Weekly Report for Week Ending January 3, 2002

The LIGO Executive Committee Agenda for Monday  January 7, 2001 will be:

 (Meeting time: 10:30 am Pacific Time)

Open meeting 10:30 - 11:30

1. Announcements
2. LSC Issues (Weiss)
3. Comments on Weekly Report
4. WBS 1 LIGO I Construction (Lindquist)
• Field Change Orders/Contingency Liens/Change Requests
5. WBS 2 LIGO Lab Operations
• Administration (Lindquist)
• Sites (Raab, Coles, Shoemaker, Sanders)
• Detector (Whitcomb, Coyne)
• Campus Research Facilities (Weinstein (40 Meter), Libbrecht (TNI), Zucker(LASTI))
• Data Analysis and Computing (Lazzarini)
6. WBS 3 and 4  Advanced R&D and LIGO II (Sanders)

Special Items:  E7 Status and lessons learned

Special Announcements:  The E7 run is in full swing. Browse the electronic logs! Congratulations to the E7 team for what is already a very impressive learning experience for LIGO. It should also be noted that GEO is running as well and we are in daily contact.

To all LIGO travelers: Please browse the website:

http://www.montrosetravel.com/corporate/home.htm

You can explore the capabilities of the new Caltech travel provider. LIGO will be transitioning to this new provider soon. You may begin using them now by preparing a profile and submitting it to them.

Weekly Report Highlights
 

LSC Issues (Weiss)

no report

LIGO I Construction/LIGO Laboratory Administration (Lindquist)

LIGO Operations--Administration

A Site Teleconference was held on Thursday, January 3, 2002.  Discussion centered on the status FY 2002 costs-to-date, of NSF funding, and the establishment of FY 2002 accounts, as well as the status of building at the two sites.

The list of current actions revised to reflect the status of open actions assigned through December 20, 2001 may be found at ACTION LIST.

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

• Assisted the Low Frequency Noise Suppression Task Supervisor (R. DeSalvo) with packing, shipping, and US Customs documentation for one (1) Brass Spring and Rubber Gaskets to the University of Toyko (Dr. A. Takamor) , scheduled arrival date: 01-03-02. Account Number P204289.
• Assisted the Detector Group (N. Mavalvala) with shipping ten (10) boxes of Professional Books and related documents at book rate to the LIGO Project at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, scheduled arrival date: 01-08-02. Account Number P204254.
• Preparing a quarterly property report to be provided to Caltech, this report is a consolidation of both Caltech and Government property with a dollar value of $5000 and above.

>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. . .

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

ACTIVITY

• nothing to report.

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>

• No report--vacation.

• Worked on financial reports for December.

 
• The reports can be found at: http://docuserv.ligo.caltech.edu/~fireport

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

• No report (vacation).

CONSTRUCTION:

• Construction of the Livingston Staging Building is continuing, with the final interior color selections transmitted to the contractor.  Several change orders have been sent to the contractor, including one for a substantial amount of additional ductwork.  Ed Jasnow will conduct a job walk of the facility on Tuesday, January 14, and transmit the results to the contractor the following day at the weekly construction meeting.
• Construction of the Hanford OSB East Building continues on schedule.  Although the architect considered changing the color of the auditorium interior from red to blue, it has been decided to remain with red.

• Further information will be forthcoming regarding the selection of the new preferred travel agent for Caltech, Montrose Travel.  LIGO will be the pilot program for this agent, so we will be instructed on the new process.

SUPPORT

• No report due to vacations and holidays.

• No report (vacation).

• Sent reminders about LSC documents still in either the DCC out, or the docspublic file.  The documents must make their way to the LSC web page.
• Used quiet time to transfer personal notes/reminders to the newly issued 2002 Caltech Directory.  Filed away notes/reports for 2001 activity, prepared space for 2002 activity.  Routed mail from Caltech to the owners overseas.
• Collected (still collecting) time slots that participants may be available for the kick-off meeting of the LSC Computing Oversight Committee.
• Chased a couple of invoices, reconciled a few.  Called on the Pcard folks to help me reconcile a transaction that the system would not recognize.  Updated site trips.

