Computer Security
(Singer)
No report.
LIGO
Hanford Observatory
(LHO) and Interferometer Operations (Raab)
Summary of Activities at LIGO Hanford Observatory
(compiled by M. Landry)
- We vented HAM6 in order to rearrange the OMC and tip-tilt layout.
Recall the tip-tilt mode matching solution is not particularly orthogonal
in angle and translation: the proposed plan to mitigate the problem
is given in an elog here.
Three doors had to be pulled in order to have good access. With
two bakes (from the inception of the project) and having never been
removed, the east door remained stuck and only came off after an
18h wait. The table rearrangement has largely been completed but
fine tuning and table balancing awaits.
- The 4k refcav transmission had been on a steady decline, so it
was tweaked
up. Today we note it has resumed its march downward.
- The low-frequency noise wall on H1 that everyone said was indicative
of something grossly wrong, was found to be just that: the purge
air fans on ISCT4 were left on
at a high level.
- ISI transfer
functions were obtained. These measurements will function as
templates; as soon as the OMC/tiptilt rework is done and the table
rebalanced, we'll run the transfer functions once more and modify
the controllers.
- CDS folks are visiting, making a series of code mods and fixes
to help stabilize awg, tpman and other key programs, expediting
commissioning. Here is an example.
Outreach (D. Ingram)
- LHO hosted several staff members and advisory board members from
The Reach Interpretive
Center for a tour on 10/8. The Reach is in the planning/capital
fund raising phase; once the doors are open it will be a key outreach
partner for LIGO.
LIGO
Livingston Observatory (LLO) and Interferometer
Operations (Giaime)
General Operations (Rusyl Wooley):
- The main activity this week was to vent HAM6, open both 84" doors,
free up a stuck OMC and install new optics. The intent was
to lock the full IFO while HAM6 was open. While beginning
to vent HAM6 I noticed a slight rise in pressure in the vertex.
We then closed GV1, GV2, GV3 & GV5, as well as all four
14" valves that isolate the large ion pumps. I completed the
vent of HAM6 and we removed the west 84" door. It was determined
that in order to take advantage of the commissioning personnel on
site that we not remove the east 84" door but rather fix the OMC,
skip the optic work and close HAM6. At this point I opened the 10"
valve that put the turbo pump back on the vertex because the pressure
in the vertex continued to rise. Prior to the OMC work, Harry
and I did a helium leak check of HAM6. The areas of concern
were the three ports on the septum plate and the inner o-ring of
the annulus space. We got a hit off the leak detector, but
we were not sure exactly where. After putting the 84" door
back on HAM6, I pumped out the annulus space on HAM6. This
made no change in the pressure readings of the vertex. I then began
pump down of the HAM6 volume. The pressure in the vertex began
to drop quickly and steadily. It is clear to me that either
the new viewport is leaking or the two blanks. With HAM6 and
the main corner station volume pumped down, I began the process
of opening the large gate valves. As of this evening we are
back to a configuration that allows the commissioners to continue
their work.
CDS Computing (Keith Thorne):
System Work:
- Put slave LDAP server back online after rack-mounting.
- Got quotes for Linux workstations. New model expected to
have 4 weeks lead time.
- Resolved AWG injection issue by restarting NTP server daemons
on llo2, llo1.
- Fixed MEDM screen time (telnet to l0llotime fixed it?) - Add wiki
documentations on LDAP, etc.
Commissioning support:
- Fixed accounts for commissioners on CDS, Wiki.
- Corrected file permissions on filters.
- Helped setup LVEA CDS workstation for OMC checkout during HAM
access.
Other Work:
- Provided older version of MATLAB channel-reading routine
to allow Stochastic Group to read large Virgo frames on grid computer.
Safety & Security (Rich
Riesen):
- Continuing work on updating LLO procedures.
- Completed the monthly SEC safety walk-thru. All is well.
- Setting up CPR/First Aid for the few who are out of date plus
new staff members.
- Taking inventory of all LLO laser safety eye wear plus discarding
glasses that are in any way damaged.
Livingston Outreach (Kathy Holt):
- Prepared programs and activities for 3 teacher training days .
- Conducted two teacher training days - 42 teachers.
- Prepared and conducted programs and activities for 1 school visit
(28- 5th graders).
- Exhibit maintenance on several exhibits.
- Final arrangements made for Star Glazing with BREC LSU Observatory
next week.
- Scheduled and arranged field trips and public tours.
- Copied photos from recent school visits and teacher training and
mailed to schools.
- Shared snacks and activities with LHO outreach.
- Registered two of Gaby's students to help participate in the Sally
Ride Science Fair.
- Continuing to work on tables for NSF proposal.
- Prepared activities for docents at SUBR.
- Contacted docents for assistance next week for paper work and
filing.
LIGO computing and network security
(Roddy)
Reported under General
Computing, see below
General computing and LDAS admin
(Giardina)
Reported under General
Computing, see below
Reported under LDAS
System Administration, see below
Data analysis & computing
(Yakushin)
Storage/Condor/LDAS admin:
Reported under LDAS
System Administration, see below
Data analysis:
Reported under Data
Analysis activities, see below
Mechanical
and Optical Systems (Coyne)
See
also Advanced LIGO
Controls
and Data Systems (Bork)
See
Advanced LIGO
40-Meter
Interferometer (Adhikari)
- Lock acquisition: After the locking of DRM on the springy side
(+f2 sideband) became almost stable, it went unstable again for
unknown reason. -f2 side is still stable. Will tweak the sideband
frequencies.
- Rich brought back a replacement DC-DC converter for the MOPA
NPRO. We found that our NPRO is older than the ones at the sites,
and it requires to move the laser to install the replacement DC-DC
converter. We postponed to do it. Coherence measurements between
the FSS error signal and the Sorensen power line (+24V) show (almost)
no correlation between them.
