LSC	Administration	Hanford Observatory	Livingston Observatory
Optical & Mechanical	Controls and Data Systems	40 Meter Facility	TNI
LASTI	CIT Science Group	Laboratory Computing	Adv. LIGO Development & Project

ADVANCED LIGO SAFETY IS BEING REPORTED UNDER ADVANCED LIGO, BELOW

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Laboratory Computing (Anderson)

LDAS Software Systems (Maros)

• TkCVS has been updated to version 8.1. This package has been added to CentOS 5 as there are no RPMs for it.
• Built TkCon for CentOS 5 as there are no RPMs for it.
• The code responsible for the recent instability in the frameAPI has been identified and corrected. While debugging this issue, a rare race condition was discovered. The problem report 3316 gives the details.
• Additional improvements in the frameAPI included modifications to improve thread reaping robustness.
• Three additional regression tests (pr2953.tcl, pr2823.tcl, and pr2807.tcl) are now fully integrated into the System Test framework.
• Work also continues on integrating use of X.509 certificates into guild. To unify some of the interface issues, guild, LDASJobH and cmonClient now support entering of the pass phrase up three times before flagging an error and defaulting to tcl socket communication.

LDAS System Administration (Anderson)

Caltech

(Dan Kozak)

• Removed S5 L4 data from cluster storage at CIT.
• Updated firmware in LLO 3510-1.
• Ran metasync on opterondata-dev's internal mirrored disks (after problem with one of them hung the machine).
• Set up /test on nldas-cit with archiving to T10KB tapes and began testing them with SAM-QFS.  Still not seeing more than ~130-135 MB/sec writes, even with compressible data (A5 L0 frames).
• Replaced bad disks in 3510-3, 3510-11 at CIT.
• Followed up on samfsdump log files--files are making it to tape, but there's a lot more activity on /home2 than on /home1.
• Mostly worked on the latest opterondata-cit crash (after opterondata-dev, also on the SAN was restart).  Collected all relevant data for Sun's analysis and worked with Sun to diagnose the problem (ongoing).
• Weekly check of frame files in CIT cluster showed no new bad frames.

(Phil Ehrens)

• Created more new svn repos on the new cvs/svn/git server.
• Added new module to log_mon to check the state of the cache, verify, and ignECC attributes and to report cache OFF and ignECC on as error conditions (ignECC ON is ignored if a rebuild is in progress.)
• Added new startup behaviour to log_mon to allow a restart due to a wedged host to "step over" the wedge point and continue scanning the other hosts. The old behaviour was to start at the first defined host - Hosts defined after the wedged host would never be monitored!
• Replaced all memory dimms in cluster node 157 after an MCE related crash occurred. Discovered that the memory dimms in that node were the OLD Samsung dimms known to be bad!  The dimms were replaced with micron dimms taken from node500.  node500 is currently being used to test new memory dimms supplied by supermicro using a new batch of Samsung chips.
• All fans in cluster node 201 were replaced after an increasing rate of HD ECC errors was noted.
• node323 is showing a LARGE number of MCE errors each day (~20 per day over several weeks), but has an uptime of 58 days.

MIT

(Fred Donovan)

• Some pc raid issues; looking for disk rackmounts.

Livingston

(Igor Yakushin)

• The failed secondary controller in 3510-1 was successfully replaced, firmware version on the primary controller upgraded to match the version on the new secondary controller, /export reconfigured (with Dan's help), disk 5 replaced.
• Some changes to publishing scripts were necessary due to /export upgrade:
  • use /ldas_outgoing/diskcacheAPI/frame_cache_dump instead of /ldas_outgoing/archiver/frame_cache_dump
  • incorporate Greg's modifications regarding hardware links to frame_cache_dump file
• Tried to upgrade condor_dagman and condor_submit_dag binaries but this did not work and I had to return back the previous version.

Hanford

(Greg Mendell)

• Besides routine sys. admin. tasks I continue to work on a Special/Timing RDS data run for additional S5 studies. I am also running a final set of tests of the new framebuilder data at LHO, and I have verified that raw and RDS astrowatch data are up-to-date in the LDAS archive at LHO and CIT.