Advanced LIGO (Frey)

Progress Period from 12.21 to 01.03

Accomplishments:

• Out of the office the 24th through the 1st.
• Weekly Advanced LIGO Project Controls meeting was not held this week.  Sent out request to schedule a date for January as requested by Gary Sanders..
• Advanced LIGO MRE Proposal (Highest Priority)
• Continuing the development of the Cost Estimate.
• Continue to pursue all other sub system schedules.
• Updated web site with latest data.
• The following is a summary of status by sub system:
• COC - Work on action items per second review continues.  Next meeting date has not been scheduled.  Work on the revised schedule and budget report for discussion to respond to requests by Phil Lindquist regarding current status continues.
• PSL - Issued cost and resource loaded reports and awaiting comments.  Next meeting date has not been scheduled.
• AOS - Work on action items continues.  Inputting data provided by David S.  Next meeting date has not been scheduled.
• IO -  Work on action items continues.  Next meeting date has not been scheduled.
• SUS - Working with SUS group to incorporate current comments.  Next meeting date has not been scheduled.
• SEI - Work on action items continues.  Next meeting date has not been scheduled.
• ISC - Continue to review data.
• All other subsystems have yet to be scheduled for their first review.  These dates are pending per direction from Gary Sanders and Dennis Coyne.
• Continue to update the TNI Schedule and incorporate any changes.
• Did not receive update data.  Will update as soon as data is provided..
• Continue to update the LASTI Schedule and incorporate any changes.
• Updated the plan with progress as of 12.28.01 and  posted to site.
• Sent out update data requests for progress as of 01.11.02.
• Project Plan for the 40-Meter Lab Upgrade continues.
• Updated the plan with progress as of 12.28.01 and  posted to site.
• Sent out update data requests for progress as of 01.11.02.
• Continue to test the Cost Book Tool.
• ROSTER DATABASE:
• Continued work on procedures for data gathering.
• Continue working with Rita and Cindy to input the roster data.
• COST BOOK DATABASE:
• Continue to run tests on reports using other sub-system data.
• Continue review of changes and updates to procedures / online help.
• Cost Calculation Review pending from BK.
• Mapping and formatting of OPS cost data for input on hold pending finalization of co-operative agreement.
• Followed-up on incident with Primavera regarding actual finish dates for finish milestones being dropped from the update files through email. (No Change or Solution yet).
• Development of the Advanced LIGO Project Controls Guidebook continues.
• Project Web Site for posting schedule and progress related data continues to be updated with the latest and greatest.
• See http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/~tfrey/index.html

• Next weekly Advanced LIGO Project Controls meeting to be scheduled.  Date to be set month of January for next meeting.
• Advanced LIGO MRE Proposal (Highest Priority Task)
• Highest priority is the development of the Cost Estimate.
• Will continue to pursue all other sub system schedules.
• PSL - Will schedule next meeting.
• AOS - Continue inputting changes to and prepare for next meeting TBD. (New data from David to be input).
• IO - Continue inputting changes to and prepare for next meeting TBD.
• SUS - Continue inputting changes to and prepare for next meeting TBD.
• SEI - Continue inputting changes and prepare for next meeting TBD.
• COC - Work on action items by Garilynn continues.  Anticipate schedule changes prior to next meeting TBD.  Meeting scheduled for Monday the 7th with Garilynn and Helena.
• ISC - Finish review of data.  Input data and change WBS as requested.
• Will issue updated meeting minutes for every subsystem as action items from most recent review are completed.
• Will Continue to update the TNI Schedule and incorporate any changes.
• Will update the plan with progress as of 12.28.01 and  post to site as soon as data is received.
• Will update the plan with progress as of 01.11.02 and  post to site by the 15th.
• Will Continue to update the LASTI Schedule and incorporate any changes.
• Will update the plan with progress as of 01.11.02 and  post to site by the 15th.
• Will continue updating the 40 meter schedule and incorporate any changes.
• Will update the plan with progress as of 01.11.02 and  post to site by the 15th.
• Roster Database
• Will continue work on actions items.
Cost Book Tool development continues.  (Highest Priority Task)
• Will continue ops cost data input when available.
• Will continue to work with BK importing data and executing action items.
• Will continue the development of the Advanced LIGO Project Web Site.

