Weekly Report for Week Ending October 24, 2002

The LIGO Executive Committee Agenda for Monday  October 28, 2002 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)
7. CHANGE CONTROL BOARD/TECHNICAL REVIEW BOARD SESSION AS NEEDED

Executive Committee only 11:30 - noon   Topics:
 

Special Items:  NSF review reprise

Special Announcements:

Closeout Summary
 

•  Successful completion of the first science run with all three interferometers in lock for science for 25% of the time for two weeks signals the beginning of LIGO science.  The Panel wishes to congratulate the members of the LIGO team (the LIGO Laboratory and the LIGO Science Collaboration) for this outstanding achievement.  In addition, during this period the three LIGO interferometers were also operating in coincidence with the GEO and TAMA interferometers simultaneously for ten hours.
 

The LIGO team is to be commended for its effective response to many of the panel concerns expressed last year.  The panel was pleased with the decision to move to the SAM-QFS mass data storage technology.  This allows LIGO to chart its own course and removes their critical dependence on the CACR facility at Caltech.
 

The LIGO team is to be congratulated on the rapid commissioning and initial operation of the three interferometers.  The application of the end to end model by Matt Evans to develop the lock sequence for the interferometers was essential to achieving lock.  Operations have now progressed to essentially fully automatic lock acquisition using this technology.

•  The panel notes the important contributions of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration in the commissioning and the initial operation of the interferometers and in exercising the data analysis system.

•  The formation of the four analysis groups within the LSC, focused on the four likely sources of gravity waves, appears to be working well.  Electronic logbooks along with dedicated web pages are providing an effective means of communication and tracking analysis progress within the collaboration.
 

•  The panel was pleased to see excellent progress on the development of a computer security plan.  A draft document has been prepared and accepted by LIGO management and many of its recommendations have been implemented.  The items of concern during the last review have been addressed.  These were

· Multiple, independently secure copies of data and metadata
· Facilities augmentations at CACR and other sites appropriate to the needs of the LIGO production facility
· Network vulnerability, data and system integrity, and robustness under partial system failures
· Independent development, test and production systems
· Protection against hackers, especially for critical systems.
 

The panel notes the success of LIGO in negotiating cost-effective access to high-speed network connections between the Hanford and Pasadena sites.  A similar connection to the Livingston Observatory has not been achieved and continues to be a concern.  LIGO may benefit from seeking advice from the NSF and local universities.
 

The panel is pleased to note the addition of a full time systems administrator for the LDAS system at Caltech and a full time scientist at LLO who is both a scientific liaison and a data base administrator.
 

The panel was pleased to see the successful efforts by the leadership and staff of LDAS in building direct working relationships with other groups and organizations in the high-performance computing, communications and data storage and retrieval communities.
 

The R & D efforts leading to developing the advanced technologies essential for achieving the factor of 15 in strain sensitivity projected for the Advanced LIGO interferometers need continuing support.  The panel is concerned that the necessary funding for these activities is vulnerable in these times of limited budgets.
 

The panel is pleased to see the very effective collaboration with GEO, ACIGA and other international groups in relevant R&D for reaching higher strain sensitivity.
 

The panel feels it is appropriate for the LIGO team to submit a proposal for Advanced LIGO by the end of calendar year 2002.
 

The panel encourages the LSC to continue its efforts in developing collaborative connections with the astrophysical community.  The makeup of the LSC Upper Limit Teams is a good beginning.
 

The panel notes the efforts of the LIGO team in using the excitement of LIGO science to stimulate the minds of our potential future scientists and engineers.  The panel is pleased with the progress toward the addition of experienced personnel outside of LIGO to help with this critical task so that this potential can be transformed into reality.  Adequate resources will be needed to continue this important effort.
 
 

Weekly Report Highlights
 

LSC Issues (Weiss)

no report

LIGO I Construction/LIGO Laboratory Administration (Lindquist)

There was no site teleconference held on Thursday, October 24, 2002 due to the NSF Review in progress at MIT.

The list of current actions revised to reflect the status of open actions assigned through October 10, 2002 may be found at ACTION LIST.

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

• Provided assistance to the Detector Group (H. Armandula) with packing and shipping of coated Substrate, valued at $2,000, to MIT, Attn: Dr. G. Harry.  Account Number P157746.
• Provided assistance to the Detector Group with packing, shipping, and the preparation of US Customs Documentation, for transporting a coated Substrate, SN: 22, to the University of Glasgow ( Dr. Peter H. Sneddon), expected arrival date upon customs clearance 25 Oct 02.  Account Number P157746.
• Provided assistance to the Detector Group (K. Mailand) by arranging for the shipment of SEI Retro-fit Hydraulic Sub Assembly Components to MIT (K. Mason) via Air Cargo International.  Expected delivery time: three (3) to five (5) days.  Account number LIGO. BSCCH 5.18 NSFLIGO.FY02CA.

