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The LIGO Executive Committee
Agenda for Monday September 25, 2000 will be:
(Meeting time: 10:30 am Pacific Time)
Open meeting 10:30 - 11:30
Special Items:
No report this week.
WBS 1.2 LIGO Operations--Administration
From: Ed Chargois <chargois_e@ligo.caltech.edu>
>From: Linda Turner - turner@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. . .
| Packages | Faxes | |
| In | 33 | 74 |
| Out | 38 | 58 |
Press here to access the DOCUMENT CONTROL CENTER WEB PAGE.
From: Esther Cunningham <esther@ligo.caltech.edu>
Press here for ACCOUNTS PAYABLE HISTORY DATA.
From: "Brambila, Ruth" <Ruth.Brambila@caltech.edu>
Working on obtaining bids for the farm tractor for Otto. Finishing up Change Orders on Promec, University of Oregon, Newark and MMR. Also working on gathering information on pcard and PO orders for the Washingston State sales tax auditors. Working on Agilent and several one time PO's.
Pending items are UC Berkeley (waiting for new agreement from US Berkeley). Sent back pagers for disconnection. Awaiting final invoices. Also Siemens (possible duplicate billing) is pending.
We have a new director for our dept., and fiscal year end is rapidly approaching.
From: Florence Kaufman <fkaufman@ligo.caltech.edu>
From: irena@ligo.caltech.edu (Irena Petrac)
Progress Period from 9.15 to 9.21
Accomplishments:
A LIGO Change Control Board was held on September 12, 2000. Meeting minutes have been published: LIGO-M000297-00-P.
Press for the latest Contingency Needs Projection.
From: Kris Duncan <kris@ligo.caltech.edu>
From: Irena Petrac <irena@ligo.caltech.edu>
Nothing significant to report (see above).
From: Ed Jasnow <jasnow@ligo.caltech.edu>
The Invitation for Bid for the Livingston Staging Building has been sent to fourteen companies thus far. The pre-bid conference/job walk is scheduled for Thursday, September 28, and bid opening is scheduled for Thursday, October 19.
The Invitation for Bid for the paving of the Hanford service roads has been sent to three companies thus far. An advance copy was also sent to Vic Cook of the NSF. Because of the need to award this contract due to weather concerns, after the bid opening on Friday, September 22, six copies of the IFB, along with the bid abstract will be sent to the NSF to secure their approval of the award. A Dun & Bradstreet report on the apparent low bidder will be sent the following Monday.
A tentative schedule has been developed for the additional building for Hanford. This building may need to be constructed in phases in order not to interfere with detector operations in 2002.
One of our observatories is missing...
Facility/LLO: Invitation for bid package has been sent to 16 bidders,
so far. A pre-bid job walk has been scheduled for next Thursday September
28 at LLO. We have received several requests for clarification. We will
respond to these questions in Addendum No. one by next Thursday.
I will be at LLO next week to complete this process with the Architect,
as well as to participate in the Pre-bid job walk. (Asiri)
OPTICS/COC/SEI INSTALLATION: ITM-y has been fine aligned, and
its Optical Lever enabled. Since the back projected COS-LAC reticle pattern
is of no use to the IO group until the main CDS server is back in business,
we're removing the IAS fixturing from the ITM-y alignment position
this morning, and will replace the Y-manifold spoolpiece today. We'll setup
the IAS fixturing in the X-manifold, allowing us to fine align ITM-x as
well as
re-setup the COS-LAC for IO alignment. We've replaced the doors on
BSC-3, as well as HAMS 4 and 5, completing the closeout of those chambers.