Will continue the development of the Advanced LIGO Project Controls Guide Book.

We are doing a standard Annual Report for the Construction Project as of the end of November.  I have received some contributions and am working on the report.  Still waiting for material from some groups.

The following change request has been submitted:
 

Press for the latest Contingency Needs Projection.

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

• No report (vacation).

Quality/Safety (Tyler)

No report this week.
 

LIGO Hanford Observatory (LHO) Operations (Raab)

-------------
General
-------------
The E-7 is on going. There is a wealth of information in the e-log.
Generally the test so far is a success. Long periods of locks are achieved,
sometime above four hours. During the day the construction knocks the
interferometer out of lock, that gives people the opportunity to repair
malfunctions.
 

--------------
Facilities
--------------
At the present we are three to four weeks ahead of schedule with the
construction in place. However the building steel shop drawing submittals
are far behind and we will be lucky if we will get them on the original
schedule, am afraid that shortly we will loose this good start. The
underground electrical and plumbing are complete and the contractor is
preparing the ground for the slab on grade.

LIGO Livingston Observatory (LLO) Operations (Coles)

Most of our effort this week has gone into support of the E7 Run.

CDS: True time server (used to synchronise CDS computers, the DCUs and the processors) experienced a "Y2k+2" bug just after the change of time to year 2002. A temporary time server was setup with the time synchronised to NIST timeserver. A fix was later sent to us from the company 'True Time' and the timeserver is working fine now. However it was decided to use the temporary time server through the end of E7. I am looking into the new firmware released by the company and might change it if required. Looking into ssh deamom problems on control room machines reported during E7.Also found some duplicate channels in the master.config file. Modifying a script from Dave to check the integrity of the master.config file for duplicate, bad and invalid channel names. We are also working on a bug that was found in the new 16 sec frame broadcaster llofb2. Modified the disk-to-disk backup script to backup LLO1 disks on control room machines. Also mounted a 36GB disk which also holds backup on LLO1.Temperature of the mass storage room - Live can be now seen on the CDS home page at LLO. The page needs to worked on for aesthetic improvement. Studying the autoburt script as to why it didnt create the 2002 directory at beginning of the new year.
Found a failed disk on the Frame Builder LLOFb0. This has been replaced by the disk on the hot spare. Decided to wait till the end of E7 run to replace the disk. (Chethan)

We have experienced unusually cold weather with light snow and nighttime temperatures below freezing. We are concerned about freeze protection and have checked the well pump stations to make sure the heaters are functioning and are paying close attention to the compressed air lines, which are known to contain some residual water since installation.

We have set up videoconferencing equipment in our Conference Room.  (Tom Evans)

Detector/Technical Support (Whitcomb, Coyne)