>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

• The new fax machine is operational and all faxes sent and received should be okay.  Linda has distributed an electronic notification to CIT-ALL.
• Reminder to LIGO staff:  Please make sure that as a minimum, each document submitted has a LIGO number, author's name, and date.  It's surprising how many documents are missing one of more of these essential pieces of information!

ACTIVITY

• Assembled, packaged, and shipped binders to MIT for NSF Annual Review.
• More historical documentation was filed into the shelves.  Electronic document activity cooled quite a bit for this period.  Submissions remain somewhat steady.
• Processed and distributed a handful of invoices.
• Began reviewing the operating manual for the new fax machine in Bridge Annex  to get a better understanding of its basic and advanced functions/features.

 

For Week Ending  10/24/02	Packages	Faxes
In	13	40
Out	16	36

From: Esther Cunningham <esther@ligo.caltech.edu>

Press here for ACCOUNTS PAYABLE HISTORY DATA .

From: "Brambila, Ruth" <Ruth.Brambila@caltech.edu>

• Working on change order #17 to Excel, change order #18 to Support Services, change order #117 to Triad, change order #3 to NTD, change order #6 to Yakama, change order #4 to Siemens, change order #114 to MIT, and change order #15 to MCI.  Completed all the blankets for FY2003 for AT & T.  Transferred funds as requested.
• Placed and reconciled credit card orders, along with handling returns for credit and change orders.

• Two new accounts have been set-up in the OPs & R&D Award - LIGO.OUTRH 1.1.0 NSFLIGO.FY02ON for Outreach expenditures on campus and LIGO.LASER 5.3 NSFLIGO.FY02ON for Advanced Stabilized Laser.
• Revised list of account numbers has been set-up on LIGO Internal Bulletin Board.
• Responded to requests from Property Services for information for NSF 1408 report "NSF Property in the Custody of Awardees".
• Started working on monthly reports for October. .

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

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

• No report this week.

• No report this week.

SUPPORT (Baldon, Torres, Lloyd, Tischler)

>Irene Baldon

• A new REVISED TAR (Travel Authorization Request) has been posted to the Web Site.  Please delete any and all OLD versions to the TAR.  The new version now contains information required for ALL foreign travel and Foreign National Travelers.  You must fill this portion out BEFORE any foreign travel can be approved/completed.  There is also information on who to contact in the International Scholars Office for expert information and/or directions.
• Processed the paper work for eight (8) new/revised trips and there are five (5) trips which are in various stages of completion before ticketing can be done and paper work completed.  I've started working on trips going either to GWDAW, Kyoto, Japan, or the NSF Review, LIGO/MIT.  If you are going to either of these meetings please get your travel going since we have already experienced problems with availability and cost.  Also, if you are traveling to Kyoto, Japan, for the GWDA and will be traveling on a Passport other than an American Passport please contact the International Scholars Office (see above) to make sure your VISA is in order to return to the United States.  We are experiencing some difficulty with a couple of travelers.
• Completed twelve (12) Expense Reports and there are four (4) reports yet to be done.  I continue to contacted travelers who have outstanding Expense Reports (more than one (1) month old) to ask for their cooperation in sending me their receipts so that I can close their trip(s).  Travel Audit has gotten tighter with outstanding trips since the new fiscal year (October 1st).
• Reconciled twenty-one (21) P-Card items which required numerous phone calls to hotels, etc., in order to track down which traveler incurred which charge; and the pulling of each traveler's file to assure that charges are correct for each fee incurred.  Assisted a few travelers with their questions in regard to their P-Card and/or reconciliation.
• Notified LIGO personnel of the new/revised FY 2003 Domestic Per Diem Rates and pointed out that there have been numerous changes in the rates, including several cities which LIGO travelers frequent regularly.  These rates took affect on October 1, 2002.  You are to use the FY 2002 rates for any trip taken and completed prior to October 1st.  If your trip extends beyond October 1, 2002, please use both rates for the appropriate dates involved.  You can look/copy these new rates at http://www.policyworks.gov/org/main/mt/homepage/mtt/perdiem/download03.html .
• Worked on the preparation and distribution of the Travel/Vacation Itinerary for October 21, 2002.  Performed normal recording and filing associated with Travel and Reimbursement.
• I continue to do MIT's travel to the sites for installation activities and also to assist them wherever possible.

• No report this week.

• Updated the log for LSC documents, which have been submitted for posting.
• Got a chance to update records for eye exams.  There were over 20 Surf students here over the summer, and about 14 of them required exams and training.
• Helped B. Kells resurrect a letter concerning recommendation, then edited before mailing.
• Made a few Pcard purchases, then chased paper work to reconcile others.  Reconciled a total of 31 this period.  In recent months I've noticed that some vendors charge the card well before delivery, but do not produce an invoice until much later.  This causes a delay in reconciling paperwork with card charges, and often the delay is around the reconcile deadline.