- New HeNe lasers for ITM optical levers arrived. Their spec is
10mW and the actual output is 15mW. Steve is installing them.
Thermal
Noise Interferometer (Black)
- Since our last report, Greg Ogin has measured the open-loop transfer
function of the new photothermal servo. He found what appear to
be PZT mechanical resonances near the expected thermooptic cancellation
notch. He has identified a very clear phase signature of the cancellation
at about the frequency his models predict, but the amplitude signature
continues to elude him. The next step is to add some more aggressive
filtering above the unity-gain frequency (which is well below the
first PZT resonance) to suppress the high-frequency structure in
the transfer function.
- Late last week it was pointed out to us that one of our spare
vacuum chambers windows had not been secured after we placed the
order for our protective covers with the machine shop. We ordered
the covers several weeks ago, but the large tubes that form the
cylindrical port sheaths have been on backorder. Riccardo Paniagua,
the manager of the physics shop, has been in regular contact with
the supplier, who expects to deliver the parts this week. On the
advice of Dennis Coyne, Eric put temporary cardboard and bubble-wrap
covers over all of the remaining unsecured windows. All of our chambers
are currently vented, and we have not planned any pumpdowns until
after we have taken delivery of and installed the permanent protective
covers.
LASTI
(Mittleman)
BSC-ISI
- We have our first low blend filter running on stage one. That
means that stage one is now isolating above its blend frequency,
about 0.1Hz. We should eventually be able to lower to somewhere
between 50 and 75mhz. We don’t have any results yet, just
that you can see the Streckheisen signal get quieter on dtt when
the low blend filter is turned on.. Hopefully we will have some
nice results soon.
Quad Prototype
- There is a large monolithic effort scheduled for next week, the
first hang of a 40kg mass is scheduled.
SEI
- We are working towards removing the second gullwing on the X-end
HAM.
CIT
Science Group (Weinstein)
_______________
Kipp Cannon:
- Continued working on low-latency inspiral analysis techniques.
- Telecons: inspiral, inspiral code, inspiral high-mass, imr.
- Maintenance work in lal, pylal, glue.
- Walk-through of coherent inspiral code with Linqing and her grad.
student.
_______________
Antony Searle:
- Ran Omega Bayesian source localization code on available Position
Reconstruction Challenge (PRC) datasets.
- Results posted at https://geco.phys.columbia.edu/omega/wiki/prc
seem very competitive with anything previously reported.
- Includes error region/confidence region estimates; these tell
us when it worthwhile to perform a followup (if the signal can be
localized to an area comparable to what e.g. SWIFT can cover).
- Worked on tools to handle common PRC output format for apples-to-apples
comparisons with other codes when they turn in their results.
- Presented at S6 online search planning teleconference.
- Reviewing a paper for CQG.
_______________
Cristina Valeria Torres:
- Continue to work on CBC follow up document, working cooperatively
with Romain Gouaty and Sarah Caudill.
- Wrap up my investigations for a pending data quality issue with
WFS glitches showing in DARM_ERR for LLO.
_______________
Kent Blackburn for the Grid Computing R&D Group:
GRID APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT
- Write agenda and lead LIGO-Pegasus and OSG-VO-Group telecons.
- Write minutes for LIGO-Pegasus telecon.
- Attend OSG-VO-Group telecons.
EINSTEN@OSG ACTIVITY
- Clemson deploy:
- Asked Clemson to configure port # of gsissh access to
be able to deploy interactively on head node -- e-mailed Sebastian
--> done
- Asked Clemson to install svn to be installed -- done.
- Can't run ws-gram with local account (user britta), no gsissh
access to run as user ligo -- working with Clemson to resolve
BINARY INSPIRAL WORKFLOW ACTIVITIES
- Waiting for ISI to fix Pegasus bugs:
- Pegasus-get-sites bug: condor - fork entries swapped
- Pegasus-get-sites locations: /localscratch, shared-scratch,
local-storage, shared-storage locations do not exits at remote
end.
CONFIGURING BOSCO SUBMIT HOST
- Globus-url-copy gsiftp gsiftp: end of file error.
- lobus-url-copy gsiftp file: works, contacted Anand.
- Trouble shooting with Anand.
- Phil got complete instruction set of ldg install
OSG VO GROUP ACTIVITIES
- OSG release planning meeting attended.
- OSG area coordinator meeting attended.
- Study site-verify.pl script of Craig Prescott (UFl).
- Modify to use without MDS query, use ReSS instead
OSG INTEGRATION AND VALIDATION TESTBED
- Room has been made available in rack for new cluster.
- All old nodes have been powered down except for the Submit Host.
It will be powered down once
BOSCO is available as a Submit Host.
GRID MANAGEMENT
- Contacted Robert Engel for an update on his VISA status - awaiting
reply.
- Forwarded announcement and registration info for the OSG Site
Coordination Meeting to be held at SLAC in November to Robert Engel.
- Informed Computer Committee of changes to the distribution mechanisms
and options for CA root certificate bundle. Discussed in CompComm
and determined that the OSG GOC bundle was the preferred bundle
for the LDG and OSG.
- Prepared agenda for OSG Council Telecon.
- Reviewed OSG's Year 3 WBS.
- Discussed Caltech Year 3 Statement of Work (SOW) with OSG Project
Manager.
- Discussed several upcoming interactions between the OSG and LIGO
in the weekly CompComm meeting.
- Arrange telecon with Patrick Brady and Britta Daudert to discuss
LIGO Science Milestones to the OSG for tomorrow.