no report

40 Meter Interferometer (Weinstein)

• PSL (Abbott, Ugolini, Vass, Smith, King):
• Our PSL 126MOPA laser power has dropped from 9 to 3.2 watts in the last 2 months. The problem has been traced to a gradual decline in power of the NPRO master oscillator. The 40m MOPA contains the only known installation of a 1.0 W NPRO; all the other NPROs are 700 mW. Don't know if this has anything to do with the problem. In any case, Peter King has contacted Lightwave, and they have accepted that the laser is out of spec and will repair the NPRO under warranty. Meanwhile, Peter has a spare 700 mW NPRO, S/N #332. This unit, itself back from repair, was formerly in 10-W laser #108 (which is the LHO4k laser). It is, in effect, a brand new NPRO. We will decide soon whether we'll replace our NPRO with this spare or wait for Lightwave to repair our 1.0 W NPRO.
• In response to a recommendation from last month's safety walkthrough, we are now currently running with the PSL enclosure doors closed and the laser trip-off and alarm circuits routinely enabled.
• In response to a recommendation from last month's safety walkthrough, we will have Caltech install alarms on the emergency exit doors at the south and east ends.
• Optics (Billingsley): Still no word from Wave Precision on the completion of polishing of our mode cleaner optics. They have had the blanks since the end of May, have broken a couple of them, and are long past the promised November delivery date. We continue to hope that we can get them back, then coated, measured, and ready for hanging by March!
• Suspensions (Romie): The 40m SOS metal parts have been cleaned and baked at LHO, and were shipped out this morning; thanks, Betsy and Bartie! Janeen will be sending the 40m TM suspension metal parts to LHO for cleaning and baking this week. She'll also be sending the repaired 40m SOS parts with that shipment, to be cleaned and baked.
• Mode cleaner sensing and control:
• Smith: The optical layout for the input optics, input mode cleaner reflected and transmitted port optical systems is finalized. We are adding quad photodiodes to all output beam optical systems, to aid in diagnostics. A parts list has been generated so that off-the-shelf- components can be purchased.
• Jay has completed a first draft of detailed drawings for the input mode cleaner length- and alignment sensing. In contrast to the sites, the alignment control will be digital (as Jay anticipates for Advanced LIGO).
• Suspension controllers (Ben Abbott, Jay Heefner):
• Ben's suspension controller detailed drawings, having undergone substantial revision in the last couple of weeks, are once again final. Ben will continue to collect the required electronics modules, most of which are already in hand (icluding the Pentiums, ISC110B's, and Pentek boards), and will identify and order the remaining ones.
• Goal is to have the suspension controller system (for ALL suspended optics, not just the mode cleaner) complete by mid-March, in time to begin commissioning of the input mode cleaner.
• Bake Ovens (Vass, Taylor, Cardenas):
• Bob Taylor, late of Caltech Seismo Lab, has joined LIGO and will take charge of the bake ovens at the 40m South Annex. He will also contribute to 40m tasks, and to Phil Willem's lab. Welcome, Bob! (phone at South Annex: 3168; email: Taylor_R@ligo.caltech.edu).
• Bob's first task is to recommission an old large oven for "dirty" bake of things like viton/fluorel. With Steve and Lee, they leak checked the large oven and found it to be leaky at the bottom connection towards the cold trap. The leak did not allow us to see the 2e-8 T l/s Argon calibration leak. This will be repaired.
• Next, Bob will begin to assemble one or both of the new clean bake ovens. They will be needed for the 40m mode cleaner optics.
• Facilities (Vass, Jones, Smith, AJW):
• Our new (requested 6 months ago) single mode fibre line to West Bridge is being installed now. This will replace the old multi mode one.
• The Caltech air conditioning guys will come on Jan 7 to estimate work required to better filter the outside air, and possibly to slightly over-pressure the lab.
• Larry continues to work on drawings for the light-tight enclosures for all sensing optical tables, and beam tubes that connect them to the IFO vacuum.
• Optical viewports newly made by Cascade Optical do not have the specified wedges. They were sent back to have the wedges put on. They promise to ship Jan. 11, 02 the latest.
• Larry reports that in-vacuum cables from Cooner wire will be shipped out by the end of this week. We only have 26 of the 75 cable connectors, and only 6 of the 8 feedthrough flanges; MDC says they're a week away from completing the order. All cable clamp material, including fluorel liners, are in hand and ready for clean/bake. Tilted viewport flanges are complete at CES. Hope to have most/all parts by end of January. They will be sent to Hanford for clean/bake.
• We continue to shoot for installing the 2 remaining seismic stacks, all in-vacuum cables, clamps, feedthroughs, optical ports by mid-February.
• Larry will design mounts for the cameras that look at suspended optics through optical ports.
Dennis will be at LHO for E7 for the next 2 weeks.