• More details re: Site Admin meeting.  Collected more photos.  Reviewing LIGO/SURF photo shoot proofs.

Advanced LIGO (Frey)

Working from home on Friday the 25th.  I will be checking email and voice mail.

I attended the Primavera User's Conference at San Diego on Monday and Tuesday (21 and 22 of Oct.)

• Prepared meeting recap.  See http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/~tfrey/p3conf/RECAP.htm for details.
• Posted the conference proceedings to web.  See http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/~tfrey/p3conf/ for details.

Advanced LIGO MRE Proposal (Highest Priority)

• Finished preparing comments and questions to discuss with Phil.
• Continuing the development of the Cost Estimate.
• The following is a summary of status by sub system:
• COC - Work on action items per second review continues.  Garilynn continues to execute action items.
• PSL -  Management to secure commitment from LZH for laser development.  R&D review decided that a concurrent bench effort at CIT will not fit into the budget.  Next meeting date has not been scheduled.
• AOS - Work on action items continues.  Next meeting date has not been scheduled.
• IO -  Work on action items continues.  Received comments from David Reitze that he went into the cost book and made some unit cost revisions.  Next meeting date has not been scheduled.
• SUS - Working with Janeen doing updates and action items.
• Updated the plan with progress as of 10.18.02 and  posted to site.
• Sent out update data requests for progress as of 11.01.02.
• SEI - Work on action items continues.  Next meeting date has not been scheduled.
• ISC - Mike continues to work on the WBS dictionary.  No comments as of 10.24.02 on the draft detailed schedule and no WBS dictionary.
• LDAS - No data / feedback from Albert to date.
• INSTALL - Continue prepping cost data for import into cost book.  No comments as of 10.24.02.
• All other subsystems have yet to be scheduled for their first review.  These dates are pending per direction from Gary Sanders and Dennis Coyne.

• Updated the plan with progress as of 10.18.02 and  posted to site.
• Sent out update data requests for progress as of 11.01.02.

• Updated the plan with progress as of 10.18.02 and  posted to site.
• Sent out update data requests for progress as of 11.01.02.

• Updated the plan with progress as of 10.18.02 and  posted to site.
• Sent out update data requests for progress as of 11.01.02.

• ROSTER DATABASE:
• Continued working on technical issue with one of the data input forms.  BK was able to open the files and she found a reference to our problem on Microsoft's website.  We are now pursuing possible solutions.
• Working with Larry and Barbara to set up a process by which the roster database updates selected alias lists.
• COST BOOK DATABASE:
• Continue to verbally communicate the username and password to users.

Continue to prepare for my attendance at the Project Science Workshop.
See http://131.215.125.172/workshop2/information.html for workshop details.
Continue to prepare PowerPoint slides for review by Gary and Richard.

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

The Quarterly Status Report for the LIGO Construction Project for the end of August 2002 was sent to the NSF.

There are no open change requests, and there were no change requests considered this week during the Executive Committee meeting..

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

• Various personnel/payroll /HR related work.

Quality/Safety (Tyler)

No report this week.
 

LIGO Hanford Observatory (LHO) and Interferometer Operations (Raab)

Summary of Commissioning Activities at LIGO Hanford Observatory (compiled by M. Landry)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
2K IFO (H2)
-----------

MC misalignments and wandering PZT-driven periscope mirrors plagued the 2k this week.
This was traced to problems on the MC1 SOS driver board (e.g. shorted UL and UR bias
inputs), which were repaired.  LOS coil drivers received checkouts and fixes.  Single
arm locks have been achieved.
 

4K IFO (H1)
-----------

Full locking in common mode has resumed on the 4k.  Some longer locks have been achieved
and the ifo has been relocking in a fairly robust fashion.  Work continues to raise
the power on the AS port; the EO shutter has been checked out, and the beam reducing
telescope is installed on the periscope.

The good, the bad and the ugly regarding WFS: a solution (good) was devised for the
164MHz oscillations (bad) in WFS3 and 4.  Ugly?  Dangling cables make signal
propogation difficult.  See the elog for the mod to kill the oscillation:
http://blue.ligo-wa.caltech.edu/ilog/pub/ilog.cgi?group=detector&date_to_view=10/23/2002&anchor_to_scroll_to=2002:10:23:21:33:15-paul

Measurements of the 4k xarm free spectral range and transverse mode frequencies
were obtained.

Since before S1, MMT3 has been prone to spontaneous alignment shifts. Hopefully the
repair to a bad solder joint on the MMT3 coil driver board will clear up these dives.