- Reviewed several documents and spoke with Fermilab OSG employee
working on the OSG's "Value Proposition" model. Made several suggestions
for approaches to assess the value of the OSG.
- Continue to support LDG users with issues with accounts and certificates.
_______________
Joseph Betzwieser:
- Continuing to look at timing noise on long duration wide paramter
CW searches. Also continuing to test Pinkesh's resampling
code.
_______________
Anand Sengupta:
- Refereeing paper for CQG.
- Making changes to the inspiral code in LAL in view of the changes
to the calibration format.
_______________
Chad Hanna:
- This week Kipp and I presented our low latency search ideas for
S6. It was received fairly well. We are going to continue
development.
- I also have been tracking down a couple of (hopefully final) bugs
in the high mass search. We would like to fast track the search
if we can get the remaining bugs squashed.
Laboratory
Computing (Anderson)
LDAS
Software Systems (Maros)
- The metadataAPI is being carefully analyzed to address several
problem reports. The use of helgrind (a thread error detector) has
revealed several potential errors.
- The cmonClient application has been modified to correctly report
the time remaining when resetting pass phrase. Also, the user is
given multiple tries as correctly entering the pass phrase.
- System testing was done using version 1.9.443 of LDAS. Although
lsyncTest reported one mismatch, it is most likely the validation
script that is in error. Work is being done to have it corrected
before the next running of the System Tests.
- The ldas-test system which is using DB2 8.2.7 continues to run
without incident.
- The issues seen on ldas-dev using DB2 9.1.5 getting into mutex
lock has now been reproduced using tandem-iv.
- The regression test pr2029.tcl has now been added to the System
Test framework. There remain 15 regression tests to be converted.
LDAS
System Administration (Anderson)
Caltech
(Dan Kozak)
- Weekly check of frame files in CIT cluster showed no new bad frames.
- Worked on /fb0_frames filesystem problem with framebuilder LHO
(set Write-Back cache for new RAID set, adjusted QFS stripe parameter).
- Did con call with Sun on our mpxio case...nothing conclusive,
now waiting for Lamar to return.
- Did ssum testing on SAM-QFS patch (still not fixed).
- Reracked ldas-test in Synchrotron 215 to make room for new OSG
cluster.
- Installed additional GigE NIC in ldas-cit and ran fibres for Syracuse
hookup in Booth (still need to finish in Bridge & Synchrotron).
- Made some changes to /var/sam/nightly.check script to report more
information (not everywhere yet).
- Got more information on our opterondata-cit crash (after upgrading
BIOS). The "Sharing vectors" message may be related to an
internal Sun bug that involved 5 FC HBAs (just like us), but that
was fixed by the BIOS upgrade. I'll be checking for this message
on the next boot.
- Hooked up 2 T10KB drives directly to 4Gb FC switch. Performance
went up on reads (to ~150MB/sec, +10MB/sec) and down on writes (to
~120MB/sec, -10MB/sec). Opened new case with Sun about the
T10KB performance.
- Updated CAM software on opterondata-cit, morbo and X2200 at CIT.
Still can't get one CAM installation to manage all of our 6140 units.
(Phil Ehrens)
- Helped Melody Araya with some Apache/Kerberos config.
- Discovered possible failure of Apache 2.0.NN to do KDC pre-auth
no matter how it is configured... Apache 2.2.N does
pre-auth when configuration is proper. * Various certificate related
duties.
- Worked with Britta Daudert to diagnose configuration issues
with Bosco preventing it from functioning as a job submission
host. Determined that a number of configuration steps
must still be done by hand after after the vdt software install
scripts are run. Will do additional configuration as time
permits if Robert Engel doesn't show up soon.
- Replaced motherboard in cluster test node 500.
- Replaced drive p3 in cluster node 117.
- Replaced two fans in cluster node 53.
- node 323 continues to generate large numbers of MCE
errors. Will replace memory, and if MCE errors do not abate, will
replace motherboard.
- Created secure vendor upload website for Adv LIGO Procurement
group. 26 60Mb files have been successfully uploaded to date.
- Supported users of Adv LIGO procurements wiki.
MIT
(Fred Donovan)
- More issues with pcraids 4&6; one pcraid rebuilt and is up
(new mainboard), will transfer disks from pcraid6 to it; x4500 is
up and active (ldas-homes; thumper1); transfered home directories
(data2:/dso-test) to thumper; set up pxegrub; linux-live netboot
on ldas-kickstart.
Livingston
(Igor Yakushin)
- SUN replaced the broken panel on the tape robot.
- Made a layout of the new tape robot room.
- Updated cfitsio on Linux machines.
Hanford
(Greg Mendell)
- The Special Det. Char./Timing RDS running at Caltech has run through
5-6 months of the S5 data. I have asked the interested parties
to start looking at this data.
- I have made further progress on the LDAS hoft generation script,
overcoming an issue with jobs suspending.
- I have put in a service call to Sun to repair a failed Loop ID
switch on a 3511 raid box.
- I have installed cfitsio and cfitsio-devel RPMs on the LHO cluster.
General
Computing (Wallace)
MIT
(Fred)
- Ova down (bad mainboard ?), issues with genstor (warranty).
- Working on lasti pde (hardware issues -- mainboard?).
- Dspace computer video issues.
- Throwing out (very) old computer junk.
- Set-up 1 xp desktop, 1 notebook.
- Misc. desktop issues.
Livingston
(Dwayne
- Continued work on new parts management system, worked with Mick
Flannigan, Mary Kurtz, Janeen Romie and others planning further
UI development and system functionality.
- Assisted a user with Firefox related issues.
- Still working with Shannon trying to diagnose our backup network
connection problems.
- Installed a new VM to serve licenses for Comsol and Matlab.
- Numerous usual/unusual user support requests.
- Cleared spam trap daily.