Thermal Noise Interferometer (Libbrecht)

no report

LASTI (Zucker)

no report

Data Analysis and Computing (Lazzarini)

Simulation and Modeling (Bhawal)

Hiro is working on improving and bug-fixing the simulation engine.
Biplab is working on lock acquisition in presence of mode mismatch.

(Ed Maros)
1.Compiled latest version of e2e for Livingston.
2.Modified configuration files and Makefiles for building MSE code.

(Bruce) Alfi5:
1.Alfi file writing completed.
2.Working on Save and Save As.

LIGO Data Analysis System

Software Systems (Blackburn)

Preliminary examination of LDAS jobs running at the sites during the run
have shown two common failure modes: The first is the dataConditionAPI
is crashes and has to be restarted due to thread safety issues. This was
a known bug in the release of LDAS for which the fix is complicated by non
thread safe third party libraries. The second is a problem with the frameAPI
not finding the frames associated with the user request. This bug was not
know before the engineering run. No other problems have been seen. Even with
these two rather serious intermitant bugs, at LHO roughly 95% of all LDAS
jobs are getting through successfully and at LLO the number is roughly 92%.

The database has grown by approximately two million rows at each site during
the run. The major contributors have been the DMT, the burst groups search
codes and the inspiral groups search codes. This represents about 0.1% of
our database capacity (all of these figures can be fould on the LDAS web
pages for each site under the database links on the home page).

We have begun the long awaited process of separating out the diskCacheAPI
functionality which has been added to the frameAPI. The process is looking
a bit more complex than estimated last month, but we are hoping to have it
completed in about 3 weeks. We will then modify all LDAS user commands to
use the new diskCacheAPI, followed by adding the full set of functional
requirements to the diskCacheAPI.

It was discovered just prior to the last release of LDAS that the dlmalloc
library distributed with LDAS was not working as configured. When the issue
with the configuration was fixed we discovered that the dlmalloc library
was very buggy and broke many APIs. This week some effort went into testing
two newer releases of dlmalloc. Preliminary results are not conclusive as
to whether we should use one of these (the dataConditionAPI has a new
failure mode).

A new inter-API communication handler was written for the TCL layer which
is 10 times faster and more robust. Also a new TCL exec'd process was
developed for capturing stdout and stderr which does not block the API.

One of the TCL processes in the metaDataAPI was split into two separate
process to increase modularity and improve performance of requests to
get and put data from/to the database.

Shawhan rerpots:
I modified guild to allow users to query based on "data epoch", e.g.
to select entries from the E7 run only.  I also monitored and restarted the SeqInsert processes at the sites which are responsible
for inserting DMT trigger and segment information into the database.
Finally, I worked with Michael Landry and Patrick Brady to come up
with a calibrated response function for the E6 data.

I fixed the controls logging system (conlog) at LHO, which had gotten
confused by the sudden jump in reported times to the year 2021.

Hardware Systems (Anderson)

Caltech
-------
(Al Wilson)

Kept systems running. Also rebuilt a couple of PC's w/linux. Swapped monitors,
computers, Etc. One thine to note is that Mary now has m26 which is a
933mHz machine.
 

(Stuart Anderson)

Setup a few hours of coincident E6 and E7 data on the LDAS TEST system
at Caltech.

Updated LDAS to archive data from the new framebuilder at LLO which is
building 16-sec frame files as is being done at LHO.

Evaluating a new version of rsync as a strong candidate to fix a
long standing bug with occasional dead-locks on large data transfers.

Finished setting up the trend frame files for E6 in the LDAS archive.

