOS structure and
nine Kapton cables (with Peek connectors), was released earlier this
week.

Load #59, consisting of two BSC and one HAM bellows is vacuum baking now
and should be released tomorrow, 10-1-99.

The quality issue (gaskets too large overall with large variances
between individual gaskets) with the newest batch of gaskets hasn't been
resolved completely.  Basically, some seal and some don't.  LLO did ship
us a few of theirs to try but they turned out to be incompatible with
our oven's flange.

Load #60 looks to include some optical viewports amongst other SS items.

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

I believe we have finally sorted out the optical levers as to their
status. They all should be aligned and null on the receiver photodiodes
and their calibration calculated and offsets noted. There has been a lot
of activities with the DAQ system this week. It has been off at several
times. We should be able to keep the data coming steadily after this
weekend when Dave Barker completes his check run on the system.

We will be starting the "wet" seat replacement on Monday in BSC4 with
the BS optic in place. The following Monday BSC7 will go through the
same process with ITMx and FMx in place. This will require a rather
involved realignment process. The alignment will involved all of the
core optics now installed along with added optical flats, periscopes
optical levers, surveying equipment, additional targets, telescopes and
autocollimators etc. Not to mention a lot of warm bodies. The goal will
also be to complete the tasks with a minimum time that the seats are
exposed to air.

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

This week, I've been put on the fluorel spring seat replacement team.
On Tuesday, I went back to my more normal tasks - paperwork,
cleaning COS stuff, and optic suspension prep work and support.
Not nearly as exciting as the seat replacement job!  Yesterday, I
received 23 COS viewports from LLO. Three of the viewports had punctured outer
bags and upon inspection, appeared to have compromising cleanliness
and questionable damage.  Still investigating the situation.  The
rest of the viewports seemed ok and have been passed on to Bobbie
and Brenda for installation.
 

Seismic Systems:
----------------------
(C. Gray & H. Radkins)

BSC Work:

The first Fluorel Seat Replacement occurred at the Y-mid Station on
Monday. The new Fluorel parts (Spring Seats, Shims, and Kapton Cable
hardware) were installed and the dome was put on the chamber all on
Monday.  Exposure time for the Fluorel items ranged from 5-7 hours
during this installation; Humidity readings around the stacks during
this work ranged from 18-20%. The chamber also began pump down that
afternoon.

The Beam Splitter (BSC4) is the next chamber slated for Seat
Replacement. Items are being cleaned, staged, and reworked for this
task which will begin early next week.

HAM Work:

On the 4k, HAM Bellows were leak checked on HAM1&4.  Unfortunately,
there were two leaks on HAM1 and one on HAM 4.  The seals for these
Bellows have been replaced and the Bellows are currently being leak
checked again.

Instrumentation Work:

Have set up Shourov C.'s Portable Electrical Cabinet and a seismometer
out at x-end station for an experiment to correlate Seismic data between
LHO and LLO (via GPS time stamp).

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

We haven't had any new attacks from the hacker since Saturday night.
Either the hacker has been foiled and has given up or he has gotten in
as a valid user and could be anyone of us.  All of the GC Unix
workstations have had the OS reinstalled, they also have all been setup
as Secure Shell servers.  Users can now Secure Shell directly to any one
of the workstations, rather than Secure Shelling to the server and then
rlogin to one of the workstations.

I am still reading the books to learn how to disable broadcast and
CHARGEN directly at the network router.  This should be finished this
weekend.

The modem pool appears to be working.  Still getting mixed messages from
users about what works and what doesn't.  Some things work for one user
but not for others and vice versa.

Physics Environmental Monitoring:
---------------------------------
(M. Lubinski)

We have finished installation of seismometers and tiltmeters in both mid
stations and data is currently being logged.  Work continues on PEM
installation for the other instrumentation to be installed.  We are
currently working on a design for verification of signals from some of
the instrumentation (seismometers and tiltmeters) back to the "Racks".
We are monitoring several of the BSC chambers via RGA's during
continuous pumping and following replacement of the "Walker Processed
seats.  We will be setting these RGA's up for remote operations via
"Laplink".
 