Hanford
(Larry)
- Cleared up a couple of mail aliases.
- Still doing backups of the home accounts.
- User assistance on e-mail setup and home environment setup.
- Some minor purchases.
- Still working on interviews for the sysadmin position.
Caltech
(Veronica)
- Installed a webpage of presentations for the Sept L-V meeting.
- Addressed an issue of migration to a centralised LSC computer
access database.
- Ran a comparison between LSC and LIGO roster databases in order
to synchronise the two.
- LIGO website updates (PAC, LAAC, etc). Updates of the database
of LSC techpapers.
(Christian)
- Julie Hiroto - finished transferring all of Julie's files and
setting to new workstation.
- Maria Ascione - Configured new Macbook with Office and Acrobat
9.
- Jay Marx - Extracted a portion of Einstein's messenger DVD for
Jay to use on a PowerPoint presentation.
- Linda turner - Recovered deleted word document for Linda.
- Robert Taylor - Possible compromise system. Received and email
from shannon to enabled (no host access) in Exceed. more info. to
follow.
- Other misc.: Continued onsite software/phone support.
(Melody)
- Installed MediaWiki on the DCC server, authenticating using kerberos.
Users need to use their ligo.org account to access the wiki.
- Worked on getting the QA check feature in DocDB.
- User support: DocDB and MediaWiki questions.
(Larry)
- Finished up a couple of orders. Wrapped up a SUN maint. contract.
Working on specs for a couple of new orders.
- Mounted a new server to be setup as the backup DCC server.
- Moved a couple of servers between room 18 and 19. Cleaned up some
of the cabling in the two rooms.
- Moved a number of the home account backup files to the tape system.
Still a few more files to get moved over.
- Regular user assistance.
ELIGO
DAQ (Bork)
- Alex and I are now at LHO for the next week to try to determine
exact nature, causes and fixes to problems being reported as 'CDS
causing delays in ELigo commissioning'. We have just started to
look into things, but a few quick items covering recent problems:
- LLO problems of last week with running DTT/awg for commissioning
was traced to NTP server and daemon problems, so any number
of CDS bootfests would not have cleared this. It has been pointed
out, and I discussed this with Keith and Dave, that we need
to get new NTP server units, as the present ones are getting
quite old. Also, the documentation on restarting and checking
NTP needs to be checked/updated so site staff are aware when
this is not working and what to check.
- Commissioners were having problems compiling and running new
code, using the realtime code generator, due to file permission
problems. We traced this to the fact that a commissioner had
modified the permission masks in the user login shell files.
We removed that modification, and now seems to work fine.
- Framebuilder 1 at LHO (initial Ligo unit writing data for
Astrowatch) had problems over the past week, dieing, rebooting,
etc on its own. This was traced to the addition of new disk
drives on the LDAS side, one of which was bad and the other
not configured properly.
- Number 1 issue, among those that I have talked with at LHO
and LLO, is with the GDS arbitrary waveform generator, test
points and awgstream not being robust. So, we will try to tackle
this first. Alex has recompiled GDS with messages turned on
and we immediately see constant reconnect requests from various
client machines, which may well cause the depletion of resources
assigned by the software for each request. We will pursue this
further to see if we can find the cause of all these requests.
- I also want to take inventory of all additional software running
on CDS and try to determine how best to organize it. For example,
it was reported via CDS bugzilla that mDv and rockIFO were not working
here at LHO, and are reported as vital to commissioning, but I need
to track down who is maintaining this code and where it is kept.
Advanced
LIGO and Supporting R&D (Shoemaker)
Advanced
LIGO Management
David Shoemaker (dhs@ligo.mit.edu)
- The Advanced LIGO Project Advisory Panel met at MIT Oct 6-7. They
provided valuable feedback on two issues we requested that they
consider: difficulty in maintaining our procurements throughput,
and successfully navigating the set of development reviews over
the coming months. We will be looking at picking up additional manpower
to help on both administrative and technical fronts, using contingency
where needed, as quickly as possible.
From Carol
Wilkinson
Project Controls
- Advanced LIGO Change Requests (ACR) in process:
- The ACR for delay in PSL delivery schedule of 200 W lasers
by 6 months is in preparation. Uses schedule float and does
not impact project schedule for installed units. Spares will
be delivered after the install date.
- DAQ schedule update to accommodate just in time procurements
is in preparation.
- An ACR will be prepared to add HEPI units to the output readout
HAMs per request by the ISC subsystem, pending a RODA that HEPI
is the isolation of choice. Budget in ISC for seismic isolation
of these chambers will be transferred from ISC to SEI HEPI.
Procurements (from Ed Jasnow
and Carol Wilkinson)
- The University of Florida has set out requests for quotes for
input and recycling optics, with bids due next week.
- The first set of core optics has been delivered by Corning.
- The award for HEPI housings has been awarded.
- The contract with Heraeus for the low OH glass is awaiting Heraeus'
response to the Office of General Counsel’s (OGC) determination
that some of the terms and conditions taken exception to by Heraeus
will have to remain in the contract.
- The terms and conditions for vendors, with the NSF flowdowns,
have been revised and completed by the OGC.
- Interviews of the top candidates for two new buyers and one replacement
contract admin are under way.
- The negotiation summary and the contract for the warehouse modifications
are being finalized for submittal to the NSF for review and approval.
This procurement is going to the NSF because it was added as a Change
Request and wasn't originally estimated to be over $250,000.
NSF Acquisition Approvals
- LIGO is waiting for NSF re-approval of the assembly clean rooms
award (FMP). The award needed re-approval because of the cost savings
due to a design simplification passed a cost deviation threshold
limit in the cooperative agreement.
- LIGO is waiting for approval of the Acquisition Plan for FY2009.