DAQ
---

Much booting and installing of code ensued as Alex(Fri), Dave and Rolf made a series of
software and hardware changes.  New ASC/LSC/MC2 code is in place on both the 2k and the
4k ifos.

LIGO Livingston Observatory (LLO) and Interferometer Operations (Coles)

Commissioning:
Working on vibration characterisation for the ITMX optical lever and
Orlando is beginning to get involved. We intend to characterise the
source of the vibrations and see what remedial measures can be taken.
Worked with Andri to do test mass calibrations, see elog for
details. (Brian O'Reilly)
 

Measured the bandwidth (FWHM) of the new optically contacted Pre-mode
cleaners to be 1.2 MHz which agrees with the calculated value from the
mirror parameters.
Tried locking x and y arms to understand the mirror misalignments when
locked. This was eventually traced to the run/acquire resistors that were
damaged by high currents on the current driver boards. (Joe Kovalik)
 

CDS:
Installed new version of MATLAB on CDS network. Installed a Sun Blade 2000
in
the control room with flat panel monitors. Called the Sun Tech support to
fix a
problem with cdrom mount. Sorting out Sync problems with flat panel
monitors
when interfaced with the overhead projector. Cleaned up some files in the
web
area on london. Planning on doing some timing measurements at LLO.
(Chethan)
 

HEPI / LASTI
The first welded actuator was delivered to Stanford for characterization
last week, and we've almost completed the welding assembly of the second
article.  We're doing so using the revised procedure sequencing our
welding to minimize the heat buildup. Ordered and installed a much
simplified strain gage for the spring tester which will permit more
accurate measurements of force. Marcel and I designed a dual bracket to
support the L4Cs on the LASTI BSC boot, which Marcel has detailed and
sent out for quotes.
 

ETF / Advanced LIGO pod bases
Marcel and I have designed a simplified base and flexure to support the
GS-13 geophone on the ETF without benefit of a pod.  Marcel is detailing
that and will supply to Joe Giaime for production in the LSU Physics
shop. (Hammond,Kern)
 

LDAS admin:
1) Replaced 4 dead batteries in T3s.
2) Upgraded DB2 to 7.2 on LDAS-CIT.
3) Mounted some S1 RDS data to LDAS on Isabel's request.
4) Finished uploading calibration excitation data to LDAS.
LDAS data analysis
1) Debugging LALWrapper part of waveDSO.
2) Improving LDAS script for calibration calculations.
(Igor Yakushin)
 

GC:
Performed some maintenance on the tape backup software to change a
couple of the configuration items.  This takes into account the new file
server. Continued working on the firewall subnetting using the Solsoft
software.  This software is pretty complex due to the nature of what it
does and will take some time to master.
 

Looking into some network problems.  The network became unbearably slow
last night.  This is further evidence that there is a problem at LSU's
border router.  Tom had noticed some problems since the weekend, and I
saw the first evidence last night.
 

Installed a new video card in Marcel's machine since it was having
dismal performance using Solid Works.  The card increased the
performance significantly, but I think he needs an upgraded machine.
 

Showed Bernie how to use his email account and set up a computer for him
to use.
 

LDAS:
Started reading the firewall documentation for the LDAS VPN.  I will
start working on the configuration sometime in the next week.
(Shannon Roddy)
 

Seismic Array:
We are retrieving the seismic equipment borrowed from IRIS-PASSCAL
consortium. The data from the recorders was uploaded and the items are now
being packed in preparation for shipment. The 6 wheeled vehicle has proven
extremely useful in retrieving this equipment as conditions in the array
field are still very swampy. (Coles, Langdale)

Detector/Technical Support (Coyne)