LIGO Livingston Observatory (LLO) Operations



 

Seismic installation: BSC5 Y-arm end station: Completed seismic stack buildup. In process of installing electrical
cabling and counter weighs. The door and dome will be put back on tomorrow
(Oct.1,'99) and will be ready for pump down in the pm. (Rich Riesen)

CDS Installation: Installed LOS control cables between 1X7 and HAM3, BSC1, BSC2 & BSC3. Received desks for the Mass Storage Room. Arranged computers and cabinets in the MSR in their final locations. Ordered projector and accessories for installation in the Control Room. Fabricated the remaining power cables for SOS and LOS controllers at the corner and end stations. (Rus Wooley)

Went through the part inventory for EE Lab. Purchased frequently used parts and 6 new Tektronix TDS 200 series scopes for people working in the optics lab to use. Fixed and finished BNC cable termination for Rolf. Modified the font size of DAQ display monitoring program for easy reading. (Juilien Svoboda)

PSL: The frequency stabilization control board does not seem to be working properly and was looked at briefly with no progress made. The pockels cell for the high frequency stabilization was removed from directly in front of the frequency stabilization cavity and the signal sent to the pockel cell in front of the laser instead. The frequency stabilization cavity was realigned and checked for mode matching. A new power beamsplitter cube was put in front of the laser. The results do not seem any better with less than 9.5 Watts going into the pre-mode cleaner.

Optics: Made first use of the new fixture to align guide rods to small optics. Built up a quad-photodetector to balance small optics. Worked on several displays in preparation for the consecration. Still waiting on a ball lead screw and powdercoating to complete the straddle fixture. (Jonathan Kern)

Bake Oven: We are baking a LOS structure and several small stainless parts. After baking for 48 hours the RGA scan indicated an unacceptably high level of residual contamination, so we are currently baking for an additional 48 hours. (Tom Evans)

Computers: We have received the two replacement Sun monitors we have been waiting for. We have ordered an additional 18Gb disk. We are in the process of upgrading system applications as part of the upgrade to Solaris 7. (Tom Evans)
 


WBS 1.2, 1.3    Detector Group



 

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

(WBS 1.2, 1.3)
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------
Interferometer Sensing and Control -- M Zucker
(WBS 1.2.1.1.6, 1.2.1.1.7)
----------------------------------------------
Interferometer sense/control (Zucker)
-------------------------------------
K. Mason revised LLO ISC equipment and survey layouts to incorporate
revs motivated by the LHO installation experience. These are now final
and will be transmitted to LLO Monday to initiate viewport installation
and relay monument survey. Also completed realignment of Brunson
optical transit square and (limited) training of M. Zucker to enable
field recalibration as required.
K. Mason also generated offsets and theodolite/test flat/retroreflector
positions for upcoming beamsplitter,
fold mirror and ITM realignment.
Zucker, Mason, Smith and Kruzel will rotate to LHO through October to
support this burst of alignment/optical lever/ISC table assembly work during
October now that things are moving again.
Smith is shipping the completed ETM transmission monitor assembly to
LHO this week (for installation at Ymid to support 2k arm test).
MacInnis and Smith are still working heavily on Flourel seat
processing. MacInnis will get back on LLO ISC table and
optical lever assembly next week
(assuming things stabilize sufficiently).

IO Mode Cleaner Commissioning (P Fritschel, N Mavalvala)
---------------------------------------------------------
Several things were worked on this week (by P Fritschel, N Mavalvala,
H Rong, W Kells, S Whitcomb):
* Running the mode cleaner at higher power. With the electrooptic
shutter
working we were able to increase the power incident on the mode cleaner
to
about 1.5 W before an instability builds up which causes the mode
cleaner
mirrors to oscillate (at ~1Hz). This oscillation seems to be quite
independent of the pointing of the mode cleaner transmitted beam (except
in the most egregious cases where it is located to scatter light into
the
MC mirrors). To test the hypothesis that the local sensors were
sensitive
to scattered light in the mode cleaner cavity, we modulated the
intensity
of the input laser beam (at 1 kHz) and measured non-negligible signal at
1 kHz signal on the local sensors, with different levels at the
different
sensors.
* PSL frequency noise. The frequency noise from te PSL was remeasured
with a few minor improvements in the measurement set up to reduce the
60 Hz lines and we saw some (factor of a few) improvement at low
frequencies from Hepa filter blowers, but the spectrum looks mostly
similar to the one measured three weeks ago.
PSL 3 or 4 kHz noise: We have made some further observations of the
oscillation in the PSL Pockels cell feedback signal and the influence
of the wideband input on those oscillation. This is being followed
up on.
* Mode cleaner error signal spectrum. We notice that the error signal
does
not scale with the gain below a couple of hundred hertz. We traced this
to
be excess noise injected by a noisy variable gain stage in the
electronics.
 

