LIGO Weekly Report

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

Dorothy Lloyd

Three day report (January 8-10):

Concentrated on processing a heavy load of invoices (~ 60) that came in during my absence, and worked on tracking some invoice problems. For more detail see "Cost Schedule Control Systems" report by Esther Cunningham.
Reviewed and recorded payments processed by Esther for the period December 18 through January 5, on contract summary sheets and LIGO database.
Entered all requisitions that were processed in my absence (thanks to Rita and Gina), into the LIGO database and also processed new requisitions (~ 6-8).
On the "Receiving" end, continued to work with Florence and Ruth on transferring encumbrances to new fiscal period.
Continue to monitor contract and blanket order funding levels and notify task managers when supplements are needed.
Jim continues to do data entry in the LIGO database and help out in both the DCC and travel areas.

Irene Baldon

Fourteen (14) new trips were started and I have sixteen (16) trips pending final approval before tickets can be issued with eight (8) trips finalized but paper work needs to be completed. Most of these trips required Advance Checks to be written as well as hotel and car authorization forms to be filled out and FAXed to the appropriate locations.
Reconciled eighteen (18) items on my P-Card this week. Several items were difficult to track down since the vendor's 3rd level information was sketchy at best. Phone calls for clarification from the vendor were required. I'm working with some of our frequent vendors to see what can be done to include more information on their 3rd level information. Worked with a few travelers who had questions or needed further clarification on using or reconciling their new P-Cards. For the most part those having cards seem to be doing fine and find the cards a convenience. If you did not save my previously sent note enclosing the New Expense Report please let me know and I'll resend it immediately.
Worked on and completed thirty-five (35) Expense Reports. Liz continues to help when she can. Worked with Jim from Dorothy's area to familiarize him with the Expense Report and he has completed seven (7) reports. I have thirty-two (32) Expense Reports to work on and I'm holding three (3) reports that need a check from the traveler before processing. The new Expense Report that I sent out a couple of weeks ago is not being used by most of our Travelers. I ask that everyone please use this new form. If you have any questions on its use please contact me. Everyone who is using this form seems to be adjusting to it quite nicely. I continue to make myself available for any assistance they may need.
On Monday this week I was informed that the long awaited File Maker Pro version of the P-Card Expense Report had been finally completed and put on the web. Unfortunately, the form was completed and put out without anyone checking it first for accuracy and workability. I spent a considerable portion of one full day working with the form trying to make it work. The form contained several problems, the least of which was that several of the fields would not total, a couple of fields would not allow one to input data, and a couple of lines were either deleted or changed. I also found that they had set the standard type print at 8 points which is impossible to read or work with. I made what changes I could and then sent a detailed memo with my observations. It is now in the hands of the Controller and his Assistant. I again made myself available for any help that I and LIGO could offer.
I would like to remind all travelers that if your flight is considerably delayed or completely canceled, and Gina or I are not available to personally assist you in rearranging your itinerary or notifying the hotels and car rentals of your delay (i.e., after working hours here in California or on the weekend), that you as the traveler are responsible for calling either the number listed on your Itinerary, their 800 number, or even a local number (or airport desk) for the vendor. Please let them know that you will either be late or a No Show otherwise you will be charged a No Show Fee and you could lose your reservation completely.
Prepared the Travel/Vacation Itinerary for the Week of January 8, 2001. Performed normal recording and filing associated with Travel and Reimbursement. Worked on several problem issues with Travel Audit in addition to the above listed issues. Also 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 also to assist them wherever possible.

Rita Torres

Submitted a list of scanned MOU documents to B. Kratochwill for posting on the web. Prepared letter to CRRI. Did requisitions while D. Lloyd was on vacation.
Obtained pricing and other information to prepare for PO with Lase-R Shield in New Mexico. They are to provide progressive prescription laser eye wear, we cannot obtain this type of eye wear from our current supplier. The requisition should be ready for signature by Friday. Also prepared change order No. 2 for Pasadena Eye Medical Group to include technical support by their Optician.
Ongoing activity: Continue to coordinate letters and documents for R. DeSalvo and attorney. The usual quest for information associated with Pcard purchases. Investigated some weird debits and credits in Passport. As time permits (been trying over the last couple of weeks), doing updates to the PO log for D. Lloyd.