MIT
---
(Keith Bayer)

received Solaris 8 01/10 edition
captured console output on SF880

Livingston
----------
(Igor Yakushin)

* Configured my new computer
* Configuring standalone LDAS system on the old one, should be ready by either
tonight or tomorrow
* Have  about 19 tapes ready for shipment, will fedex tomorrow

Hanford
-------
(Greg Mendell)

1) The tapecontrol scripts that archive the raw 16 second frame data for
E7 were started at LHO and LLO Fri Dec 28 a little before 10:00 AM PST.
These scripts are copying the data to T3 disks and to tape.

2) The scripts were reconfigured to use 97% of the space available on
each tape.

3) A problem with the stacker arm driver not responding to software
commands at LLO was fixed by stopping the script, power-cycling the
robot, and restarting the script.

4) A bug that caused problems early Jan 1 2002 resulted in the 16 second
frame builder at LLO to not write data between GPS times 693909089 to
693944175.  One second frames were backed up for GPS times
693908561-693937431 (Jan 01, 2002  02:22:28 CST - Jan 01, 2002 10:23:38
CST). Unfortunately, data between GPS times 693937432 - 693944175 (Jan
01, 2002  10:23:38 CST and Jan 01, 2002  12:16:02 CST) was lost at LLO.

5) The first 107 hours of E7 data from LHO, and the first 94 hours of E7
data from LLO are being sent on tape to Caltech.

General Computing (Wallace)
MIT:
(Keith)
-Built/installed Linux Cross Reference (lxr) utility for MIT software developers
-Stopped certain solaris machines from accepting SSH v1 connections
-Ordered NW17/NW22 networking equipment
-Investigating Orinoco AP configurations

Livingston:
(Tom)
-Most of our effort this week has gone into support of the
E7 Run.
-Set up videoconferencing equipment in our Conference Room.
The Facilities group has mounted an LCD projector on the ceiling, and we can
drive that with our videoconferencing PC.

Hanford:
(Lisa)
-Worked out the problems with with video-conferencing on the VRVS system.
-Covering user support for the E7 run at Hanford while Christine is out.
-Worked on the LHO dhcp server. It had a bug that prevented addresses
from being released. I ran a pile of patches that I believe will fix the
problem.
- Upgraded the ram on 5 GC workstations.
- Worked on an exceed/win2k/network problem for Doug Cook.
- Worked on a write up on running CDS data viewer and diagnostic tools
from GC workstations using a proxy server.
- Did monthly backups (Caltech) with some help from Larry.

CIT:
(Mike)
-Ran ghost backups two PC's M13 & M58
-antares compact database
-Moved Charlotte Py's computer over to 6th floor to Al Wilson.
-Setup a new printer with Duplexer this is a 5000n.
-Problems with computer that were causing hardware and system errors;
reinstalled win98 this seemed to correct this problem.
-Setup two cubicles with computer equipment one for Larry Jones and Visitor.
-Norna Robertson and Robert Taylor, I setup email for them and other
networking resources.
-Reloaded the OS on a laptop.
-Worked with Larry and others on VRVS setups.

(Larry)
-The single mode fiber lines are now being run to Wilson House and
the 40M. We should be able to start on the h/w configurations next week.
-Resolved a couple of procurement issues. Mainly, the delay of receiving
invoices on P-card purchases causes some problems. Most of the companies
have been faxing copies upon request.
-Worked with the Observatories on finishing up the VRVS video conferencing.
So far the tests have all worked. At one time we had six locations connected
and working at the same time. However, we still have some tweaking to do.
-Setup a number of new user accounts and resolved a few e-mail addresses.

(Veronica)
- Installed the Winter issue of the newsletter.
- Updated various parts of the LIGO website. Need to work with Gary on
updating the Felloships/Postdoc openings page: need to work out a
procedure for tracking down the positions that have been filled.
- Project Science website: posted several last-minute additions/changes to
the participants list and resources.
- CaJAGWR: The seminars schedule for this term is finalized. Will post the
schedule as soon as I'm back.