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

- More PSL electronics modules continue to be fabricated.
- The specification for the relative intensity noise (RIN) for the PSL, as
measured after the 15-m modecleaner, is currently -140 dB per root hertz.
Although this level of stabilization could be achieved with the 10-W laser's
new current shunt actuator, the noise level is believed to be too high for
the modecleaner to achieve its design goals.
To meet the design goals of the 15-m modecleaner, the PSL RIN
specification would have to be tightened to -180 dB per root hertz. In
order not to be shot-noise limited, the PSL would be required to have
just over 1 ampere of detected photocurrent; thus requiring a photodetector
array. Ways are being examined to determine the best RIN that can be
achieved in the near term.

Input/Output Optics -- Dave Reitze, UF
-----------------------------------------
LHO 2k (Haisheng Rong)
- remote control PSL beam attenuator installed on PSL table for
controlling power into modecleaner
- mode cleaner characterization continuing
LLO 4k (Sany Yoshida)
On vacation
- David Tanner will be at Livingston over Oct 6-12.
- During gluing, Janeen discovered that MMT3-04 was ~ 95 mm in thickness.
The spare MMT3-01 had the correct thickness and was used instead. Further
checking revealed that two of the five MMT3s (04 and 05) were under spec
for thickness. MMT3-05 was damaged by General Optics during the
polishing of the surface figure and had to be repolished, resulting in a
thinner substrate (97 mm). This was reported by GO before shipping;
MMT3-05 is still at UF. We are checking into why the other substrate was
under spec.

Mechanical Design (Dan Dickrell)
- UF has finished some frames for in-vacuum beam blocks and some 2"
mirror holders.
- Working on modified PSL-HAM beamtubes for LLO,LHO 4k
 

Core Optics Procurement and Metrology -- GariLynn Billingsley
-------------------------------------------------------------
Measurements have been completed on 4ITM02.
Measurements have been started on 4ITM03, the second ITM which will go to
Livingston.

Core Optics Coatings -- Helena Armandula
--------------------------------------------------
Last week at Livingston we encountered two bonding failures, probably due to
deviation from procedure. See Janeen's report.

Core Optics Support -- Michael Smith
------------------------------------
PO TELESCOPE
About 70% of the parts for 12 production PO telescopes have been received
and are being inspected by Ken M.
ETM TELESCOPE
Denis Rose is in the process of checking the focal distance and fixed lens
spacer length based on the as-manufactured lens data. A first article set
of production ETM telescope lens barrels is expected this week (10/1).
Lenses will be inserted for an alignment test at CIT next week (10/4).
STEERING MIRRORS
50 sets are awaiting assembly at CIT.
PO MIRRORS
Bids are being received for the 4K PO mirror mounts, and a purchase order
for the 4K LHO and 4K LLO PO mirror mounts is expected to be let next week
(10/4).
VACUUM WINDOW
Betsy Weaver received the COS vacuum windows for the LHO 2K and 4K IFO.
ARM CAVITY BAFFLE
Some first article parts of the Inner baffle assembly have been received.
Design details are being finalized for the outer support frame assembly. A
purchase order will be placed next week (10/4). Paul K. is working on the
top assembly drawings for LHO and LLO.
CONICAL BAFFLE
First article has been completed and is being shipped to LHO. Fabrication
of the remaining production baffles is in process.
COS ALIGNMENT PROCEDURE
Awaiting receipt of the anti-reflection coated COS autocollimator. Spare
940 nm and 990 nm laser diodes, and an extra IR TV camera and video lenses
were ordered. Ken M. and Mike S. have designed an alignment target for the
FM mirror to be placed on HAM 9. Discussions with MIke S., Stan W., Mike
Z., Ken Mason have determined that the COS autocollimator will be mounted
with a bayonet mount on the ISC Brunson tripod at the spool piece location
in the x-arm vertex manifold. Mike S. is completing a write-up of the
revised alignment procedure. Doug C. has sent measurements of the required
beam height from the bayonet mount, and is sending the bayonet mount to
CIT. ISC will provide a pre-aligned optical flat with which to align the
COS autocollimator along the IFO beam axis, and a positioned Brunson
tripod. Data has been obtained on the expansion of the COS autocollimator
pattern out to a distance of 88 ft, together with the laser power needed
for a resolvable image with the IR TV camera. These data indicate that
approximately 200 mW will be needed at the output of the 940 nm laser for
the FM mirror and PO telescope alignment at a 140 ft distance.
4K IO BAFFLE
Awaiting bids. A purchase order for the 4K LHO and 4K LLO IO baffles is
expected to be let next week (10/4)
4K ELLIPTICAL BAFFLE
Awaiting bids. A purchase order for the 4K LHO and 4K LLO Elliptical
baffles is expected to be let next week (10/4)
INSTALLATION PLAN
item completion install
Elliptical baffle 2KRM, HAM9 done done
Elliptical baffle 2KITMy, BSC8 done done
Beam dump FMYY, BSC8 done done
Beam dump FMYX, BSC8 done pending
Beam dump 4KITMHR3, BSC8 done pending
Beam dump 4KITMHR4, BSC8 done pending
Beam dump RMHR3, BSC4 done pending
Beam dump BSHR3P-2, BSC4 done pending
Beam dump ITMXAR1, BSC4 done partial
Beam dump ITMXAR4, BSC4 done partial
Beam dump ITMXAR4, BSC4 done partial
Beam dump ITMXAR4, BSC4 done partial
Beam dump ITMyAR1, BSC4 done partial
Beam dump ITMyAR4, BSC4 done partial
Elliptical baffle 2KITMx, BSC7 done pending
Beam dump FMXX, BSC7 done pending
Beam dump FMXY, BSC7 done pending
PO Tel, APS, HAM10 done pending
PO Tel, BS, HAM10 10/8 ?
PO Tel, ITMy, HAM10 10/8 ?
PO Tel, ITMx, HAM9 10/8 ?
ETMy Tel partial ?
ETMx Tel 10/4 ?
Beam dump ETMy vac window done ?
Beam dump ETMx vac window ? ?
Arm Cavity Baffle, vertex 10/15 ?
Arm Cavity Baffle, end 10/15 ?
Conical baffle, vertex x-arm done ?
Conical baffle, vertex y-arm ? ?
Conical baffle, x-mid station ? ?
Conical baffle, y-mid station ? ?
Vacuum windows done ?
 