Elizabeth K. Wood

Dealt with personnel and visa issues. Ed Jasnow, Donna T., and I even had a meeting with Pam Robertson who is the visa and personnel overseer in Human Resources. She told us told that we should be seeing some definite improvements in visa and HR coordination by April 1. I am somewhat uncomfortable with a target date of April Fools’ Day.
Preparations for the NSF Review here are continuing as a manageable pace. As far as the Hanford review is going, however, no one from Caltech or Livingston has made any hotel or airline reservations in Richland. Just thought I’d mention that..

Advanced LIGO (Frey, Petrac)

Annual Report: I have completed a first draft of what appears to be an adequate Annual Progress Report for the LIGO Construction effort as of the end of November 2000. I have provided a pointer for reviewers to access the document and comment as necessary.

We issued a Notice to Proceed to the Brunt Construction Company on Monday, January 8. A kickoff meeting with Brunt was held on Tuesday, January 9, at Livingston, at which the construction schedule was finalized.

The presentation of the third and final A/E candidate for the Hanford Support Building is scheduled for Wednesday, January 24, at the contractor's facility in Glendora, California.

Quality/Safety (Tyler)

LIGO Hanford Observatory (LHO) Operations (Raab).

We are on schedule to begin installation of 4K hardware into chambers on
Jan 16, provided tragedy stays away for a few more days. We have made a
conscious effort to bring new people onto tasks, so visitors will find the
"local expertise" on many installation tasks will not be the folks they dealt
with on the 2K installation.

X-Mid: The original HYTEC design Z-Pivot assemblies were installed to
provide earthquake security. The ljones design is in place on only two of
the actuation stacks due to airbearing top and bottom positions and two are
not sufficient for the job.

Fine Actuation: Both the mid stations Fine Actuator PZTs have been taken
off line to allow dedicated power lines to be run. The dedicated power is
in place for these units at all four VEAs; but, the mid stations have not
been put back on the PZTs yet. The Fine Actuators PZTs at the X-End are
online and running on the controllers.

CAS: The coarse actuation system for BSC2 has been activated and ready for
elevation adjustment during COC installation. BSC1 still awaits the data
base modification for the new rack. We will test the latest 'shimming' to
fix our Yawing problem shortly.

ASC
-----
H.Radkins, J.Meyers, G.Moreno, B.Rivera
All QPDs for the 4K optical lever receivers have been upgraded to the 10x
version.

The 2K IFO recycling mirror optical lever transmitter LASER has been
exchanged for the new model. The new LASER model has required a different
mounting scheme with a few different arrangements dependent on the
location. All 4K levers have been modified and are ready for installation.
Data and power cabling and connectors are ready at X-End.

ISC
----
H.Radkins, C.Gray, G.Moreno
All the initial alignment monuments for COC installation have been placed.

- Glen Truong from Lightwave Electronics was here last week to service
the 2k PSL. After adjusting the polarizers between the NPRO and the
amplifier, optimizing the amplifier temperature, and increasing the NPRO
and amplifier currents, the output power was about 10.5 watts with more
than 96% in a circular TEMoo mode. The PSL output power was thus
increased significantly to about 8.9 watts.

- Immediately after the service call we experienced two problems
unrelated to the laser head. The fuse in the power supply blew twice.
We replaced the fuse holder with one that makes better contact with the
fuse. The old holder showed signs of thermal damage from poor contact.
With the new holder, the fuse has not blown. We should consider
retrofitting the supplies for the other lasers.

The other problem is that when the chiller is located in the chiller
closet at the end of the 100 ft. hoses it is unable to maintain the
laser at the optimum temperature. We have temporarily installed the
spare chiller near the laser head. Using short hoses, it easily
maintains the laser at the optimum temperature. We are investigating
solutions to what appears to be a "low flow" problem.

-4k PSL buildup continues. We are expecting the electronics for the
frequency stabilization servo to arrive by early next week.

LIGO Livingston Observatory (LLO) Operations (Coles).