We've also relocated an IAS monument in the Y-end, in preparation for ETM-y
realignment (The original monument could not be viewed by our Brunson
optical square because it was obstructed by a pump cart). The reworked
COS 40mm offset viewports have been received, cleaned and baked. We're
installing our viewports on HAM-1 this week, and shipping 5 Class A
to LHO. Thanks again to Joe Hanson for giving up another Saturday to run
our
bakeoven and build some plywood shipping crates. We've made a preliminary
survey of both end stations, and have asked Ken Mason to modify the location
of the IAS alignment monument 1m further along the beam line. This will
permit us to use the end door of both BSC 4 and 5 for alignment, as well
an entry and exit from the chambers. It will also get the IAS fixtures
outside of the cleanroom. (Jonathan Kern)
PSL: The PSL is functioning despite the failure of LLO1's main disk drive that prevented use of medm screens. Appropriate use of input offsets to nudge the servo system into lock for the Ref Cav and PMC has allowed light to be available for all interferometer installation tasks. (Joe Kovalik)
Computing: We assisted with the CDS disk problem. As a result
of this problem, we are examining our recovery strategy for any similar
problem with
the GC machines. LSU Telecommunications was on-site to upgrade the
software and memory for the router on our T1 line. They are monitoring
its performance to see if there are any continuing problems.
Other: Many of you are aware of the two alligators on the LLO
site and many of us have been feeding them, so they have grown quite large,
and unfortunately also quite aggressive. In order to eliminate any safety
concerns, we asked the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries to remove
them. This week they sent two specialists who relocated them to Lake
Maurepas. Pictures of the capture are on the internet. See site
photos http://130.39.245.11/Photos/000919_gator/index.htm
(Bonnie Wascom)
| Installation
& Commissioning:
Livingston |
Other Science/Engineering
Activities:
Issues/Concerns |
See also the Installation web page
We tried trick borrowed from the 40 m experience of making a differential misalignment of the ETMs. This reduces the recycling factor, easing the burden on the servo systems in several ways. Adjusting servo parmeters (gains, sensing and control matrices, and the like) it was possible to stretch these locked sections to minute timescales. The build up in the arms was modest--perhaps 10-30 times the power observed with only one arm resonating--indicating a recycling factor of order 1 or a bit less. The power fluctuations in the arms and in the recycling cavity were large (50% or more), probably due to angular motion of the optics modulating the effective loss caused by the misalignment.
In an attempt to give a more controlled loss to reduce the recycling factor, we lowered the gate valves until they clipped a small fraction of the beam (~0.3%) inside the cavity. This gave a similar recycling factor, and again minute duration locked sections were possible. However, the powers were not much more stable. Again, angular motion of the optics probably modulated the losses in the cavity. These two configurations were used to measure some of the lock acquisition parameters used to switch and adjusting gains, some more successfully than other.
Returning to the properly aligned configuration, somewhat better performance was achieved. "Locked" sections of 0.5-1.0 seconds were fairly common, and a few section of several second duration were observed. With propoer alignment, the arm cavity power was observed to be up to 200 tyimes the single arm power, which is indicative of a recycling factor of 7. We have been analyzing the servo signals to figure out what needs to be done to extend these locked sections, but at least one person involved with this effort has been seen to be wandering around muttering "My brain hurts, Brian".
One problem was discovered. With more power in the arms it became clear that ETMY showed a number of point scatterers dust?) that were not seen on any of the other test masses. This could explain the lower than expected recycling factor and the the larger than expected dip on reflection observed on the y arm cavity. It would require 1200 ppm of loss due to the point scatters. We have scheduled a vent to clean the optic this Friday, so two arm interferometer testing will be interupted until the water pressure drops sufficiently to open the mid station to the beam tube, estimated to be 1-2 weeks.
Doug Lormand has a v1.0 Matlab code that filters a time series through a comb of octave bandpass filters and generates histograms in each channel. He is still learning the details of the action of the filters, but should have interesting results soon.
Rich Riesen has critiqued the first drafts of our Operator's Manual chapters for PSL and IOO. Based on his suggestions, we will rewrite them to add clear and explicit procedures for the most common adjustments and diagnoses that operators will perform.
Rich Abbott
Reworked the three frequency
distribution components needed and shipped them back.
For the short term, a new disk was sent to LLO and files are being put back on it via internet (probably should have built it first, then shipped it, but...). As of this afternoon, most of the system had been restored, with the remainder to be pretty much completed tomorrow.
For the longer term, a Sun D1000 (with redundant power supplies and hot swap disks, set up in a RAID config) will be set up next week and shipped to LLO for installation and crossover week of Oct. 2.