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

#DHS Almost No report received --

Seismic Design (Mike Fine)
--------------------------------------
1. Prototype Hardware
The Hytec prototype BSC is nearly disassembled. The 4 scissors tables have
been reworked at Hand Precision and shipped to LHO on the September 24th
shipment. The 4 fine stages have been reworked and will be shipped to LHO
on October 8th. The remaining hardware was shipped with the last shipment
to LHO.
2. Spring Testing:
Three boxes of springs were sample tested and found several bad springs.
The plan now is to continue the sample testing of the remaining 6 boxes and
100% testing of the 2 boxes that contain the bad springs.
3. Scissors Tables:
Three more scissors tables left to be delivered to LHO. Hytec found
several bad limit switches during the assembly of the scissors tables.
These switches have been replaced and the scissors tables can be assembled
and shipped to LHO on October 8th.
Suspension -- (Janeen Hazel/Mark Barton/Mike Fine)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Report from Janeen:
-All parts for little beam dumps are in the bake queue or already cleaned
and baked and sent to the sites.
-Mark had difficulty with the RM at Livingston. A face magnet fell off so he
has re-processed the optic. The RM structure will not be available until
Saturday. He will apply the magnets to the MMT3 tomorrow.
 

---------------------------------------------------------
Detector Systems Engineering -- D. Shoemaker/D Coyne
(WBS 1.2.1.1.9)
---------------------------------------------------------
Global Diagnostics System
(Daniel Sigg, John Zweizig)
This week I have worked with Sam Finn on defining filter base classes
for use in Data Monitoring. In this case filters are defined to be signal
processing functions that take one or more time series as an argument
and produce zero of more time series as results. The special case of a
filter taking a single time series argument and producing a single time
series output (referred to as a pipe) is especially important and will
be defined as an abstract instance. The filter base classes will provide
a standard interface for the numerous signal processing functions that
will be defined in the future.
I also investigated optimization of monitor programs. The execution speed
of my sample program (bit tester) had become unacceptable (80% of a CPU!)
when it was processing many (~200) channels. This was partly because no
optimization was requested in the compilation of any of the monitor
libraries. Even with the compilation, the scanning of the unpacked frame
for the various channels being analyzed took a significant fraction of the
processing time. To remedy this, I implemented an search technique that
adapts to the order in which the channels are found within the frame. This
means that after a few minutes of data, the channel search will only have
to traverse the frame a single time. The combined improvements reduced the
CPU usage from 80% to 18% for a single monitor.
I am now working on a frame writing class to provide an interface to
FrameCPP from the monitor environment, and searching for an intermittent
error in frame unpacking that surfaced when the frame size was increased
from 4.5MB to 9.8MB.