OPTICS INSTALLATION: Y-arm beamtube was opened last Thursday, and we found the beam immediately. It was close enough to the optic that it drifted onto ETM-y from time to time. When it did, we found the return at ITM-y minutes later. You can find some images in last January 4's LLO i-log. Joe Kovalik, Joe Giaime and I temporarily installed and aligned the LSC photodiode, as well as a video camera on ISCT-4. Mark Coles, Joe Kovalik and I are doing the same thing on ISCT-1. (Jonathan Kern)

CDS: Installed all LSC inputs to large optics. Reworked LSC cross-connect. Installed ASC input to MMT3. Installed EO shutter controls at ISCT1 & ISCT4. (Rus Wooley)

PEM audit: I've received some correspondence from Julien Sylvestre during the week which I am hoping to apply to my Matlab program over the next few weeks. Warren Johnson also showed me a matlab utility program written by Mark Barton which may be of some use in my project. It will probably take a couple of weeks for me to
understand the examples I have been given but I am hoping to have something by February. Also over the next couple of weeks I intend to do a complete audit of the
accelerometers. At this time I believe that all accelerometers are functioning, however I have noticed that some of the cabling from the sensors to the Endevco
amplifier in the 1X5 crate in the LVEA is flaky and may need to be replaced. (Doug Lormand).

Facilities: The machine shop is completely moved from the staging building, and partially operable in the pump house now. A kickoff meeting was held with the construction contractor and subcontractors for the staging building renovation. Work is now underway!

Detector/Technical Support (Whitcomb, Coyne)

Installation & Commissioning: Hanford Livingston	Other Science/Engineering Activities: Design/Analysis/Fab Issues/Concerns

1.1 LHO INSTALLATION & COMMISSIONING

2km Commissioning

We resumed the commissioning activities on the 2 km interferometer. The initial effort is on understanding the offset in the Michelson common mode length servo which had been observed by Peter and Matt in early December. We reproduced the observed offset using the power-recycled Michelson (no arm cavities). The first test was to see if the suggestion that the beam on the reflection port photodiode (used to lock this degree of freedom) was overfilling the diode, allowing it to act like the central element of a bulls-eye detector. We used a lens to focus the beam more tightly, but observed only a ~1% increase in the DC light level and essentially no change in the offset. We tried an attenuator on the reflected port beam to eliminate the possibility of some sort of spatial dependent saturation--again no change.

We next tried locking the PRM with the pickoff photodiode. This has less light and a noisier signal but locked the PRM adequately to observe that it too showed an offset, which behaved qualitatively (and even to some extent quantitatively) like the reflected port signal. In doing these measurements we noted that the offset was somewhat sensitive to misalignment of the PRM. It is possible that this might be indicative of a miscentering in one arm of the Michelson which distorts the mode internal to the PRM (due to non symmetric losses in that arm) and gives an offset. This notion is bolstered by a couple of observations of different optical gains in the two arms (one operating half-PRMs on the two arms and seeing different power buildup, and the other locking at the discriminants of the two arm cavities and seeing different P-P voltages). So we are off into alignment space.

4km COS

4km SUS (digital)

4km PSL

Rick Karwoski
Bench-Test Status: All frequency stabilization boards are now fully bench-tested. (i.e. the Photo detector module, Frequency Reference, 80 MHz VCO, Servo)

PSL Integration Test Status: Lauritsen lab is fully operational and serving as an integration platform for the Frequency Stabilization modules. Here's where we stand:

We will continue the test/burn-in process until these modules are needed at Hanford

1.2 LLO INSTALLATION & COMMISSIONING

Commissioning

ISC

2.0 Other Engineering and Scientific Activities

2.1 Design/Analysis/Fab

Optical Metrology

PSL

I tried to measure the intensity noise filtering afforded by the new PMC but ran into some problem with the broadband photodiode that I have not sorted out yet. This measurement will take a break for a few days to allow for testing of the newly stuffed frequency servo card and components.

Work is still proceeding on the high power photodiode, hopefully a prototype circuit will be milled out by week's end. I'm still having some problems with the PSpice model but pretty soon we should be in a position to measure the transfer function of interest.

ISC

New OSEM Heads

Progress on rework of the poorly coated heads: Progressive Technology shipped 20 grit blasted and polished heads to us. Orbit Industries supplied us with 2 heads that they'd acid etched to remove the coating. We will ship the rejected heads to Orbit tomorrow. Working on PAM bracket/screw gauling problem.

