PROPOSALS and REPORTS (Lindquist, Beckett)

> From Dave Beckett <beckett@ligo.caltech.edu>

• During the week I received all the submissions needed to assemble the monthly "highlights" report for the NSF. The due date is Wednesday, July 15th, and I'm now in the process of editing the material into a first draft.
• Developing an article for the LIGO blog on the LSC traveling exhibit that debuted at the World Science Festival in New York City.

CHANGE REQUESTS (Lindquist)

• Change Request CR-090004, requesting funding to be added to LHO's Operations budget for an additional Educator (Assistant or Associate level, depending on experience) to maintain quality while handling the growing audience for education and public outreach, was submitted by Fred Raab for discussion during the Executive Committee Meeting on Monday, July 6.  The change request has been assigned Document ID LIGO-M0900183, version 1.

HUMAN RESOURCES (Akutagawa)

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

• The next Staffing Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 13, 2009.
• All files for the Staffing Committee are up-to-date and posted on the committee's web page.

Quality/Safety (Nolting)

• David Nolting will be traveling to CIT during the week of 7/13 with plans to meet with Caltech Safety regarding safety training options for LIGO employees.  Also, will meet with Peter King and Bill Tyler to finalize the outline for Laser Safety Re-certification training.
• Nothing new to report from the CIT campus LIGO lab.

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

Summary of Activities at LIGO Hanford Observatory
(compiled by M. Landry)

• Initial locking in S6 has been at 14W in eves/early morning, and 8W in the days. Lock durations are shorter than desired, 1-2h durations spliced with shorter stretches. As road construction is currently well beyond the 240/route 10 intersection (to return, however), the detector is currently less robust than it's S5 counterpart. Investigations are underway such as looking at EY side glitch sensitivity and gain settings. Ranges are 15-16Mpc at 14W, and several Mpc below this at 8W.
• Calibration work led to an investigation of the OMC front end ADC, which was found to have a 32kHz 2-point moving average component on top of the nominal decimation filter. The CDS group instituted a code patch and the filter now behaves as expected. In other calibration work, we continue to monitor the OMC-LSC timing stability.
• 60Hz sidebands remain problematic, they may be induced by TT sensitivity to magnetic fields.

Squeezer Update (D. Sigg and S. Dwyer)

• We've been working on a noise model, right now we are finding transfer functions and putting them into a simulink model. We looked at back-scatter noise from the interferometer onto the squeezer table and found this to be a small effect. We also looked at the transmission of the RF sidebands through the OMC and found this to be a problem at the current level. The RF sidebands introduce a phase "wiggle" on the squeezer ellipsoid and therefore degrade squeezing performance. We found that for the H1 squeezer experiment either the modulation index has to be reduced by 2.7, or the power from the DC offset has to be increased by about a factor of 7 or a combination thereof.

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

No report provided.

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

Budget Change Request (CR):

• Submitted a change request to the CCB for allocation of funds for designer/drafter support for SUS and AOS design actitivites leading to Advanced LIGO.

Hysteresis & Tiltmeter R&D (Andrey Rodionov for the period from June 16):