40 Meter Interferometer (Weinstein)

• Suspended mass mode cleaner (Ugolini, Miyakawa, Vass, Abbott):
• Osamu put together a very detailed status report on the performance of the 40m mode cleaner, with comparisons to models and to the sites, and a preliminary noise budget.
• We worked through this document in a telecon with Peter Fritschel, Rana, and others. This was very helpful, cleared up many sources of confusion, and put us on a good track.
• Bottom line: the PSL/IOO/MC works pretty well, not too different from the sites, and we know what to work on (the usual suspects):
• To further suppress frequency noise, we must turn up the gain of the MC servo (increase the UGF beyond 30 kHz); but this will not work stably until we first turn up the gain in the PSL frequency stability servo (increase its UGF beyond 300 kHz). There's precious little phase margin to do this, so we will look for contributors to this phase.
• Reduction of excess electronics noise.
• Reduction of excess seismic noise, with suspicion centering on the table that supports the MC2 chamber.
• Osamu continues to make ever more careful measurements of frequency noise and its contributors.
• Osamu found that the large, time-dependent 60 Hz harmonics peaks in the MC intensity noise spectrum were an artifact of his measurement method, and he fixed it.
• Osamu, Steve and Dennis are studying the ambient and impulsive seismic and acoustic noise on MC2, and searching for ways to suppress it. Steve built a "sandbox" to damp acoustic excitation of the beam tube. He's exploring ways to damp or eliminate acoustic noise from the table on which the MC2 chamber rests. But, everything rests on a 4" concrete slab, which bends whenever anyone walks by.
• Digital Suspension Controllers (B. Abbott, Heefner, Taylor, Ugolini, Miyakawa):
• Dennis has been trying to reduce the 16 Hz bounce mode with the suspension controller damping. We are learning that this isn't possible... instead, we should remove sources of excitation, by adding resonant gain at 16 Hz to the signal from the MC servo to MC2. Dennis will try to implement this.
• The DSC crashed yesterday, and Dennis traced it to some connectors that had come loose, pulling the power supply down. He pushed them back in, and everything came back up fine.
• Intensity stabilization (B. Abbott, R. Abbott, F. Nocera, D. Ugolini):
• Ben continues to work with Flavio and Rich on the testing of the Intensity Stabilization Servo (ISS) at the 40m. The inner loop is working.
• Ben continues to stuff the ISS DC photodiode PCB board.
• Dennis has set up ISS EPICS screens, databases, control channels, autoburt files, etc.
• Electronics (B. Abbott, Taylor):
• The Satellite amplifier boxes for the remaining 7 core optics suspensions are being stuffed, and they should be ready for installation shortly. Steve and Bob are working on protective boxes and cable strain relief for these.
• Completion of the vertex core optics DSC system (rack 1Y4) awaits Penteks, Pentiums, and software.
• Ben continues to design the interface between the Glasgow suspension electronics and CIT electronics. The PCB for the Dspace whitening interface is finished. Ben should send it to PCB Express tomorrow. There is one more simple interface board to be layed out.
• DAQ (Ugolini, Ivanov):
• Ever since the dataviewer upgrade last month by Alex, some channels (deviating from the C1:XXX-YYY_ZZZ syntax) cannot be displayed in dataviewer. Dennis is modifying their names in master.config to fix this.
• Need to get fast signals from ISS and MC into DAQ. Ben will find out how it's done at the sites. There are sufficient empty channels in our DAQ Lemo Intfc Board to accomodate them.
• Our AWG crashed yesterday, for unknown reasons. Alex rebooted it, and it came up fine.
• Optical sensing (Smith):
• OPTICS PARTS LIST, Orders pending: 67 each, 1in mirror mounts are pending from Newport; miscellaneous optical posts and mounts are pending from ASCO; input mode-matching telescope off-axis parabolic mirrors are pending from SORL; IFLEX1000 IR laser for optical lever is pending from Point Source Ltd; ; polarizers and half-wave plates for Faraday isolator from KLC; Faraday rotator from EOT; 3 PZT tilt platforms and 2 servo control drive electronics and strain gauge read-out electronics from Piezosystems Jena; 1.5 in and 2in fixed vacuum mirror mounts and an adapter spacer from ASCO; Faraday Isolator mechanical parts from CA Machine Co.
• FARADAY ISOLATOR: Awaiting parts.
• IFO MODE-MATCHING TELESCOPE: Corrected a small error in the specification of the primary mirror; alerted SORL about the change, which won't impact their production schedule. Detail working drawings for telescope housing are in process.
• Facilities and vacuum envelope (Ugolini, Vass, Jones):
• All 4 ion pumps up and going. After a few days of outgassing, AMU 41 is falling again.
• Varian has agreed to send us a higher capacity dry scroll pump to back up TP3, to replace the under-spec pump they sold us.
• The ion pumps software interlock tripped off a couple of times due to pressure glitches. Dennis has put a 5-second timer on the SW interlock. He also fixed software problems associated with turbopump readout and VC1 control.
• Dennis added ion pump readout to frames.
• Dennis is stringing long ethernet cables to read out the STACIS SV controller and MCCM pressure gauge.
• One STACIS seismic isolator is failing, and its controller is also behaving funny. Dennis will pursue this.
• Steve and Larry have completed the construction and installation of table covers for all optical sensing tables. Now Larry can custom-fit beam tubes.
• The south end crane was repaired. The repairman recommends installation of relay switches to protect the crane power supplies, which have been failing at an alarming rate.
• South Annex Bake Ovens (Taylor, Cardenas):
• Bob is testing the effect of 114degree water bake on fully assembled OSEMs. Two of 18 new OSEMs were baked this way, and 2 failed electronics tests afterwards. Bob identified the problems. It's a good "stress test"!
• 16 Fully assembled and clean OSEMs are ready to be installed in our 3 suspended optics, replacing the dirty OSEMs that were used to hang them. Bob thinks he knows how to get these clean.
• Bob is building end-assemblies for more OSEMs.
• Bob is putting his new oven F temperature controller (and the new oven F) through its paces.