Mark Barton
This week I did thermal tests of the new OSEM sample provided by Peter Fritschel. The test OSEM was a fully complete LOS one, including the coil, the ZrN coating, the circuit boards, the filter, the PAM screw and magnet, and the pigtail. It was held at the standard nominal position in a bracket of the same material and shape as on the LOS structure. The two main heat inputs are the coil (max 200 mA through 13.3 ohms = 528 mW) and the LED (1.72 V at 50 mA = 86 mW). However the LED is on a small circuit board not well connected to the body of the OSEM so one could easily imagine it cooking itself. So I did measurements of the temperature both at the coil and at the casing of the LED. With 200 mA of coil current the temperature at the coil was 47.1 C (or 22.3 above ambient), and the temperature at the LED was 40.3 (or 15.5 above ambient). This is comparable to results by Miyoki and Kawamura for OSEMs of the old design. Adding 50 mA of LED current increased this only 1 C at the coil but about 6 C at the LED. Thus the thermal conductivity to ground is somewhat worse from the circuit board but not enormously so, and the dominant source of temperature increase at both points is still the coil current.

DAQ

2.2 Issues Concerns

40 Meter Interferometer (Weinstein).

Thermal Noise Interferometer (Libbrecht)

LASTI (Zucker)

Data Analysis and Computing (Lazzarini).

Simulation and Modeling (Yamamoto)

* Peter Fritschel wants to start studying the suspension for LIGO II.
Virginio Sannibale is going to build a suspended quadrple pendulum
based on the design document by the GEO group. This will be done in
a several weeks. Hiro will finish the interface between e2e and MSE
so that the mechanics stimulation can be fully and easily integrated
with MSE.

* Rick Savage's SURF student, Brad Zamft, is back this week at LHO
to continue his study of the PSL noise using e2e. His study covers
the noise caused by the table motion, which induces the dithering
of the beam, which could affect the demodulated signal off of the
reference cavity. Biplab and Hiro assisted him in discussiong physics
and explaining tools of e2e.

* The understanding of the seismic noise is close to the end. It looks
like the simulation is doing right, and the numerical tools to analyze
the time series and the way to use them has problems. In order to
avoid this kind of complexity in analyzing the time series, a module
has been designed as a e2e primitive which generates a PSD of a given
signal automatically applying whitening and unwhitening to generate
a correct spectrum.

* Biplab is working to understand systematically the effect of the
angular fructuation to the lock acquisition.

* Biplab and Hiro sent a note to LSC members and to the upper limit
study group leaders. This memo explains the current status of e2e,
focusing on the noise generation, and calls for the collaboration
to implement necessary modifications so that it can be used for
the data analysis.

* A systematic study was done to understand the thread-related
overheads, delay between sending signal and awakening, and between
unlock and lock. These are necessary to design the dynamic queue.
The overhead observed is ~50 microseconds, which is much larger than
we expected, and Tavio is now trying to contact a SUN enginner to
obtain a definitive answer if what we observe is a real limitation
or if there is some workaround.

* Tavio is finishing the testbed program and tools for managing
the modules following the discussion with Matt and Hiro.
After these preparatory work is done, he will try logics to
group modules to find the optimal one to use the thread most
efficiently.

* Copy&Paste of modules and a new interface for setting parameters are the
imporvements going on.

* A new version of alfi, 4.0.24, has been release and has been installed
at CIT and LHO. This is a maitenance release, and all major reported
bugs has been fixed. Next release will have several new fetures added.

LIGO Data Analysis System

General Computing

Livingston:
Working a number of network and security issues.
Working on resolving problems with one of the LDAS computers.
Larry will be contacting Bellsouth to try and get pricing information that was
promised for the first of the year.

CIT:
(Barbara)
- Began changes to CostBook for contingency override and for equipment
indirect cost calculations. Expanded the indirect cost calculations for
subcontracts.
- Made numerous updates to the LDAS web site to support the data challenge
next week.
- Fixed problems with the DCC database compact/repair process and backup of
the LDAS equipment database.
- Helped Chargois generate spreadsheets from the equipment databases.
- Made numerous LIGO web site changes -- MOU's, LSC Roster, fellowships, etc.