LIGO II/Advanced R&D (Sanders)

From: ctorrie <ctorrie@ligo.caltech.edu>
Modelling and Testing for proposed Prototype Suspensions:
 

I spend three very productive days with different people at the I.G.R. in Glasgow.
On Thursday I worked with Eoin Elliffe, David Crooks and Mike Plissi comparing methods of modelling of for example cantilever blades and discussing upgrading and adding to existing software tools to match those used by us at Caltech. On Friday I met with Jim Hough, Geppo Cagnoli, Alastair Grant and Malik to discuss various parts of the suspensions being designed for advanced LIGO. I spent Saturday with the new post-doc Russell Jones, who has an engineering background similar to Mike Lloyd who worked on the MIT prototype; I plan to work very closely with Russell over the next few months.
I will give a full report next week at the SUS Design Telecon.
I hope to visit I.G.R. for longer possibly in May when I think I can exchange good information with Russell Jones, discuss the status in the advanced LIGO designs and bring together all of the information we have been gathering on cantilever blades. I hope at least Mike Plissi will visit when we start to put the first prototype suspensions together here at Caltech.
Norna Robertson is visiting this month from Stanford and we spent yesterday and today setting up the various prototype experiments we have planned in the high bay.
 

From: Mark Barton <mbarton@ligo.caltech.edu>

This week I successfully resumed my effort to account for differences
between my Mathematica model and the Matlab one of Calum Torrie and Ken
Strain. It turns out there's a subtle difference that I had overlooked
between the version of the Matlab described in Calum's thesis and the Ken
Strain version. Both versions account for the compliance of the blades by
simply adding them to the compliance of the associated wires but the KS
version leaves this out in the longitudinal-pitch subproblem (probably a
good idea). So I can now get close to four-figure agreement by disabling
the blades in my model (decreasing the mass and increasing the stiffness
by a few orders of magnitude) and transferring the compliance to the wires.
 

This of course doesn't test the much more detailed blade implementation
in mine. However one indication that it's basically right is that if I
set the angle of the blades to be the same as that of the associated wire
(so that they pull along the same line and their compliances are
additive), and leave the masses of the blades very small but restore
their compliance, I reproduce the vertical frequencies from the Matlab
exactly. I'm summarizing this in a report for review by Calum and Phil
(and Norna while she's here) but the provisional conclusion is that it's
as backward compatible with the Matlab as it can reasonably be.
 

From: Janeen Hazel Romie <romie_j@ligo.caltech.edu>

Advanced LIGO
Working on AdLIGO MC suspension and structure.
Working with Calum Torrie and Norna Robertson on blade and wire experiments.
40m
I'll be sending the 40m TM suspension metal parts to LHO for cleaning and baking this week. I'll also be sending the repaired 40m SOS parts with that shipment, to be cleaned and baked.
 

From: Rich Abbott <abbott@ligo.caltech.edu>

1.  Received two large boxes of capacitance position sensors from ADE Inc.  They will be tested for noise floor over the next week and incorporated into the Eurocard cages purchased for them.

2.  A schematic is now complete for the +/- 10A drivers for the large voice coils.  PCB layout can proceed at any time.
 

From: Helena Armandula <ahelena@ligo.caltech.edu>

SUS
Received a quote of $4,995.00 from Sem Com for melting and casting of a boule (heavy glass Viox# 24935); 35cm dia. x 13cm thick

Because this is a low temperature cast glass, a boule sink hole may occur during casting, so, extra boule height may be necessary. Sem Com predicts that to cast the part, a batch cullet of about 25 lbs. may be required.

Received 4 substrates, 1/2" dia. of the same material, to test silicate bonding.

I am contacting some polishing houses to get them polished.

Norna and I will be visiting Sem Com facilities on January 18th to become familiar with the melting and casting processes.

Coatings
A visit to MLD is scheduled for January 4th to assess their new up-graded facilities.

Received requirements for the ERGO arm. I am in the process of formulating the specs and looking at the possibility of retrofitting some commercially available unit to use for our applications.
 

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