Thermal Noise Interferometer (Libbrecht)

no report

LASTI (Zucker)

LASTI (Coyne, Mason, MacInnis, Mittleman, Ottaway, Shoemaker, Zucker)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Infrastructure:
-----------------------------------
Staged equipment to prepare for NSF review and
for installation of hydraulic fluid supply lines into high bay (see below).

PSL:
-----------------------------------
Kirk found that FSS/PMC summing box is costing us twenty degrees of phase
at 1MHz. Paul S noticed a similar problem at Hanford and had given us
suggestions on how to fix it. Jamie has received copies of the new high
power low frequency intensity photo-diode cards and will begin stuffing
them.

EPI design and installation (Mason)
-----------------------------------
Plumbing has begun on the hydraulic lines from the pump room to the
HEPI manifolds mounted in the LASTI high bay. VCO o-ring face couplings
will be placed at all manifold connections. We will install the rough
plumbing up to the top of the four piers and do a helium leak check of
the lines. The plumbers will then return to hook up the pump and
actuators when they have been installed

An additional degree of freedom was added to the HEPI design for easier
installation of the hydraulic actuators. Changes to fabrication
drawings are being done.

A modal analysis of the EPI housing with the 2 added stiffeners and
internal bracing was done.  The first mode of the structure is at 177
Hz.

MEPI Characterization and Test (Ottaway, Coyne, Mittleman)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Last week we used single input single output to control corners of the
support table. We could simultaneously engage corners of the piers but
when the fourth was engaged the whole sytem oscillated. A transfer
function of the fouth corner was taken with the other three corners
controlled and uncontrolled. These two transfer functions were
significantly different above 20 Hz.

Prof Samir Nayfey's group have completed a low frequency, high resolution
modal survey of the MEPI system. We have discussed the results and have
come up with four different control strategies to investigate and
evaluate.

We have now started to look at the optimum way to combine the sensors to
perform modal control. We will soon close a loop on the horizontal as a
first attempt at this.

Data Analysis and Computing (Lazzarini)

Simulation and Modeling
This weeks items will be placed in the next report.

LIGO Data Analysis System
Software Systems (Wallace for Blackburn)
Charlton:
This week I mainly spent time fixing numerous problems with ingesting of
data into the datacon from frames.
- time-series data coming from Proc structures was being ingested with
the wrong time-span, giving all zeroes in the data (this was the problem
Duncan encountered with the inspiral DSO)
- ingestion of frequency series was failing because the "sampleRate"
field was removed in Frame vers. 6. This was causing Greg and Scott's
jobs to fail (the "Scott's problem" PR). I've changed the ingestion of
frequency series drastically so that now things are ingested as the
right type wherever possible ie. PSD's are ingested as PSD's, CSD's are
ingested as CSD's etc etc. Formerly the individual sub-types could not be
distiguished because the frame spec did not classify them.
- fixed some things in the frame output from the datacon so that the
fields are set correctly for each data type
Other activities:
- run datacon MDC tests several times on ldas-test and ldas-dev, with
no new problems so far.
- tested createRDS to some degree. The test is the following steps,
which has been automated into a single script:
    1) use createRDS to downsample 40 channels from several raw frames
    2) use conditionData to read in and concatenate the same 40
channels, and in the same job read in and concatenate the same 40
channels from the RDS frames
    3) downsample the raw data and output the difference between it and
the downsampled data read from the RDS frames.
- tested reading/ingestion of version 6 frames produced by createRDS
and by conditionData

Lei:
-metadataAPI: more fixes to streamline slave handling of database connections;
ran exception tests, deadlock tests to ensure metadata is not tied up; updated
dev and test with database parameter upgrades recommended for multithread
processing; ran insertion tests on dev.
-cmonClient: revamped MPI jobs page to resemble the LDAS jobs page with one
entry per job and action buttons; also improved LDAS job page data structures;
miscellaneous fixes for resources, logs, nodes and job statistics per problem
reports and user feedback.
-Testing: testing ligolw and metadata deadlock problem on ldas-pctest2.
-Other: Closed out some problem reports for cmonClient and metadataAPI.

Barnes:
- frameAPI: Helping Ed to test/debug new framecpp/frameAPI.
- wrapperAPI: Analyzed problem report #1706 filed by Duncan: problem is
reassigned to the datacondAPI.

Hardware Systems (Wallace for Anderson)
Caltech
-------
Kozak:
1)HPSS: Continued to migrate data off of Redwood tapes.  The success of
this can be measured by the fact that I've actually gotten some
complaints from users who couldn't get their data in a timely fashion
(since the migration was using all the drives).
2)Worked on figuring out why the GigE/HPN connection to UWM isn't faster.
3)Spent some more time on the 2Gb FC stuff without any success.