The ATM probably just needs a power recycling, but don't want to touch it until the server is restored as comms are still operational to the VME systems. Control room computers are being temporarily shifted to ethernet to allow ops to continue.
Peter King
For some reason the network
link to the PSL Lab is losing a lot of packets, often resulting in the
MEDM operator screens freezing which in turn makes operating the laser
a tad difficult at times.
At some stage between last Thursday and yesterday the pre-modecleaner stopped working properly. A problem was found with the photodetector output even without light shining on the photodetector. It is suspected that there is a problem with the voltage regulators on the circuit.
This week I started working with Rick Karwoski on the intensity stabilization servo. The intensity stabilization servo is going to be quite hard to implement for stabilization at the -160 dB/Sqrt[Hz] level. Some time today we will be formulating a plan to get the data required, to make sure that everything is well characterized.
Laser S/N #110 will be returned to Lightwave for servicing this week because the output power of the laser has been falling. A problem with the power amplifier pump diodes is suspected. This will leave the PSL Lab without a laser for a period of about 5 weeks, which will slow things down a bit.
I have been chasing up quotations for a optical table for the LASTI PSL. At present the quotes asked for are for a 5'x12' table with rigid legs, which according to a facility layout drawing I have, should fit.
Lee Cardenas
I am in preparation to send
back the 10 watt Laser MOPA# 110 back to Lightwave and that will take place
tomorrow. I have been working on making the acoustic enclosure for the
PMC as right now.
Ben Abbott
OSEM circuit made and currently
being tested.
We have received the first plated osem sample from Surmet that uses the new process of first vacuum baking the heads at high temperature, as recommended by Corning. This first sample was then coated with a carbon-doped diamond film. The adhesion of the coating on this sample is much better than previous samples, but still probably not good enough. The coating sticks well to the sides and flat areas of the head, and cannot be scratched off of these areas, but on the edges (both 90 deg and beveled edges) the plating can be rubbed off with not too much force. Surmet is now in the process of trying a sample of silver plating.
Janeen submitted an RFQ to Progressive Technology for alumina heads, as an alternative if the Surmet plating continues to have problems.
The design for the mode cleaner servo board has been sent out for
fabrication, and we expect to
have a board in just over a week's time. We have also ordered
components
for both the mode cleaner servo and the OSEM satellite boxes, and we
expect
those to arrive in the next day or two. Many thanks to Jay and
Lori at CDS
who lent their time helping us lay out these boards.
Undergraduate Kevin Schulz started working with us on the TNI.
He has
taken over as Clean Room Czar, started restoring our laminar flow hood,
and
he is learning electronics fabrication and design.
Operation budget (Mike Zucker)
--------------------------------
Reworking infrastructure and operations budget for revised
scope of work as reflected in recently approved program plan.
SEI equipment & personnel (Ken Mason)
-------------------------------------
The following equipment has been lost in transit while being shipped
from LLO to MIT:
(8) Air bearing dummies
(1) Pallet Jack
(2) sets of rollers
The toolbox and clean table which was dropped off at a hospital in
New
York by mistake arrived heavily damaged.
#MZ note: These losses probably warrant filing
an insurance claim
with Caltech.
Because of delays in installation at LLO, Cory and Hugh from LHO will
be
assisting with the seismic installation at MIT.
SEI supports installation (Myron and Matt);
------------------------------------------
We are finishing up the holes on the last HAM. There are three
holes
left with stainless steel in them but we ran out of drill bits.
They
should arrive Thursday and we will finish up the hole drilling by the
end of the week. Myron was able to remove the tiles for the first
HAM
and I roughed up the concrete in each of the four pier locations and
installed the anchor bolts. Myron and I spent most of a
day cleaning
four piers from extensive rust on both the top and the bottom surfaces.
(lock acquisition)
Matt and Biplab working on lock-acquisition model, especially
with
misalignments.
(simulation engine)
Ottavio is profiling E2E runs using Matt's lock acquisition model.