General Computing (Wallace)

MIT

(Fred)

• Some end-of-fiscal-year purchases
• Some disk problems with backup server.
• Installed new scanner visitor's office
• Data recovery for Rai
• Windows matlab java issues on a few machines (windows update related).

Livingston

(Dwayne)

• Software installs on a couple Dell laptops.
• Assisted a user with VMWare Server install and an Ubuntu VM.
• Worked a couple procurement items, including a Dell laptop and external HDs.
• Walkthrough of changes to kantech system for LVEA external doors with Rusyl, Rich and Bernie.  Modifications to be completed soon.
• Work on new parts management system, database tweaks and UI development.  loaded some test data and began moving it through the some of the steps.
• More EVO training.
• Created mail account for new hire, added to llo mailing lists -Numerous usual/unusual user support requests.
• Cleared spam trap.

Hanford

(Larry)

• Made a number of purchases for the Observatory.
• Some minor updates on user accounts.
• Still working on getting the Sysadmin position filled.

(Mike)

• Update of the DHCP tables.
• Some e-mail work, flushing out the spam filter.

Caltech

(Melody)

• New DCC: Working on incorporating the current DCC's numbering scheme into DocDB.   Continuing with code modifications.

(Mike)

• Trying to fix a problem with the Scanner for DCC.
• Testing EVO with Larry & Christian for a setup in ECR.
• Fixed some PDMWORKS issues on Deneb.
• Updated our Solid Works users to SP5.0.
• Spent a lot of time searching for a infected computer.
• Other user support and sysadmin tasks.

(Veronica)

• LSC: Ongoing work on the ligo.org redo.  Finished markup validation. Other LSC-related web updates.
• LIGO:  Assisted Dot with Dreamweaver and web-publishing issues. Addressed an issue of an LDAS machine overheat.
• Roster database updates,other web updates /user support.

(Christian)

• Riccardo Desalvo - Hard-drive out of space. Cloned and replaced with a larger drive.
• Maria Ascione - Laptop running slow. Replaced corrupted dll. files and updated Norton AV.
• Toner cartridge replacement.
• Basement E/B, Marilyn Wright local printer.
• We recieved a complaint regarding a host in LIGO from IMSS security group. The computer was used by a surf student who is no longer here. Shannon will be looking at the drive to determine if the system was compromised.
• Mike and I are Working on new security patches from Microsoft this week.
• Other misc.: Continued onsite software/phone support.

(Larry)

• Procurement activity continues. Trying to get things in before dead-lines. Still trying to get things together for some of the maintenance contracts. Finished up the paperwork for last months p-card reconciliation. Made purchases for a number of other people.
• Working with Riccardo on getting some networking equipment for one of his projects.
• Tested out Phil E.'s new wiki that he setup for the Advligo procurement people. So far it looks pretty good.
• Helped setup and test some of the EVO equipment. The new setups with the tie-in to the phone system is working out.
• With the group did some tracking of viruses and related incidents.
• Worked with the DCC group on a couple of issues. The scanner is still being worked on.
• Worked with a number of users with there webpage setup.
• Worked with Mike on a couple of different boxes. Still working out logistics on some of the new server setups for the Advligo items.
• Regular user assistance.

Advanced LIGO and Supporting R&D (Shoemaker)

Advanced LIGO Management

From Carol Wilkinson

Project Controls

• Three Advanced LIGO Change Requests (ACR) are in process for review by the AdL CCB:
  • Schedule and cost changes from an ACR to incorporate the changes due to the decision to go to a stable recycling cavity have been incorporated into the baseline and current schedules. Progress will be reported against new schedule. This ACR is under review for approval.
  • ACR for changes in the UK delivery of BSC suspensions. Recent schedule changes need to be incorporated into baseline. Delay of several months on delivery has impact on time phasing of US and UK staffing levels but not on overall schedule. Also, UK provided is delivering training during development cycle instead of assembly phase. Expect an increase in US staffing costs of ~$100K.
  • ACR for delay in PSL delivery schedule of 200 W lasers by 6 months (due to eLIGO deliveries; no technical problems). Uses schedule float and does not impact project schedule.