Installed the gigabit ethernet hub for frame broadcasting. Installed a
memory upgrade in the frame broadcaster. Tested the system with
10MB/s and it works fine.
Added a feature to allow DAC channels to be written in the reflective
memory. This will be used to send excitation signals to mid/end stations.
Removed the time delay imposed by the FIR interpolation filter on the
DAC board from the excitation signal calculation.

Physics Environmental Monitor (Matt Smith, David Shoemaker)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

activity at both LLO (with Ed Daw's help) and LHO on installation.

-----------------------------------------
Control and Data System -- R. Bork
(WBS 1.2.2)
-------------------------------------------
Data Acqusition (Rolf/Alex)
=====================
- Installed new PMC reflected memory in DAQ network switch; obtained
about a 20% thruput
improvement from 8MByte/sec to 10+MByte/sec.
- Loaded FrameBuilder code which uses Frame CPP at Hanford; after fixes
to write routines, this
code seems to be running with the properly. We are presently doing tests
at full load (~6MByte/sec frames).
- Working on restriping trend frames for faster data retrieval (by
channel instead of by time period).
ASC (Rolf)
==========
- Installed Pentium III processor into Hanford system; performance
testing in progress.
- In process of trying to adapt ISC supervisor to run with PMC reflected
memory, found that
EPICS will not run on our newest set of MIPS processor boards (BROADCAST
does not
come up). It turns out that we need a later Board Support Package (BSP)
from vxWorks, which
will be ordered next week.
LLO Suspension (Jay)
=================================
- Suspension controls installation and testing is complete for the IO
and LVEA
COS suspension controls. Completion of the COS system is waiting on
satellite
modules, LOS contollers and VME modules.
LLO IO Controls (Jay)
================================
- System drawings, parts lists, cross connect lists and cable pull lists
for the
LLO IO controls have been completed and sent to LLO for installation.
LHO ASC and One Arm Test (Jay)
================================
- Cable pull lists for the full 2K ASC system and the one arm test have
been
sent to LHO for installation.
- Cross connect assembly is on hold awaiting manpower.
- Software for the one arm controls has not been started.
- X and Y arm ASC wiring harnesses have been shipped to LHO for
installation.
-Status of modules needed for 2K one arm test:

Module Needed Needed
Name one arm Full ASC Status
----------- ------- ------- --------------
WFS Demod 2 5 2 Tested and ready, 4 stuffed,
need test
WFS PD 2 5 2 Boards shipped and one in test
WFS Whitening 2 5 6 boards tested and ready
WFS DC White 1 3 2 boards tested and ready
WFS Dewhite 2 4 2 boards tested and ready
BE Demod 2 2 Same board as WFS Demod, boards
stuffed
BE PD 2 2 Same as WFS PD, 2 complete
BE White 2 2 2 stuffed, need test
QPD 1 2 4 stuffed, 2 Tested
QPD whitening 1 2 3 boards tested and ready

EO Shutter Controller
Built and tested a second unit. After inspection today, it will be
shipped to Hanford tomorrow.
DAQ Antialiasing Filter
Shipped one LEMO version board to Hanford on Tuesday (9/28/99).
 


WBS 1.4    Project Office


From: Syd Meshkov <syd@ligo.caltech.edu>

1. Now that proceeding with the Amaldi conference Proceedings has been
approved, Veronica Kondrashov and I have been communicating with
participants by e-mail and by sending packets with manuscript preparation
materials. We have answered numerous queries about the proceedings.
 

2. Was consulted by TAMA Conference organizers on some procedural matters.
 

3. Dealt with Visitors Program matters.
 

4. Communicated with Giazotto about organization of the forthcoming Aspen
winter Conference.
 
 

Weekly Report for Week Ending September 28, 1999



Change Control/Contingency (Lindquist)

The following change request has been submitted:
 

CR-990018 WBS 1.1.5 Beam Tube Bake--Revised Estimate at Completion W. Althouse
Press for the latest Contingency Needs Projection


LIGO Weekly Site Telecon (Jasnow)

A site telecon was held on Thursday, September 30, 1999.  The list of current actions assigned may be found at ACTION LIST.

Everyone is reminded to provide a redlined copy of their current LIGO business card to Ed Jasnow so that we may plug it into the print shop for new ones.


PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (Chargois)

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

No report this week.


DOCUMENT CONTROL CENTER (Turner)

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

Web pages for the DCC give simple how-to's for document numbering, easy access to the latest on-line documents, and search capabilities for the DCC database.Take a look. . .

 ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS

Press here to access the DOCUMENT CONTROL CENTER WEB PAGE.


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

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

Press here for ACCOUNTS PAYABLE HISTORY DATA.