- Ann Miller, our NSF Grants Administrator, has agreed that an updated
acquisition plan should be submitted at six month intervals in order
to prevent the need for re-approvals based on changing design requirements
as development progresses.
- LIGO is waiting for responses from NSF to two other action items:
the format and content of acquisition review packages for planned
procurements that have not yet been sent out for quotes and bids;
and a letter stating that recombining or breaking up procurements
that have been pre-approved is allowable as long as the conditions
in the cooperative agreement are still met.
Progress Updates
- Progress schedule updates for the month of October have been incorporated
into the schedule.
- Monthly status reports will be posted on line by COB Thursday,
November 6. Subsystem leads should review reports and turn in variance
reports by Monday, November 10.
Meetings & Reviews
- The next Monthly Progress Reporting Meeting will be on Thursday,
November 13 at 8:30 AM PT. Subsystem leaders or their delegates
need to attend. Note that the monthly report is due November 14,
so reports need to be in finalized format by this meeting.
Advanced
LIGO Systems
Dennis Coyne <coyne@ligo.caltech.edu>, Peter
Fritschel <pf@ligo.mit.edu>, Calum Torrie<ctorrie@ligo.caltech.edu>,
Matt Evans <mevans@ligo.mit.edu>
AdL Project-Funded Activities
Design Reviews: For a list of reviews, see the
main AdL wiki
page
- BS/FM suspension mechanical/subsystem Final Design and Fabrication
Readiness Review (FDR/FRR) draft report is being prepared.
- PSL Preliminary Design Review (PDR) report has been issued.
- COC Final Design Review (FDR) committee review has just started.
- SEI HAM-ISI FDR committee review has started. A meeting between
the review committee and the design team was held.
- Participated in the PAP review
Procurement Reviews:
- HEPI pier RFQ review is pending.
Technical Review Board (TRB): see the TRB
log
Vacuum Review Board (VRB): see the VRB
log
Configuration Control & Documentation:
- Melody has set us up a Doc DB Wiki for hosting a "What to do?"
section etc. This will be an extension of M080351. We are working
on populating this section and also the "Engineering Guidelines
for using Doc DB and PDMWorks" section prior to release of the new
Doc DB.
Design:
- Optical Layout: A check with the 3D solid model is underway,
- Parametric Instability (PI): Calum has now populated
data on 2000 modes and translated 1000 modes into required MATLAB
data. A total of about 3000 modes (to 100 kHz) is required.
- Beam Splitter suspension wire interface: Calum has
a draft report highlighting a low noise approach for optics suspended
by 2 wire loops. SUS are looking at which suspensions this will
be applied to and then we can send it around. SUS are also going
to extend the document so that it includes approach for all optics
suspended on wire loops.
Interfaces:
Modeling
and Simulation
From: Hiroaki Yamamoto hiro@ligo.caltech.edu
COC Analysis (Hiro)
- The effect of aberration was studied systematically.
- The finite aperture size of test masses are important to estimate
the loss quantitatively.
- The power stored in the arm cavity is mostly TEM00 mode.
- It will be very difficult to find a simple analytic form to
characterize the loss.
- The analysis is explained in http://ilog.ligo-wa.caltech.edu:7285/advligo/COC_
Model_aberrationEffect
- It will be worthwhile to setup a match-making between ITM and
ETM mirrors when mirrors are delivered to suppress the loss.
Mechanical Simulation for Advanced LIGO
(Sany and SLU team)
- We lost the network connection last week and were unable to work
as expected. However, we made another progress in Mode Cleaner e2e
modeling by succeeding in getting rid of the bump near 10 Hz. The
MC transmitted light’s frequency noise is now about the requirement
in 10<f<100 Hz (10% higher than requirement) and in 0.1<f<10
Hz, it is factor of five lower than the requirement except for the
1.2 and 2.8 Hz triple suspension’s mechanical resonance where
the frequency noise spectrum shows sharp peaks. (The peak values
are factor of three higher than the requirement.)
Safety
From: David Nolting dnolting@ligo-la.caltech.edu
- Participated in the HAM-ISI PDR on 10/8.
- Continue to work on updating document M980242-A-M - “LIGO
Observatory Safety and Environmental Protection Manual”.
- Reviewing documents for upcoming COC FDR.
- Designing a power point presentation on the Failure Mode &
Effects Analysis (FMEA) process, to assist design engineers to better
identify flaws that may cause or contribute to a system/subsystem
failure.
Quality
Assurance
From: Mick Flanigan flanigan_m@ligo-wa.caltech.edu
Design Reviews
- PSL: No update beyond last week.
- BS/FM: No update beyond last week
- Ham ISI: PDR questions submitted, reviewed, looking forward
to answers during the review week ahead.
- COC: No Update beyond last week
Inspections
- GS13 Problems: Working with teams to identify reported
problems with GS13 Seismometers, and to understand why we are seeing
quality issues from vendor. Also asking the question of the team
if we need to specify with the supplier specific materials, workmanship
standards, as well as look at having the supplier perform the improvement
mods instead of us doing in house because of headcount constraints.
We may pay more for the mods and material change request, however
it may be cheaper in the long run, not only man hours we don't have,
but schedule slip, as well as the warranty implications of us performing
the mods ourselves. Planning on a visit with supplier of GS13's
in the next month or so once we identify the issues we are running
into and strategize a course of action.
- Will be inspecting a series of metal fabrication shops next week
with Janeen and Mike.
- Working on scheduling an inspection with NextIntent and Joe LaCour,
waiting for dates from Joe on when he will be at NextIntent.