Procurements

• Bid evaluation team for the SEI HEPI actuators have selected the winning bidder. Contract negotiations will commence.
• PO for HEPI servo-valves placed.
• RFQ’s for SEI HEPI procurements SUS test stands and assembly tooling and for FMP assembly clean rooms are out for bids.
• The NSF has approved the contract for the Univ. of Florida Input Optics contract (IO). Contract has been sent to UFL for signature.
• Approval of the UFL contract was the last item for the 2008 approvals by NSF for acquisitions >$250K. Although this initial round to approve all 2008 acquisitions took ~4 months, the new process is a major improvement on the previous process. Much of the time spent was due to start-up and the learning curve for both LIGO and NSF on this new process. The 2009 Acquisition plan is expected to involve fewer response cycles per item and to occur early enough that it is not a factor in procurement scheduling.
• Project controls has started work on the Acquisition Plan for 2009, with approximately 30 procurements >$250. Subsystem leads are being asked to review and update their sections. The plan will be submitted to NSF for approval before October 1.

Progress Updates

• Progress updates for August were due August 27. Reports should be ready for review by September 4. Accomplishments and variance analyses are due by COB Monday, September 8. Please have reports turned in by that time to allow timely preparation of the final report due September 14.

Meetings & Reviews

• The Monthly Progress Reporting Meeting will be on Thursday, September 11 at 8:30 AM PT. Subsystem leaders or their delegates need to attend.

Advanced LIGO Systems

From: Calum Torrie <ctorrie@ligo.caltech.edu>

• Barrel Sleeve: I met with Phil Willems and we created a 2D sketch highlighting all of the key dimensions of the concept for the barrel sleeve.
• Test Mass High Frequency Model Results: There has been progress in the converged model of the TM with a view to get the deformation data of the converged modes. I now have a method for automating the export using command scripts and both ANSYS Classic and Workbench. A few items need to be cleared up and checked with Matt prior  to running the large model.
• Gravitational Sag: The second draft of the BS gravity sag was delivered to COC via Hiro. A couple of actions came up including a request to write up data (which was already an action) and a request to run the analysis under a slightly different set of boundary conditions.
• Other: Other FEA work includes continuing to look at the loss in the HR coatings with Liam Cunningham in Glasgow as well as looking at a harmonic analysis of a HAM seismic support system. This week I started discussions with both Andy Stein and Ken Mason on this topic.
• PDM Works & DOC DB: We held our first engineering meeting to discuss the introduction to our proposal for how to use DOC DB with PDMWorks. A few very useful items came up and Mike Meyer and I will write these up prior to releasing our proposal.
• SUS / SEI: The proposal for the blades was discussed again this week with both SUS (US and UK) and SEI folks and I will now take the final actions to Systems. This proposal can again be found here: - http://lhocds.ligo-wa.caltech.edu: 8000/advligo/Suspensions/CantileverBlades

From: Peter Fritschel <pf@ligo.mit.edu>

• We put together a short note about the choice of stable recycling cavities for Advanced LIGO: http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/docs/T/T080208-00.pdf.

Mechanical and Optical Systems (Coyne)

• Homestake Mine

Riccardo DeSalvo

• As of 8/21 the 300 feet level is operational, the local computer started logging data in the evening under remote control. The data looks good.  8/22 morning we start developing the 2000 feet level.  Electricity at the 200 feet level though is delayed to middle of the week, by end of next week we should have the second station operational.

Modeling and Simulation

From: Hiroaki Yamamoto hiro@ligo.caltech.edu

CSIRO PF Optics (Hiro)

• The spectrum of the LIGO I mirror and that of the new CSIRO PF optics were compared. The new spectrum shows smaller component at ~1cm.
• Because of this, when we require the same rms for the surface aberration, the net loss becomes smaller. I have not fully digested what the actual impact on the advLIGO polishing requirement. (The plots related to this analysis will be posted in COC Wiki soon)

Static IFO Simulation (Hiro)

• Keep analyzing the couple cavity with different beam size cases to quantify the effect of the beam size on the overall performance.