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

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

No report this week.


SUBCONTRACTS MANAGEMENT (Petrac, Jasnow)

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

No report this week.

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

The NSF has approved the Livingston bakeout contract with MMR Electrical Contractors.   This will allow us to issue Modification No 1, which will provide for the installation of jackets and the performance of other electrical work for the Livingston site.

We are awaiting the re-submittal of drawings on the Livingston erosion control contract before re-submitting the package to the NSF for approval.

Letters were sent to four security consultants requesting proposals for them to do a threat assessment and comparative analysis for the Livingston site.  This review is scheduled for October 20.

TECHNICAL CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT (Althouse)

From: wea@acrux (William Althouse)

No report. See Bake out.
 
 


WBS 1.4.3    Systems Engineering / Data Analysis and Computing



 
 

Systems Engineering

Nothing significant to report

Modeling


adlib - simulation engine -

>> Biplab Bhawal
Biplab did more validation runs and modification of codes of
Fabry Perot summation cavity and triangular cavity.

Biplab, Matt, Hiro and Rick Savage had a telephone conference to
discuss about the working plan for the next week when Biplab
and Hiro go to LHO.

>> Matt Evens
The framework of basic building blocks interface and media, have
been built and it is tested applying them for a FP configuration.

>> Hiro Yamamoto
Hiro worked with Anthony to build setup for the 2k FP configuration.
He looked around to get the proper parameters, and finally found that
optics parameters for 2k FP are the same as 4k.
He kept working on the improvements of the loop simulation.
He wrote a mail to Syd requesting to invite G.Cella for several months
next year to finish the merging of his mechanics model in e2e.

alfi - GUI of adlib -

>> Ed Maros
Ed added DDD support for modeler and modeler_freq from any directory.
He also added Debugging facilities to Alfi

>> Bruce Seras
Bruce has been working with Ed to understand the alfi framework
and started designing the tree structure view to be implemented
in alfi4 using xwWindow 2.0. he has been getting up to speed on
the c++ standard template library, which he had not used before.
Some members of the STL are used in the Alfi code.

LIGO Data Analysis Ssytem


[Kent Blackburn]
* (JKB) Tracked down attempts to break into LDAS
               linux computers and reported these to Larry & Albert.

* (JKB) Performed quality assurance on LDAS distribution.

* (JKB) Fixed significant bugs in the LDAS software ranging
               over C++, SWIG, Documentation, & config scripts.

* (JKB) Repaired the perceps c++ documentation problems.

* (JKB) Gathered hardware materials for Hanford installation
               visit next week.

* (JKB) Spent most of the week getting version 0.0.3 ready.
 

[ Phil Ehrens ]
* (PSE) Tested frames generated by the frame API for readability
        with the framecpp and with some frame reading software
        that Walid wrote -- frames generated with the software
        unde ldas-0.0.2 could not be read at all, generating
        unexpected exceptions in the frame API, and errors related
        to missing dictionaries in the frame with Walid's software.

        Frames generated with ldas-0.0.3 CAN be reread with the
        frame API.  Further tests are in progress.

* (PSE) Supported the building of ldas-0.0.3.

* (PSE) Updated software in the LDAS software repository and
        synchronized versions between Solaris and linux.
 

[Barbara Kratochwill]
* (BK) No LDAS work this week.

* (JKB's NOTE) BK produced a very useful image map of the
    LDAS software block diagram for our webpages.
 

[Edward Maros]
* (EFM)   Worked on building ldas-0.0.3

* (EFM)   Did some cleanup of dbEasy warning messages.

* (EFM)   Continued work on blob parameter insertions.
 

[Mary Lei]
* (ML)  Got the correct version of the stored procedure for
        uniqueIds into cvs and also included the client
        program in cvs and make. Turns out only the solaris
        version works properly. g++ version of server results in some
        data overlapped.

* (ML)  Created ilwd files for all tables (except spectrum since
        blob is not supported yet). CVS all .cc and .ilwd files.

* (ML)  Updated ldas database pages; created links to ilwd files
        and sql scripts. CVS pages into the correct directory
        structures.

* (ML)  Created new package metaUniqueIds to obtain uniqueIds
        from the database stored procedure and to return an
        ilwd object with array of unique Ids for insertion
        of records requiring unique Ids.
 

[Nathan Yospe]
* (NY) Cleaned all -Wall warnings out of ospace, save one large set in
the
       file regex.cpp

* (NY) Cleaned all -Wall warnings out of ldas libraries ilwd, framecpp,
       and general, and out of apis genericAPI, lwAPI, and frameAPI.
       One unfixed file remaining in ilwd (requires new global const
       import).