Software
- Parts DB: Spent significant time this week and last working
with Dwayne on designing a front end for the system, and am currently
reconfiguring the DB tables to meet our revised requirements. Adding
in modification history, traveler functions, and inspection functions
to the UI. We will publish a project schedule this week with roll
out for test dates.
- Defect tracking: JIRA has been approved for order, and
will be sending out the PO in the next few days. We will wait until
early November when I am back at Livingston to install and configure
the system, and tie to the parts DB. The tie in will allow for parts
views in the parts DB to reference defects, and vice versa.
- Calibration: On the back burner for the next few
weeks until we get the Parts and defect system up.
Travel
- Indianapolis Oct 15th, 16th for Inspection.
- Livingston Nov3rd-7th for Laser training, Parts DB work, defect
tracking DB build and test.
- Tentatively planning to visit NextIntent in October sometime,
but is going to be dictated by Joe LaCour's schedule for visit as
well. Will post travel dates as soon as they are firm.
- Early to mid November: Dallas for GS13 review.
Facilities
Modifications and Preparations
From: John Worden worden_j@ligo-wa.caltech.edu
- This week LHO rented offsite storage space.This will allow us
to prepare for the warehouse construction work and to provide more
workspace/storage for HEPI assembly work. One LHO forklift was moved
over to the rental space and Terry S. has started to move the contents
of our warehouse.
- At LLO, Temporary on site storage has been obtained to allow the
clearing of the warehouse to begin construction of the clean storage/bake
area. The successful bider for this construction was Cangelosi-Ward
of Baton Rouge and a PO will soon be issued. Work could begin in
two weeks.
Seismic
Isolation
From: Ken Mason kmason@ligo.mit.edu
SEI Project Activities
- The HAM ISI preliminary design review presentation was given this
week. Several pages of questions and comments were given to the
SEI team to act upon with nothing major. We intend to complete this
response over the next couple of weeks and prepare for a final design
review in early December.
- A purchase order was issued for the HEPI housing weldments. This
is the last of the long lead procurements. Several more remain which
will not have an effect on the schedule.
- We have received two prototype capacitive position sensors from
ADE which have been designed for lower noise over the low frequency
range of HEPI. We will test the sensors at MIT to verify the performance.
- We're still receiving parts for the prototype gullwing crossbeam
test at LASTI. We expect to have the system installed and functioning
in early November.
- Assembly is underway on the HEPI pump stations. The piping
and manifolds are still being fabricated. Progressing comfortably.
Few redlines to close out on the actuator, shop is ready for go.
Suspensions
Operations Work
HAM Suspensions for Advanced & Enhanced
LIGO
- Small and large triple suspensions PDR, for mechanical and electrical
is scheduled for mid-November. Drafting preliminary design document.
Collecting/updating documents.
- This week, blades will be sent out for nickel plating. The procedure
has been updated on the wiki.
- The structure has been delivered for the large triple suspension
prototype. It's not completely machined yet. We aim to test the
structural resonance towards the end of the month, after some skimming
of the interface surfaces.
BSC suspensions for Advanced LIGO
- Quad: Another UK/US telecon was held to discuss assembly
and alignment tooling for glass assemblies. This will be an ongoing
topic at a design meeting. A spreadsheet was prepared building on
documents already put together by RAL and Glasgow and will be updated
in future.
Project-Funded Activities
- Mechanical test stand PO has been prepared but not yet sent out.
- Plans are being made for a vendor inspection next week.
- Discussion on mods to the ergo arm to allow it to be used for
various styles of optics took place.
- BOSEM delivery schedule was discussed. It was agreed that after
initial ~ 24 for the quad training assembly at LLO, due end Nov,
the remaining ~ 550 will be sent in batches of 150, on a schedule
TBD. All will come to Caltech. They are already cleaned in the UK.
They will be baked and RGA scanned here, with electrical tests pre
and post-bake.
Core
Optics
From: GariLynn Billingsley Billingsley_G@ligo.caltech.edu
Project
- We have received 3/4 of the substrate blanks from Corning.
This is well ahead of schedule. I have ordered one additional
PR3 spare to support the folded IFO configuration. Many thanks
to Rudy for walking the contract through the system.
- Heraeus is on schedule.
- I have sent out a draft of the polishing requirements to our three
pathfinder polishers, with notice that the official RFP will likely
come to them in mid-November. I hope this can shorten the
response time required by the vendors. LIGO-C080153.
Development
- Surface Data from the Tinsley pathfinder are now available.
Contact billingsley_g "at" ligo.caltech.edu for access.
- Tinsley Pathfinder Final Review C080149-00 and C080150-00
available in the DCC.
Auxiliary
Optics
From: Michael Smith smith@ligo.caltech.edu
Work Under Project Budget
- OPTICAL LAYOUT: Luke is working on the IO portion of the
layout for the non-folded IFO.
- AOS SCHEDULE: Mike re-organized the AOS development schedule
(except for TCS and Photon Calibration) for Preliminary Design through
Final Design, predicated on the minimum 50% full time availability
of Ken, Chris, and Luke between now and the end of 2009. Additional
personnel will be needed for some of the Optical Lever tasks.
Work Under Operations Budget
- SLC: Ken is completing the mounting accessories for attaching
the vibration analysis equipment to the hanging baffle structure.
Virginio and Riccardo made design recommendations for attaching
the vibration driver to the suspension under test.
- ETM SUS: The ETM Suspension test-prototype is being made
in the CIT Aero machine shop.
- VIBRATION TEST FACILITY: Calum et al. have on hand all
the components needed for a preliminary vibration measurement of
the elliptical baffle suspension, and for some measurements the
SUS group plans to make in the near future.
- TCS: Aidan and Phil presented a two-beam optical lever
concept that will provide information about radii of curvature changes
of the core optics, as well as providing angular motion data.