Work Performed:
**Examined flat & parent-children function timing graphs from GPROF
profiler
for Single and Multi Mode field simulations w/in Han2k. Top
contenders on
time consumption are:
-Recycling Summation calculation of output & input fields
-matrix inversion, products, and assignment
-e2eFUNC interpretation
Also tried TCOV line-count profiling but they weren't useful
**Got preliminary results of 30% decrease in computation time for matrix
inversion by removing recreation of identity matrices.
**Spec'd out simple changes to MADDER primitive for removing unnecessary
multiplications and additions when default constants 0 and 1
are
used. Reviewed Gauss-Jordan, LDU decomp, and backsubstituion
techniques.
**Continuing with matrix calc efficiency. Discussed new code
with Matt
which should cut down on unnecessary temp-to-result var copying
which
probably occurrs all over the place within matrix based calcs.
Might
try to start replacing large sections of matrix class with Matt's
code
if possible without affecting its callers' code.
**Trying to optimize e2eFUNC parsing into more efficient interpreted
code
by applying alg transformation [associative, commutative rules...]
before packing it off to const value optimizer so that 1+x+2+y+3+z
becomes --> 1+2+3+x+y+z becomes --> 6 + x+y+z ... etc
(Alfi)
Ed Maros finished new graphic engine. Starting testing of code.
Bruce worked on the following:
- Merged new ALFI graphics code.
- Working on node deletion problems regarding Settings not being
deleted along with the node (causes problems for the parser.)
- Continuing work on time stamp problems.
Software Systems (Blackburn)
DataConditionAPI:Found what appears to be a bug in the ostrstream class in Gnu's C++
compiler. This class resembles an output stream (or file) except that the
contents of the stream is stored in memory rather than on disk. It's main
purpose is to turn data types into character strings for writing to a real
file. An ostrstream's internal memory buffer grows incrementally as mor
data is added to it. The bug in ostrstream causes it to abort the process
if too little memory remains to grow the buffer by the next
increment. Correct behaviour should be to throw an appropriate exception.
At present, when inserting data into an ostrstream, it doesn't appear to
be possible to tell if the next insertion will cause the program to abort,
or to catch the abort if it does. As a result, some operations involving
very large data sets were causing the data conditioning API to crash
without warning. This problem has been worked around by forcing the API to
allocate a large buffer for it's ostrstream in one request instead of many
smaller requests.Continuing to track down the remaining segfault which sometimes
occurs when getting results from the dc API. The segfault occurs after the
requested data conditioning operation has succeeded, during the Tcl call
which obtains the result from the thread which performed the data
conditioning action. It most often happens when system memory is low.Tested fix for the memory leak. The fix takes care of one leak but there
is still another of similar size (that is, he has fixed 50% of the leak).
We are still able to reproduce the segfault by performing several dcAPI
jobs on large datasets - that is, where we formerly saw the dcAPI crash
on the second job, it now crashes on the fourth job.WrapperAPI:
Working with the MPI-2-C++ people at Notre Dame, we were able to get
C++ exceptions to work. However, the channel driver provide by MPICH
does not support exceptions so we are not able to detect a communication
channel exception. Looking at the code we identified what we think is
the fix to MPICH to allow this but learned from UWM that the LAM version
of MPI may have already solved this problem and has lots of extra
support for dynamic communications.We began to rethink our choice of MPICH for an MPI implementation as
a result of conversations with UWM and the problems with exceptions from
MPICH. A review of the various MPI implementations available can be
found on the web at:http://www.mpi.nd.edu/MPI2/display.php?fulllist=1
Based on this review, a request to the LSC software committee to re-
evaluate MPI implementations was made. This was also presented to the
MPI working group. A general consensus is that the this is worthwhile
doing and a test of LAM and possible others will be carried on the
schedule for the MPI working group.The weekly meeting of the MPI working group was very successful this
week. A new set of interface functions and data objects was drafted by
CIT and UWM. These were presented and with some minor modifications
look like an excellent design.There was also significant development on the mpiAPI which works in