Mechanical Simulation for Advanced LIGO (Sany and SLU team)

• Continued modifying the length and frequency control servos in our e2e model of AdvLIGO Input Mode Cleaner (IMC). With further adjustment of zeros and poles of the length and frequency control filters, now the MC transmitted light’s frequency noise is at the required level (based on LIGO T020020) in 30 – 50Hz and a factor of 2 better in 50 – 400 Hz. It is still higher than a factor of 2-3 in 8 – 30 Hz. Also the frequency noise spectrum shows sharp peaks at 1.3 and 2.7 Hz (most likely corresponding to triple optics mechanical resonances). We are currently working on the noise reduction in these frequency ranges.

Safety

Quality Assurance

From: Mick Flanigan flanigan_m@ligo-wa.caltech.edu

Weekly Report for Advanced LIGO QA Team

• Mick traveled to Caltech this week to meet with Bill Tyler and various teams to get more familiar with the QA program.
• Met with Jay Heefner, Rolf Bork and team for information gathering session related to Defect Tracking, E-Logs and Reliability of electronics systems. Learned quite a bit about several issues the CDS team is having with information sharing, tracking problems to resolution, and inventory tracking. Bill Tyler and I took quite a few notes and will be issuing a report early next week with some key areas we feel could have an immediate positive impact on the team.
• Advanced LIGO Supplier QA Requirements document is out for team review. This document will be for submission to suppliers with the RFQ's as part of the bid requirements. We hope to have this document approved and uploaded to the DCC in the next week to two weeks, pending vacation schedules of reviewers.
• Pre-Award Inspection/Audit form is in 80% complete, and will be available next week for use in the field. Will receive a DCC number and be uploaded as soon as it is ready.
• Plans:
  • Investigate various defect tracking systems.
  • Develop web presence for QA team, portal to important Quality docs and information

Facilities Modifications and Preparations

From: John Worden worden_j@ligo-wa.caltech.edu

• A paving contractor is working on site at LLO. The bid package for the LLO warehouse mods is being reviewed by contractors and a job walk has been scheduled. At Hanford we are fielding questions from vendors regarding the bid package for the 10 large cleanrooms being purchased for both sites. The next bid package to go out will be the LHO staging building modifications. This should happen in the next week.

Seismic Isolation

From: Ken Mason kmason@ligo.mit.edu

SEI Activities and Progress at LLO:

• Work continues on the HAM-ISI platform. Jeff is now working on blending the displacement and inertial sensors. ~Brian O.

Crossbeam Design:

• Finishing drawings for accessory parts for new HAM Crossbeam. Preparing to test procedure for exchanging Crossbeams at LASTI. ~ Andy S.

BSC ISI Actuator Design:

• PSI has completed the solid model and has sent solidworks files to us on CD. According to Scott Stewart we should be receiving the new actuators ahead of schedule at the end of September.

SEI Project Activities:

• The HEPI Pump Station frames & manifolds are continuing and other smaller jobs at other shops.  Motors & Pumps have been received. ~Hugh R.
• The quotes have been received for the HEPI hydraulic actuators. The bids were evaluated by a committee and a purchase order should be issued next week. RFQ packages have been sent to fabrication shops for the HEPI Housings and HEPI Crossbeam Foot.  ~Ken M.
• We've been working on the new Pier Interface Module, which incorporates the Capacitive position Sensor inputs.  The schematic should be done in the next few days, then I can do the layout, and packaging.  I have also, in vain, been trying to see the latching up behavior of the Anti-Alias board as described by Rich Mittlemann.  I have been pounding on the board with ± 20V input at 0.01 Hz for a week, and it has yet to latch up.  The experiment continues. ~ Ben A.

Suspensions

From Janeen Romie and Norna Robertson  
(romie_j@ligo-la.caltech.edu, nroberts@ligo.caltech.edu)

Operations Work

HAM Suspensions for Advanced & Enhanced LIGO:

• OMC: Work is ongoing to collect/document/post OMC SUS configuration information for each site suspension.
• Large triple: Clamps to characterize the large triple prototype blades have not arrived yet, so we've not been able to start characterization. We will characterize the additional blades sent by Norna & Calum as well. We need to fabricate some clamps for this. Work on finalizing the other mechanical drawings is ongoing.