Input
Optics
From: David tanner@phys.ufl.edu
- Cavity parameters for the advanced LIGO recycling cavities are
summarized in LIGO-T080268-00-I. The document contains the ROCs
of the mirrors and the lengths between optical elements. Cavity
parameters, e.g., finesse, free spectral ranges, linewidths, etc.,
are also calculated. Higher order modes have been analyzed for resonance.
The current Gouy phase seems to be fine in the sense that none of
the higher order carrier or RF sidebands are within the linewidth
of the cavities. (Muzammil)
- We have made a layout of the IO section of PSL table in solidworks.
Also, we have made substrate drawings for MC flat and curved mirrors.
Finally, we have figured the angles of incidence for RC mirrors. (Luke)
- Work is continuing on the attempt to determine the frequency noise
attributable to light scattering in the mode cleaner. Preliminary
comparison of the scattering performance of the AdvLIGO mode cleaner
with the Virgo mode cleaner. The result looks quite encouraging.
More analysis is on the way. (Rodica)
Advanced LIGO Acquisition
- The bid opening for the IO optical blanks (substrates) was postponed
several days to give vendors more time to submit quotes. Bid opening
is now scheduled for Monday Oct 13. We are expecting several vendors
to respond with quotes. (Rodica)
- We are working on polishing specifications for the Input Mode
Cleaner Mirrors to put together a bid package. (Rodica)
Prestabilized
Laser
From: Peter King pking@ligo.caltech.edu
Operations
- The prototype laser safety barrier is completed.
- All the laser power supply power cords have been changed over
to Twist-Locks, so that all laser power supplies in the lab must
be plugged into the power reset box. In the event of a power
failure, a manual reset is explicitly required to switch the laser
on again. The main panic button has been installed in the
lab. The remote ones will follow.
Project
- A new revision of the AdL PSL laser safety plan is near completion.
The revision corrects a few minor mistakes in the previous version
that relate to the handling of the optical fibres for the pump laser
diodes. I had assumed that this fell under ANSI Z136.1 but
it actually falls under another ANSI standard.
Control
and Data Systems
From: Rolf Bork rolf@ligo.caltech.edu
AdvLIGO DAQ
- Debugged eLIGO instances of the data acquisition and control hardware/software;
please see eLIGO report above.
- Driven by the factor of 8 price increase of the realtime operating
system licenses that we have been using, we started to look at alternatives.
Realtime Application Interface (RTAI), which is public license,
was downloaded and run through some initial testing. We were able
to compile and run our presently most demanding code (OMC). Timing
numbers look good, even under extreme loading of the computer with
other non-realtime tasks, such as constant kernel recompiles. We
have a couple of issues that we need to look at closer:
- Starting a second realtime tasks results in a 200usec delay
in a task already running.
- Stopping one realtime task can cause a second running task
to halt
From: Vern Sandberg <sandberg@ligo-wa.caltech.edu>
CDS Activities for October 2 weekly:
LHO
Hardware Related:
- Recovery continues from the effects of the power outage on Sept.
24, 2008. This service provider) to repair a closing contact
on the substation that feeds LH. It had been damaged by lightning.
- 2k - Optical levre photodiode quadrant channel was found oscillating.
A DC power cycle cured it and H2 came back to its range and astrowatch
resumed.
- 4k - Found a 2.3MHz oscillation on a suspension power supply.
A power cycle of the +/-15V supplies resolved the problem. Atomic
Clock - The MCA and fiber driver did not come back on. Awaiting
an "RMA" from Timing Solutions for return for repair of the suspect
units.
- Scanned power distribution panels and transformers with an IR
camera for "hot lugs" and other hot spots. Found a burned
lug in an outside transormer, possibly due to a birds nest.
Site is in good order.
- RS-232 to Ethernet upgrade for the rotation stages and other serial
controls is in progress.
Software related:
- Building up Penguin+CentOS5 (Linux) systems to replace our IOCs
and have some spares for S6.
- Received 5 more Penguin "Tempest" (Linux) workstations for the
control room. Forwarded order information to LLO.
- fe code for the ISI has been checked into the (LDAS or DCS hosted).
- Subversion Repository (SVN).
- Automatic update of medm *.adl screens from SVN in lace and working.
LLO
- Preparing to open gate valves Thursday, October 2, 2008.
- Found a UPS power system broken on the vacum system.
- LDAP system in final stages for master and slave systems; will
be racked into MSR. See LLO-CDS Wiki
Wilson House
- 40m: Interface cards and I/O Chassis being procured and
assembled. Problems with Dolphin boxes being investigated
and resolved.
- LASTI: Frame builder problems, HEPI system died and took
out the timing system with it, which in turn killed teh frame builder. Timing
system has subsequently been moved to suspension system.
- SUS:
- Refl Mirror test stand components being procured, assembled
(parts-wise) and prepared for shipment to LLO for a October-November
install.
- Beam Splitter Test Stand components being collected.
Confirm (and order) racks for LLO and LHO.
UK Suspension Electronics:
- Tests and Test Plans, Planning and Advise on pre-production prototypes.
- Quad - reviews and tests of prototypes; new builds of pre-production
models for the BSC test stand. We will eview these models.
- Penultimate Mass (PUM) Drive electronics - Still in design, not
into layout yet.
- How "hard" is the UK's September 30, 2009 deadline.
- Estimated work load of ~10 person*years, with a 10 month window
to accomplish it. SUS team leader has been consulted.Outsourcing
must be considered.
- SEI: HEPI electronics parts ordered, boards being assembled
and testing underway.
- TCS: Redesign of preamps to be used at LLO.
- PSL:
- ISS chassis work, may not get an upgrade.