Wilson:
1)Worked on BigBrother configuration for beowulf nodes.
2)Repaired memory problem on dataserver and dev.
3)Upgraded LDAS-cit to RH 7.3.

MIT
---
Keith:
1)Moved PIX / PC Raid / UPS into new rack
2)Cabled up new cluster machines
3)Added 16 nodes to cluster
4)Received/installed new batteries into failed UPS box
5)Working on revised GEO data

Livingston
----------
Shannon:
1)Started reading the firewall documentation for the LDAS VPN.  I will
start working on the configuration sometime in the next week.
Yakushin:
LDAS admin:
1) Replaced 4 dead batteries in T3s.
2) Upgraded DB2 to 7.2 on LDAS-CIT.
3) Mounted some S1 RDS data to LDAS on Isabel's request.
4) Finished uploading calibration excitation data to LDAS.

Hanford
-------
Mendell:
1) Made LHO S1 RDS frames for the GPS interval [714383936 714387616)
available to LDAS at LHO. This covers the same RDS frames visible to
LDAS-CIT.
2) Provided the usual support to users of the LHO LDAS system.
Otherwise, I have been concentrating on the periodic search.

Data Analysis Activities (Lazzarini)
Creighton:
-Teviet is preparing his presentation for the PSU data analysis focus
meeting.

Mendell:
1) Continued working with the PULG group to debug LALDemod.  Reports are
on the PULG web page, http://www.lsc-group.phys.uwm.edu/pulgroup/, under
the S1 investigations link (which is password protected).
2) Continued to provided support to the GriPhyn effort and to the PULG
users of SFTs.

Weinstein:
- continued work on understanding the power DSO
- continued work on understanding and implementing
time dependence of response function for burst simulations
- continued work on developing burst simulation infrastructure

Yakushin:
LDAS data analysis
1) Debugging LALWrapper part of waveDSO.
2) Improving LDAS script for calibration calculations.

MIT Data Analysis Activities (http://ligo.mit.edu/ldas/
General Computing (Wallace)
MIT:
(Keith)
-NSF review activities
-Removed suspect win98 pc from network after MIT warned of
suspicious network activity

Livingston:
(Shannon)
-Performed some maintenance on the tape backup software to change a
couple of the configuration items.  This takes into account the new file
server.
-Continued working on the firewall subnetting using the Solsoft
software.  This software is pretty complex due to the nature of what it
does and will take some time to master.
-Looking into some network problems.  The network became unbearably slow
last night.  This is further evidence that there is a problem at LSU's
border router.  Tom had noticed some problems since the weekend, and I
saw the first evidence last night.
-Installed a new video card in Marcel's machine since it was having
dismal performance using Solid Works.  The card increased the
performance significantly, but I think he needs an upgraded machine.
-Showed Bernie how to use his email account and set up a computer for him
to use.

Hanford:
(Christine)
- Worked with Larry, Stuart, Albert and Greg troubleshooting the network
slowdown.  Tried to connect the network into Greg's Linux laptop and run
nttcp to determine if the network slowdown was on our router, on our
internal network or on the DOE esnet connection into our site.  The test
was inconclusive because we were never able to get nttcp running from
Greg's laptop.  After the test the network was even slower.  Apparently
during the test something auto negotiated down to half-duplex causing
late collision errors and slowing the network to a crawl.  A reboot of
the Cisco router cleared the problem and we are now back to where we
were before the test.  Meanwhile, Larry contacted Cullen at PNNL and
Cullen now thinks that our slow down may actually be caused by a problem
with one of the routers on the DOE esnet.
- Worked with Fred on a remote access ssh and e-mail problem.
- Setup a PC and Sun computers in the new building Computer User's
room.  Moved the color laser printer from the old building to the new
building and set it up in the Computer User's room.
- Moved some computers around and setup a new computer for people who
are moving into offices in the old building.

CIT:
(Veronica)
- LIGO website: posted various updates. Edited and posted an image for the
Press Information webpages. Updated Internal Bulletin Board.
Working on the interferometer sensitivities webpages for Albert.
- LSC website: posted a late-arrival presentation from the August meeting.
- CaJAGWR website: compressed and posted a video of Anna Nobili's talk.
Playing with the QuickTime Pro 6 editing a movie of a previous talk.