concert with the wrapperAPI this week.Documentation:
The build documentation continues to improve with helpful comments
from the LSC teams that are working to install LDAS at their home
institutions. New and improved instructions are appearing almost
daily now.The documentation for the LDAS APIs is also being reviewed and fixed
where needed. This is in part receiving extra attention this week as
documentation is one of the last areas needing attention for closing
out the dataConditionAPI MDC.Database, metaDataAPI and MDC:
A handful of people have gotten in touch with Peter Shawhan to express
their interest in participating in the LDAS Database Mock Data Challenge,
and I have discussed particular tasks with them which match their
research interests. However, more people are needed, especially
in the area of user interface tools, e.g. to allow Matlab to
retrieve database information and display distributions, find
coincidences between lists of astrophysical events, etc. Bruce Sears
to set up an ILOG group for upcoming Mock Data Challenges. It is based
at http://blue.ligo-wa.caltech.edu/ilog.Peter implemented the first prototype of the "Data Flow Manager", which
serves as the intermediary between LDAS (and potentially other
data services) and user analysis programs. The prototype allows
a user to retrieve data from the LDAS database from the unix
command line or from within a script. It will gradually be
extended to handle frame data and be an NDS server for offline
use of DataViewer and Diagnostic Test Tools.Problem Tracking:
A tremendous effort went into cleaning up and closing open problem reports
this week. On Monday over 100 problems were in some form of open going back
to some of our earliest reports. At our weekly meeting we concentrated on
these open problems and closed out about 20% in one day and continued into
the week making good progress on problem close outs.We are continuing to have problems with threaded code on the linux kernels.
A test of a pre-release 2.4 kernel showed no improvements. There are no
smoking guns at this point as to why this occurs other than linux carries
a different model for thread implementation from Solaris.
Hardware Systems (Anderson)
Placed order for initial LDAS Gigabit Ethernet switches to start the move
of LDAS from ATM to Ethernet.The network of single mode fibres for LIGO data analysis at Caltech has
been installed and terminated in Bridge, Booth, Synchrotron, and Millikan.The Cybernetics 30-slot AIT-2 tape robot has been installed in the LDAS
network at LHO in preparation for a Fall engineering run.An early pre-release of the Linux 2.4 kernel has been installed on a
dual-processor Intel machine to test/debug a few LDAS multi-threaded
program errors.A read-only CVS account has been setup for more general access to the LDAS
software repository.
No reports receivedData Analysis Activities
MIT:
Have some issues with the e-mail configurations and procedures. They
are being
worked out.
Livingston:
We assisted with the CDS disk problem. As a result of this problem,
we are examining our recovery strategy for any similar problem with
the GC machines.
LSU Telecommunications was on-site to upgrade the software and memory
for the router on our T1 line. They are monitoring its performance
to
see if there are any continuing problems.
Hanford:
Nothing to report.
CIT:
(Lisa)
- Moved Rich Abbott into Dale's laptop. The laptop was being
cranky so I
updated the drivers.
- There is a bug in Protel 98 that makes it not save a file even after
you have
explicitily said save. This was giving Ban Abbott some trouble.
I re-installed
the software and the protel service pack.
- installed Solaris 2.6 on a sparc20 for Peter King to use in Lauritson
Lab.
- Moved Mohana's computer to Dale's old desk.
- Replaced a 133mhz pc in the Wilson back house with a 200 mhz pc.
- Moved Dziban out to the back house. Put in a hub so it could
share a port.
It is currently awaiting an IP change to the 125 subnet.
- Upgraded menkar to Solaris 2.8 so that Hongyu could use the ldas
software.
- Worked with Ed Chargois to get the next batch of surplus equipment
out of
General Computing offices.
- Helped Liz with some Acrobat Distiller incompatibities with NSF's
fasttrack
system.
- During the hot days I was seeing network problems on the 115 subnet
in Wilson
House. That has subsided for now.
(Sam)
- Continually burning CD's for people. This includes making image files
of PC's
for backup purposes.
- Installed a couple more PC's. Worked with Lisa on a few units at
Wilson House.
- Worked with Liz on a few pc problems.
- Did tons of physical theropy.
(Suresh)
- Wrote a shell script that runs cronjob which eliminates defunct processes
in
sirius. Rebooted sirius on last saturday (september 16).