* (NY) Resuming tests of linux-linux, sun-sun, sun-linux object
transfers.

[Walid Majid]
I have now completed a first round browsing through the full 3-day 40m run
which was taken in coincidence with TAMA.  The channels I have looked at
so far look reasonably consistent.  I have also created a history of this
coincidence, which tells us when the two instruments were in lock at
the same time.  A summary can be viewed at:

http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/~wmajid/40m_tama.html

My next task is to generate power spectrums at various times, down sample
some of the interesting channels and copy them on local disks since the
transport time from HPSS as well as local storage space is too high and
prohibitive for copying the full frames over.

SBA: Continued hardware/software support for 40m data run. Initial software
RAID-5 testing with the salvaged Paragon disk drives.

----- Forwarded message from Larry Wallace -----

Finished a number of orders for equipment to be deliverd to Livingston.
The FORE 200BX has been upgrade and should ship Oct. 1.
Went over a number of logistical items with all involved for the installation.

General Computing

MIT:
Installing Solaris 7 on the SUN workstations. David S. is doing this with assistance from others.

Livingston:
Nothing to report

Hanford:

We haven't had any new attacks from the hacker since Saturday night.
Either the hacker has been foiled and has given up or he has gotten in
as a valid user and could be anyone of us.  All of the GC Unix
workstations have had the OS reinstalled, they also have all been setup
as Secure Shell servers.  Users can now Secure Shell directly to any one
of the workstations, rather than Secure Shelling to the server and then
rlogin to one of the workstations.

I am still reading the books to learn how to disable broadcast and
CHARGEN directly at the network router.  This should be finished this
weekend.

The modem pool appears to be working.  Still getting mixed messages from
users about what works and what doesn't.  Some things work for one user
but not for others and vice versa.

CIT:

Barbara K. developed Access tables, forms, and reports for a first iteration of the Cost Book database.  Also created some paper data entry
forms in Word.
Created an image map for the LDAS Software Block Diagram.  Created a web
page for Fellowship information.  Helped with questions about the
Celebration database.  Solved a DCC problem with access to Antares server.

Worked on a number of printing issues and print jobs for DCC. The PC Linda T. is using has some problems with large files. Currently,
using a work around until the problem can be resolved.

Finally, moved the entire LIGO-CIT network over to the new FORE switch. There were some problems but they all were with firmware
conflicts between devices. So far there have not been any major issues with the switch over.

A number of computers (six so far) have been hacked into. They are all SUN workstations with Solaris 2.5.1 or older versions of the OS. The
intruder did do some damage; deleted system files, inserted a back door, and changed a number of files. Most of the machines are back
on-line but still need work. One unit has been turned off completely in the 40M.

Virus attacks on the PC's has been on the rise. Samantha is getting info. on site licenses for various Anti-virus programs, all PC's should
have a anti-virus program running on them. This has been causing a number of problems.

Spent time at 40M working on their machines. They have had other issues besides being hacked into.

Working a number of procurement issues. The biggest problem has been getting the maintenance contract resolved with SUN. Mainly, just
getting the right machines on the right contract.

The usual of moving and setting up computers and new accounts.
 


WBS 1.4.4.1    Administrative Group


Dorothy Lloyd

Continue to enter and approve numerous requisitions in Oracle and running periodic searches in Oracle to find PO number assignments to newly entered requisitions. Performed "primary" and "secondary" receiving on-line.

The processing of numerous invoices for payment along with tracking and following up on various invoice problems continues at the same hectic rate.

Began updating the PO log which includes all requisitions processed from August 1 through September 15.

Jim continues to reconcile status reports and continues data entry into the LIGO database.

Irene Baldon

Please note that this report covers basically only 4 days since most of Tuesday morning was taken up with Sirius being down and then I attended an ORACLE Class in the afternoon in Internal Charges. This class will enable me to catch up with what we use to call Material Transfers for the reimbursement of LIGO/Hanford for the expense of the 2 apartments in Richland.

Worked on preparing the paper work for 12 new trips taken recently or upcoming (12 Purchase Requisitions and 7 Advance Requests). There are approximately an additional 17 new trips in various stages pending completion of travel arrangements before the paper work can be completed.

Completed 20 Expense Reports, some of which were extensive, involving 2 or more pages each. Some of these reports were still not taped or completed by the Traveler, and required additional time for completion. I would like to request that staples not be used when attaching receipts to 8-1/2 x 11 white paper. Staples scratch the copier. Also worked on a number of problem issues which required a good portion of my time. There are 21 Expense Reports still to be done, including 4 that require extensive work to complete. I'm holding 3 completed Expense Reports which require a check from the Traveler before sending to Travel Audit to clear.