(Lisa)
- Installed gimp and related packages on Luna.
- Working on installing grace on Luna.  It is compiled and installed on
vega, but I'm still trying to resolve some motif related issues with the
compile on Luna.
- Talking to Sun regarding the Crypto Accelerator card.  They are sending
the latest drivers out which will improve performance and upgrade openssl
to the latest version.  A sun engineer will be helping me figure out how to
fix problems with the simap/spop services.
- Worked on the backup system in the 40meter.  When op140m reboots, the
external hard disk wouldn't come up.  I reorganized the scsi chain and that
seems to have fixed the problem.

(Mike)
-Updated Bill Kells laptop with OS patches & software.
-Rebuilding a PC for the Synchrotron lab that had a hardware failure on a
previous computer that was pulled from there.
The computer that I am trying to replace this with is an older PC that is
having problems loading 2000 Pro.
I have a few more tricks up my sleeve to try and get this computer to work.
-Reloading Dennis Coynes engineering workstation due to hacking intrusion that
caused serious damage.
-Donna was having problems with her office scanner. I tried to get this
working on Donna's and my own workstation by downloading updated software
and firmware but didn't have any luck with this. We ended up ordering a new
scanner that installed with know problem and is working just fine.
-Reloading a Laptop that has been infected with a virus.
-This week I had a lot of onsite/phone user support that included mostly
software problems and a few hardware issues that I took care of.
-Reloaded my workstation from win98 to 2000 Pro due to OS problems.
-Loaded the LIGO s/w pkgs on to two laptops.
-Loaded Solidworks on to another PC.

(Larry)
-Spent time building documentation for Albert. Along that same line
the GC usage policy has been signed and is now on the net. We will make
a more formal announcement after everyone returns from the NSF review.
-A great deal of time spent on network performance testing. Both
Observatories have had things going on as seen in their reports.
-Purchased a couple of computers which have arrived and Mike has installed
the local software loads.
-The Matlab licensing is now in progress. A few more things to work out and
the paperwork should start in a few weeks. The new licensing should help those
that have to go on travel and need the pkg.
-Rebuilt one of the servers. Presently, reworking the raid systems on the units.
-Resolved a couple of printer issues.
-Resolved a couple of security issues. Two were machines that were infected
with viruses and one was a false positive sent in from ITS.
-Worked on the CDS remote stations at CIT and started getting them back up to
date.
-Went over a couple of property issues with Ed.
-Added a large number of e-mail locations to be blocked by the mailserver.
-Resolved a couple of web issues.
-A little more than normal in the amount of user support. Both local and
those on travel.

LIGO II/Advanced R&D (Sanders)

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

This week I finally got the Australian interferometric sensor working
again and wrote up my notes on its operation into a report: T020163-00-D.

From: ctorrie <ctorrie@ligo.caltech.edu>
AdLIGO Suspensions

Mode Cleaner

Almost all of the parts to allow us to put the mode-cleaner back together have now been delivered.
Janeen, Helena and I are planning to work on this from Wednesday the 22nd.
The travelling microscope is set up and next we have to set up the optical lever Betsy help to install.

Phil Willems, Helena and I, with input from Glasgow, have been working on an adjuster for an eddy current damper. A single test unit of an eddy current damper adjuster is in workshop and should be available for testing in a week or so. Drawings and assemblies have also been completed.

I have been working on updating some of the assembly parts and drawings for the mode cleaner suspension and with Russell and Mike Lloyd in Glasgow we have been looking at drawing standards and templates for the Glasgow group.

In the Synchrotron laboratory we now have a working drill press. This will be kept locked although anyone is welcome to use it. I will put the keys for this and the various toolboxes and cabinets we now have in a lock-box with a combination code. I will let those interested know the code as soon as I have it set up.
 

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

AdLIGO Suspensions
Worked on GEO questions for their PPARC meeting.
Working on mode cleaner design tasks. MC height adapters should be delivered 10/30.
LIGO I
Distributed the earthquake stop design requirements document to Dennis and Doug Cook. Working on alternative earthquake stop designs.

The new osems are at the laser marking company, except 2 which were rejected for unacceptable coating. They should be completed by Monday, 10/28. They'll be sent to the coil winders after that.
 

From: Peter King <pking@ligo.caltech.edu>

2.2 AdvLIGO PSL

    I have been working out a few details with Benno Willke and Andreas
Weidner about the up-coming visit to the University of Hannover.  Providing
some hardware information such as EEPROMs and burners.  In addition to the
technology transfer kick-off we will provide them with an extra set of
EPICS boot ROMs for the Motorola processor.
 

Adv LIGO Suspension Prototype
Jay Heefner
- The anti-image board layout is complete and has been sent to the board house. Boards are due back by 10/25/02. The connector adapter board used to mate the anti-image board to the Dspace is complete and ready.
- The schematic for the whitening board is 90% complete. Layout should begin by 10/18/02.
- The Rev C Anti-Image Boards have been received and are being stuffed. We should have one tested by 10/31/02. We made a few extra for test on LIGO.
 

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