- Worked with Larry to install HP Lasejet 5000N printer in basement
of bridge
to replace old HP Laserjet 4mv with name hp0, hp0b printer.
- Made a tar backup copy of a file into tape for Shannon Roddy and
sent to
Livingston observatory.
- Fixed Janeen Romie's acrobat reader problem. Also fixed Ottavio D'angelis's
man pages reading problem.
- Working on other public domain network monitoring tools.
(Barbara)
- Developed a equipment tracking page for LDAS that may also be used
for GC.
- Worked with Linda T. getting a number of DCC items resolved.
(Larry)
- Continually working with the procurement items that are going on
with LDAS and
GC.
- Setup a couple of meetings with Bellsouth to get things going on
the OC3
connection at Livingston.
- Worked with Ed C. on getting the projectors installed in the conference
rooms.
We need to meet with one more person and after that we should be able
to start
ordering kits and getting things installed.
- Worked on a number of PC's getting various setup items fixed.
- The fiber terminations in Bridge will be moved this Saturday (23rd).
So far
all things are a go. One bundle will be moved at a time. Once the bundle
is
varified that it is working correctly the next bundle will be moved.
- Worked with Linda T. and others on a couple of DCC issues
From Mike Smith:
LIGO 2
A preliminary draft of the AOS Stray Light Control and PO Mirror and
Telescope Reference Design is completed. Pricing for the reference design
is in process.
From Bill Kells
kept some core optics and Melody/FFT code issues on track
via e-mail.
From Janeen
Working on Advanced LIGO costs, schedule and the WBS dictionary.
From Peter King
3.1 LIGO II PSL
I have been going through
the Cost Tool to see just how the cost
risk factors are worked out, in order to incorporate them into my LIGO
II
PSL costing spreadsheet.
From: Mike Zucker <mike@ligo.mit.edu>
We just received 3 sapphire samples from Caltech (thanks Jordan and
Helena!) and are putting the largest boule into the thermal lensing
test apparatus. We plan to measure specific heat, thermal
conductivity, thermal expansion coefficient and thermal refractive
index coefficient by zapping a small area with a CO2 laser beam of
known size and watching the magnitude and shape of the developing
thermal lens over time. We expect this to help resolve the wide
disparities found in published values for some of these material
properties.
From: Riccardo DeSalvo <desalvo@ligo.caltech.edu>
Akiteru:
Reached -77 dB plateau in IP, not much more to gain; working on control
with Virginio, off to Japan for the JPS meeting.
Virginio:
More on diagonalization of accelerometers and LVDTs. LVDTs all
below
the % level of cross contamination, almost 10-4 for the angular mode,
accelerometers a few percent in Yaw and below % for the translational
modes.
Actuators are much worse, somewhat below 10% cross talk, the problem
is
likely with airflow, we need a good enclosure. The diagonalisation
of
the actuators is however (according with the Virgo experience) good
enough to allow us to close the f.b. loops next.
DSP still the problem of acquiring the cpu units discontinued by
Motorola.
Alessandro
Received first Copper Beryllium accelerometer, the other three tomorrow,
unlike the aluminium prototypes, they seem to have no hysteresis even
before electropolishing.
Frederick
Exploring together with Janeen the relative advantages and costs of
Nastran, Ansys and other simulation packages. Caltech has Ideas
but it
is inadequate.
Francesco:
Prepared a report on the creep oven results
Lisa
Same, Final SURF report
Brett
Sent Final SURF report
Riccardo:
Back from Japan.
Lots of results in cryogenics and other related issues in Japan.
They
write a lot, we should stop playing in the lab and write our own papers,
it is a shame.
We would like to contribute to the cryogenic R&D effort.
If approved,
after succesful 3m tests and implementation in TAMA we will supplement
the cryogenic effort by providing SAS for cryogenic tests in Cashiwa
and/or KEK, we will continue and expand the present exchange of
students, we will provide sapphire test pieces to be characterised
at
low temperature.
The japanese collaborators will finally assist us to implement a larger
Cryogenic TN interferometer in Caltech.
For additional information about this report, contact sanders@ligo.caltech.edu