I continue to push for both Advance and Expense Checks already submitted. "The System" is still extremely slow in processing these. I recently was informed that we will again be given T numbers which enable us to track a particular trip but still have not seen any evidence of these elusive items. Performed normal recording and filing associated with Travel and Reimbursement. Travel has yet to be worked out in regards to ORACLE and things are still in a state of extreme confusion. Things change many times from hour-to-hour. It is very difficult to get things through or out of "The System." In addition to these difficulties, everything is done for "3-4 days for year-end."

Continued making travel preparations for the upcoming LIGO Celebration to be held at our LIGO/Livingston, LA, site on Nov. 11th and 12th. Vee and I have arranged for Conference Rates with two airlines (Delta and United for domestic flights and Delta for intercontinental flights). We have arranged for a block of 155 rooms at a number of hotels in Baton Rouge, LA (75 at The Radisson on Constitution Ave.; 40 at The Amerisuites on Bluebonnet Blvd.; 25 at The Homewood suites on Corporate Blvd.; and 15 at The Hampton Inn on Constitution Ave.). All is in place now and travelers are able to call or e-mail Vee to book their trip using the special rates we have obtained. I will pass on more information as I get it. In the meantime, Barbara Kratochwill has put the current information on the WEB page. Please book your trip as soon as possible. Flights, hotels and car rentals go fast, especially when I understand that approximately 400 invitations have gone out world-wide.

Prepared the Travel/Vacation Itinerary for the Week of September 27, 1999.

Performed miscellaneous duties as requested by various members of the LIGO Project here at Caltech, as well as from members of the staffs of each of the two (2) sites. I continue to do MIT's travel to the sites for installation activities and assist them wherever possible.

Rita Torres

For I. Petrac did change order No. 3 to McCullough, and change order No. 23 to NYMA. Distributed signed McCullough document. For E. Jasnow did letters Re: site security, faxed these then mailed. For P. Lindquist did formatting to Draft Cost Estimation Plan, LIGO-M990310-00-M; this is ongoing.

Reviewed P-Card instructions as procedures are still new to me, particularly reconciling. Chased a resolution to the P-Card system not accepting a LIGO Poeta; thanks to Cindy, Ed, and Fed. Accounting all is well now. Ordered more items with the P-Card, doing lots of follow-up.

Spent some time with B. Kratochwill to discuss receiving and editing LSC reports associated with MOUs. Set up eye exam and laser training for F. Asiri. Ordered office supplies, mostly for Irene's area.

Elizabeth K. Wood

New postdocs:     Peter Shawhan    613 Millikan x 2166
                           Dennis Ugolini     360 WB      x 2559

Reconciled passport stuff.

Worked on the invitation list for the LIGOfest and hotel arrangements for the NSF VIPs.

Handled a variety of personnel related issues.

Followed through on the purchase of the new controller for Garilynn. Many thanks to Phyllis. If everything goes ideally, it should ship on Monday. Notice I said if everything goes ideally…

Surprise! Payroll checks were issued on Thursday for this period. That's because ORACLE is unable to span two fiscal years. Thursday as the end of FY 1999, and Friday is the beginning of FY 2000. As far as getting the paychecks sent to the sites (again), I am attempting to get that arranged. I called Steve in disbursement audit who said call the APE people in charge of payroll who said call disbursement audit. So I called disbursement audit back. Steve will provide me with a list from the pre-new system days that I will review and add names and corrections tomorrow. It remains to be seen, however, when the sites will again receive their paychecks in a timely manner.

Tried to get a check request through payables. Acquisitions (how did they get involved?) called HR who called payroll who recontacted HR to find out if they or anyone else could produce the check. Acquisitions wanted to assign a purchase order number. But this was a check request. Why did they want to assign a PO? Payables sent the check request back to me. After I talked to Mary Steele, manager of payroll, to get clarification on where it was supposed to go, I sent the check request back to payables. Stay tuned.

On the bright side, I sent over to payables a request to reimburse the petty cash fund on Monday, and on Tuesday I got a phone call indicating that someone was indeed working on it. Must be the end of the fiscal year.

I talked yet again to Pat in the card office about the missing Hanford ID cards. After much careful searching, Pat has agreed to reprint the Hanford ID cards. This time, I have been assured, I will be the first to see them before they disappear.
 
 


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