BSC Suspensions for Advanced LIGO:

• The RAL group are preparing documentation for the beamsplitter fabrication readiness review which is expected to take place in September.

Project-Funded Activities

• Fielding questions on the mechanical test stand RFQ. RAL is reviewing the top stage tooling design, so we may have move the LASTI tooling to LLO for training in November if the changes cannot be incorporated and the parts fabricated in time.

Core Optics

From: GariLynn Billingsley Billingsley_G@ligo.caltech.edu

• Project Controls person Dwight has implemented a new COC schedule, this should make reporting more intuitive and useful. Heraeus has delivered a production schedule for the low absorption glass, it shows delivery completion a month earlier than the baseline.
• Bill has a draft of the Final COC design Requirements Find a copy at:   http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/~gari/Temp/DRDFinal_v05_20_08.doc.

Modeling

From Hiro

• Calum calculated the BS sag and the plot is the surface deformation along the vertical and horizontal direction. (deformation along the vertical line at the horizontal center of the mirror and along the horizontal line at the vertical center of the mirror.)
• The sag is < 0.3nm in 100mm radius, which corresponds to 17 x 10^3 km.
• The rough tilt in the vertical direction is 1 nm / 37cm = 3e-9 rad.  These are negligible. See plot at:   http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/~gari/LIGOII/ BSsagWgravity.pdf.
• Calum intends to model one more BS suspension with slightly different constraints. This should not change the answer much, but will nicely close out the question.
• LASTI Compensation Plate Coatings: Navitar promises a delivery of 12 September for gold coating ESD and Barrel
• Scatter: Cheryl Vorvick After the success of the 2K ITM cleaning (elog here), Keita asked me to remeasure the 2K recycling gain. The X arm = 81.4, Y arm = 84.3, which is up from 68 in Rana's elog here.
• Details:
  X arm lock: 8/20/2008, 17:08:27 UTC, QPDX_DC = 8.0 (from offset of -1)
  Y arm lock: 8/20/2008, 17:13:00 UTC, QPDY_DC = 8.25 (from offset of -3.25)
  Full Lock: 8/20/2008, 21:00 UTC, X arm QPDX_DC = 24130, Y arm QPDY_DC = 25750 http://ilog.ligo-wa.caltech.edu/ilog/ pub/ilog.cgi?group= detector&date_ to_view=08/25/2008&anchor_to_scroll_to= 2008:08:25:11:50:28-Vorvick.
• The HR absorption of the LLO steering mirror has been  measured from both air and bulk sides after the annealing at REO, Before and after comparisons are found at:

  http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/~lzhang/LLO/sm1_sum_3.pdf
  http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/~lzhang/LLO/sm1_sum_4.pdf

  The annealing clearly lowered the absorption, but it is not yet at a "normal" REO level of 0.5-1ppm, and shows a tendency to damage at low fluence.
• Stanford has measured absorption after application of 1st Contact, with and without UV exposure - Results at http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/~gari/LIGOII/ Stanford_report_1stcontact_UVabs.pdf. The absorption does not change based on application of the first contact, even in the presence of UV.  In fact, the first contact appears to slightly protect the optic from the effects of UV radiation.

Auxiliary Optics

From:   Michael Smith smith@ligo.caltech.edu

ADLIGO

Work Under Project Budget

• OPTICAL LAYOUT: Luke discovered that Mike's ZEMAX layout for the folded stable recycling cavity IFO had an interference between the MC2 suspension and the HAM9 chamber. Mike changed the layout by shifting the the mode cleaner train approximately 270 mm toward the PSL. A revised coordinate location file was sent to Luke, and he is in the process of revising his Solidworks layout.

Work Under Operations Budget

• SLC: Mike has completed the revision of the SLC conceptual design document. The document will be published shortly. The latest scattering light displacement noise calculations indicate that all beam dumps and baffles can be made of oxidized polished stainless steel, without the need for porcelainized steel, which would necessitate significant additional development work to establish fabrication procedures. Carol Wilkinson has determined that the SLC conceptual design is 100% complete. AOS has begun the preliminary design phase of SLC.
• OPTLEV: Giovanni Salvi (SURF) made new optical lever pointing noise measurements with an evacuated tube enclosing the light path between the laser and QPD and determined that air turbulence had been causing a factor 5 increase in noise. Riccardo received cost estimates for fabricating a prototype optical lever pier out of carbon composite material.