- PDR (review held last week) raised the need to define the
control and monitor system for the new PSL/advLIGO lasers. This
system has no need for a fast control capability, but instead
focuses on a large number of slow or DC channels, ideal for
an EPICS system. Suggestions were t.o build a system similar
to the existing RT-Linux systems with a "Blue Box" I/O Chassis
or use a commercial system (such as the system from LaserCetnrum)
and deal with the interface issues. Design is very similar in
requirements to the iLIGO facilities vacuum system.
CDS Activities for October 9 weekly:
From: Vern Sandberg <sandberg@ligo-wa.caltech.edu>
LHO
- Commissioning the LHO 4k continues with hunting for bumps in the
4k's AS --port power spectrum: A rapidly running fan on table
ISCT4 resolved problem of a bump at 70-80Hz. We still have
some HF noise and work continues to resolve the cause. The
4k now locks and has a range of 5MPC with low laser power.
We plan to transition to the DC-diode length control soon.
- An educational and test "blue box" advLIGO ADC/DAC and its associated
DAQ system system is being built for demonstration in Japan.
- DC-Power -- Noise power measurements under a variety of load conditions
continue.
- Continuing development of software for the serial to ethernet
interface upgrade. This will improve the reliability of the
rotary stages that control the laser power and numerous other RS-232
serial controls.
LLO
- After two months of down time the gate valves at LLO are open
and commissioning continues with staff from CIT. See LLO det
elog for details.
- Software:
- The NTP server had been off ~3 weeks (from power outage?)
and had not been running in a useable way. It was restarted
last Saturday and synchronized. The documentation to reset
and sync has been updated. Enabled AWG injections for commissioning.
- A slave LDAP is now up on the network and work continues in
bringing a functioning system up and running. User IDs
have been exchanged between LHO and LLO.
Wilson House
- SUS:
- Worked with the UK engineers over the past week on the designs
for the pre-production version of the PUM and UIM coil drivers.
The designs are now complete and appear to meet the requirements.
- Work on the LIGO Lab components for the BSC test stands is
progressing. All of the AA and AI chassis, ADCs, DACs,
ADC and DAC Interface boards and timing interface boards are
fabricated and tested. The software and operator screens are
complete. We will begin assembling the systems at CIT for an
integrated test of the hardware and software in the next week.
Following testing at CIT the hardware will be shipped to the
sites for installation. The current date for delivery of UK
components for the BSC test stands is Dec 1. The plan is to
assemble and test the test stands as much as possible without
the UK components and then complete the installation and testing
once they are delivered.
- The components for the RM test stand to be installed at LLO
are fabricated and tested. The software and operator screens
are complete. Test stand components will be assembled tested
at CIT prior to shipment to LLO for installation.
- Outstanding items: testing of the prototype ESD unit, formal
definition of the requirements for the OMC suspension coil drivers.
- AdL DAQ/CDS:
- Hamilton Sheet Metal has completed the drawings for the "new"
blue box (IO expansion chassis) and should deliver a prototype
unit to us by late next week. Some of the features included
are: mounting holes for both PCIe and PCIX motherboards, additional
space for interface cabling and boards, new PCIX style front
plate mounting for interface boards in the back of the chassis,
optional internal and front panel mounting of slave timing receivers,
replaceable and customizable front panel cutouts for timing
receivers and other boards. If the prototype unit is acceptable
we will order 6 more units for the 40 meter controls upgrade.
- Worked with General Standards to define the clock interface
and and connector pin out for the new 18 bit DAC board that
they are developing for us.
- Modified the LASTI Timing Slave schematics to create a new
Mini Timing Slave that could be used for the 40 meter upgrade.
This design will be held in reserve in the event that the AdL
timing system prototypes are delayed.
- SEI:
- Assembling and testing chassis, correcting bugs, and documenting.
Getting ready for production builds.
- Preparing to address any issues raised in SEI HAM-ISI review.
- ISC:
- Finalized electronics associated with the OMC, applied changes
to electronics, and updated as-built documentation.
- Continuing work on AdLIGO RFPD design issues: Detailed
analysis on the proposed topology for in-vacuum RF readout.
Work on the fixture used to characterize the response of single
2mm photodiodes.
- Ordered parts and expedited work on the modification to the
Tip/Tilt coil-driver. The goal is to add de-whitening
filters to the existing design, while maintaining the ability
to pass the dither modulation.
- Placed orders for some custom hybrid RF splitters used in
I&Q demodulator cells. We have contacted the company
and are awaiting a quote.
- TCS: Working on a noise analysis of the preamps to improve
the input referred noise and correct a large offset.
- DAQ: Very active work at all sites on commissioning the
new DAQs and resolving new system issues.
From: Rich Abbott <abbott@ligo.caltech.edu>
- Made trip to LLO in order to finalize electronics associated with
the OMC. Made changes to electronics and updated as built
documentation. Took much baseline data that I am now putting
together to be available at the sites.
- Worked with Hartmut on AdLIGO RFPD design issues. He and
I went into detail on the proposed topology for in-vacuum RF readout.
- Participated in the design review for HAM ISI.
- Worked on improving the input referred noise of the TCS pre-amplifier.
- Made a health call to the 40 meter lab to help them use the external
DC-DC converter I brought back from LLO.
- Ordered parts and got technician (Chub) working on modification
to the Tip/Tilt coil-driver. The goal is to add de-whitening
filters to the existing design, while maintaining the ability to
pass the dither modulation.
- Went over a test fixture with Chub. The fixture is used
to characterize the response of single 2mm photodiodes as part of
the AdLIGO RFPD design.
- Gave Chub the details to place an order for some custom hybrid
RF splitters used in I&Q demodulator cells. He has contacted
the company and is awaiting a quote.
For
additional information about this report, contact Albert
Lazzarini