(Lisa)
-Working on getting the new modem pool up. All initial testing is complete for
the analog modems. I am ready to start creating new users. I've put in a
request to have an ISDN line installed but do not yet have a time frame on that
work.

(Suresh)
-Worked with Larry on setting up a 2810 for Millikan.
-Setup a couple of new user accounts.
-Setup a couple of new computers for use by LDAS.
-Worked on cleaning up some old user accounts and moving accounts to larger
disks.
-Assisted in the memory upgrades on the color printers.

(Larry)
-Ordered networking equipment for LDAS test being run. Placing a new order for
computer projectors. Checked on a number of orders that are in place and will
have to redo a memory order.
-Ordered a couple more PC's and laptops. The PC's have arrived and one of the
laptops has arrived and has been delivered.
-Working with Lisa on the modem pool.
-Worked with Suresh and Stuart on a network switch box installation.
-Updated the Mathematica license on the server so we are now good for another
year. Found it easier to get information from Wolfram this go around.
-Still working out the logistics for the SDRC license renewal.
-Worked with the Livingston people on a couple of security issues.
-Just as a side note, everyone should try and change their password if they have
not done so over the past year. Also, there are are a number of people with a
large number of files in their directories that have not been accessed for over
3 years, if you are keeping the files for just-in-case, they are on backup tape.
You can also get them burned on to a CD, I am encouraging people to delete
files/directories they have not used in some time.
--

LIGO II/Advanced R&D (Sanders)

Proceeding with assembly and tuning of TAMA attenuation towers, all
parts are in house, except accelerometers, several minor problems but no
major one.
Still in the details assembly and tuning phase, not yet in the global
system check phase; accumulating some delay.
Mounted IP and both Filter 0 and the standard filter. The MGAS of the
standard filter is weak and is being remanufactured: the long lead time
is the baking for hardening, the IP flexes, also marginally (but
acceptably) weak are being remanufactured at the same time.
(The IP zero frequency payload is 105 Kg instead of 110 Kg, could be
corrected with marginally stronger parassitic springs in the position
tuning motors, the standard filter blade lifts 1 Kg less than necessary,
could correct by machining holes in the control mass but decided to do
it right and accept the ten day delay).
Fine tuning the IP counterweights in the new shaker.
Found play in the hexawire ball joints, re-machining ball housings.
Assembly tooling of Mini-MGAS for the mirror suspension being remade in
house.
Accelerometer material delivered, manufacturing.

Electronics will be late, NIM crates OK, VME crates will be delivered
end of January/beginning February, the digital cards being finished, the
analogue cards are ready but will receive NIM chassis to mount in after
January 20th. Cables will be OK but may have problems in Japan with
Vacuum feed throughs.
Coils OK, on their way to Pasadena. Actuators working fine.

Prototype tests, working on diagonalization, measuring IP resonant
frequency versus temperature and working point drift (at 20 mHz 2 mm
drifts with our floor and the temperature variations, MINOS opens the
doors during the day and the temperature changes and come back slowly
the night). Built a small thermal and wind shield hut for the TAMA
prototype also.

Peter King
3.1 LIGO II PSL
Revised versions of the PSL costings and schedule are being
worked
on. I hope to try and sort out some more details when Benno Willke
arrives
for the NSF R&D Review.

3.2 LASTI PSL
The LASTI PSL optical table was scheduled for delivery to MIT on
01/15. Myron McInnes rang me about scheduling the delivery and it was
decided that he would organize riggers, if possible.

3.3 40m Lab PSL
The reference cavities, vacuum chambers and vibration isolation
stack pieces have arrived.

	Packages	Faxes
In	39	29
Out	11	43

CR-000018	WBS 1.1.4	Curbing for Service Roads at Livingston	G. Stapfer
CR-000019	WBS 1.2	Additional Lab Equipment	D. Coyne
CR-000020	WBS 1.1.4	Staging Building and Renovations to Existing Building--Livigston	F. Asiri

Weekly Report for Week Ending January 11, 2001

Special Announcements:

LSC Issues (Weiss).

LIGO I Construction/LIGO Laboratory Administration (Lindquist).

LIGO Weekly Site Telecon (Lindquist)