ELIGO

• SLC: Ken contacted the polished stainless steel baffle fabrication vendor, who confirmed there were two separate mills who supplied him with mirrored stainless steel. One of the mill's material exhibited swirl polishing marks after the oxidization bake, and the other did not. Ken is looking into ways to specify in the future that the fabricator use only the approved supplier.
• Ken is in the process of formatting the Eligo flat AC 'manifold' baffle parts drawings for the DCC and PDM works.

From: Phil Willems <willems@ligo.caltech.edu>

• I have done a fair amount of finite element modelling of the ZnSe viewport and have reached these two conclusions:
  • If the viewport window has nominal absorption, no failure on the TCS table can hurt it.
  • If the viewport window has anomalously high absorption- for example, a moth lands on it- then even normal operation of the TCS table can be risky.
• Given typically accepted values for the rupture modulus of ZnSe, the viewport has a factor of ~50 safety margin against the stress due to atmospheric pressure with no incident laser power.  In the most extreme example of case 1 above this safety margin falls to perhaps 30.
• This analysis leads to propose that the best way to protect the ZnSe viewport is to ensure that it stays clean.  One way to do this is to make the enclosure around it gap-free.  As the main, perhaps only gap is through the beam tube to the TCS table, putting a second ZnSe window inside it would do the trick.
• At present the TCS tables at LHO are not sending power to the viewport at all.  Those at LLO are using the initial LIGO 8W lasers.
• We have a few bits of data on this and other matters left to collect and add to our FMEA document and then we are distributing it for comment this week.

Input Optics

From: David tanner@phys.ufl.edu

eLIGO Installation

• We are finishing preparation for eLIGO modulator and PSL commissioning work at LLO. Volker will travel there next week.
• Here, we are developing a new dual TFP mount for the laseer power control , preparing electronics, and doing finalmodulator verification). (Volker and Luke)

Advanced LIGO R&D

• We have been working on understanding the MC coating losses. A new COMSOL model has been created to calculate the MC absorption using measured drumhead mode frequency change. the model can be found at http://ilog.ligo-wa.caltech.edu: 7285/mLIGO/Cleaning_the_Mode_Cleaner#preview. (Muzammil)
• As to the IO layout, the optics in the folded layout were moved to match Mike Smith's layout.  An interference problem was found with the MC2 location.  Mike fixed the problem in Zemax, we will move in solidworks to match Mike's coordinates. (Luke)
• Work continues on AdvLIGO modulators and on the parallel modulation MZ experiment. (Volker)

Advanced LIGO Acquisition

• The UF contract has been approved by the NSF and the final details are in negotiation between the UF and Caltech business offices.
• We are updating blank specifications for PRM/SRM in consultation with Core Optics. We are also making final checks on all other blank specifications, in particular on the transmissive mode cleaner optics. We plan to finalize the bid package for IO blanks procurement within a week. We have updated the IO Schedule Progress for August. (Rodica)

Prestabilized Laser

• 200W laser in Hannover has been undergoing characterization and long-term operational testing, with everything looking good.

Control and Data Systems

From: Rolf Bork rolf@ligo.caltech.edu

Timing System (Szabi)

• Auxiliary communications code was debugged last week. Works fine.
• False alarm on the DAC chip performance last week (misinterpreted misinformation from broken scope probe?). The DAC and DuoTone board confirmed to perform up to spec.
• OCXO Control digital diagnostic readout implemented and tested.
• DMT code receiving diagnostic information from RS422 is being debugged.
• Timing comparator daughterboard RevB is being tested.
• Preparing to submit orders for the board revision to be used for long term test during the Fall.

DAQ

• Continued testing of Framewriter at LHO using latest Framecpp library. We have run into a couple of problems, which we are working with Stuart and Ed Maros to resolve.
• Still waiting for comments from a few of the DAQ PDR reviewers. Hoping to get them in time to provide a response/presentation for week of Sept. 8.

For additional information about this report, contact Albert Lazzarini

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