• Yury Minenkov from Italy was visiting Caltech during the week of June 16-19.  Resumed the tiltmeter work, handing it out to a student crew.
• Andrey Rodionov, a Caltech graduate student, started working in the lab on June 16. Several SURF and volunteer students (Iain Barr, Amanda OToole, Abhik Bhawal, Morgan Asadoor) arrived to Caltech and are getting their feet wet in the lab.
• The tiltmeter is now completely wired up to its LVDT and coil drivers, as well as to the computer controller. A Labview program was written that reads voltages from the left and right LVDTs of the tiltmeter, and process them. Using the feedback position integrator, which sends to the coil driver values of voltage apt to minimize the difference of voltages of the two LVDTs, that is to damp the swinging of the tiltmeter. The lifetime of decaying oscillations in the current system was estimated to be of the order of 500 seconds. We will be making a series of night measurements (when the level of seismic oscillations is much less than that of the daytime) using our program. In order to reduce the influence of air flows on the tiltmeter, we constructed two boxes around the tiltmeter. Firstly, an aluminum box was constructed around the tiltmeter, and secondly, another box made of rigid styrofoam panels with thickness of 5cm was put together around the whole optical table with the tiltmeter. In order to make our measurements with minimum perturbations to the system, we will be controlling our system through Labview program distantly (away from the lab). For this purpose Christian Cepeda installed special software (Timbuktu Pro) into our portable computers.
• Gong Pu has arrived from Beijing and started working.
• In lab 56 the tiltmeter behavior has been further studied with the LabView program. The possibility to change the tiltmeter resonant frequency by varying the Electro-Magnetic Anti-Spring (EMAS) strength was added to our program. This amounts to changing the rigidity coefficient of the gravitational spring (equivalent to moving small masses higher or lower with respect to the pivot point), which leads to the alteration of the frequency of oscillation of the system (w^2 = k / m).
• Amanda: For each EMAS gain settings, the tiltmeter was excited with a current pulse of amplitude calculated to give similar oscillation amplitudes and the ringdown studied. By fitting the resulting curves with an exponentially damped harmonic oscillation expression, we were able to determine the dependence of the frequency and Q-factor fwt of the tiltmeter system as a function of the frequency. The frequency versus EMAS perfectly follows the predicted square root function. The results showed that the Q-factor follows the quadratic power law for lower frequencies (time independent losses i.e. purely hysteretic behavior), and grows faster for higher frequencies.
• This measurement, after due validations and cross checks, will allow us to calculate the thermal noise level of the system in this configuration. Next we will measure the step function response (Morgan) and after that the slow raise response to explore the hysteresis response (Abhik). 

• Abhik, Morgan: Over the previous week-end we acquired stability monitoring data, with feedback off. The smoothness of the three-day weekend data is still being checked, and some unknown origin kicks to the system were observed. We also continue working on improvements of our filtering technique in collaboration with Fausto Acernese, one of our Italian partners. Note that the tiltmeter is presently working on a raw (as EDM-ed, unsharpened and uncoated) tungsten carbide (the material used in concrete drill bits) knife-edge. The losses are expected to be better with a sharpened, and a Titanium Nitrate (the gold-like coating of the new generation drill bits) coating. 
• Gong, Andrey: In lab 04 we started the setup of the comparative measurement of maraging and glassy metal GAS springs.  This will take a few weeks.

Controls and Data Systems (Bork)

See Advanced LIGO

40-Meter Interferometer (Adhikari)

No report provided.

Thermal Noise Interferometer (Black)

• The legs to our new optical table arrived early, and Greg and Rob have started placing optics on the new table. The rest of the move continues apace.
• Greg is following up on a suggestion by Harold Lueck that there may be a phase difference between the photothermal response of the coating versus the response of the substrate. He is working through the theory including phase response, and he met with Yanbei Chen to get his input.
• Akira has been buying hardware to replace scavenged parts from the cavity-assisted photothermal experiment, with the goal of having both that experiment and Greg's Michelson-pattern photothermal apparatus running in parallel.

LASTI (Mittleman)

No report provided.

CIT Science Group (Weinstein)

__________

Antony Searle:

• Finally got large-scale Omega running working.
• Started PRC run postprocessing and interpretation.
• Reworking LAL Bayesian library to simplify usage models and testing.
• Working with SURFs.

__________

Ajith Parameswaran:

• Attending the NRDA meeting.
• Submitted the spinning IMR waveforms paper for the LSC review  https://dcc.ligo.org/cgi-bin/private/DocDB/ShowDocument?docid=3403.
• Started coding up the spinning IMR waveforms in LAL.
• Catching up with the SURF student (veto project).

__________

Diego Fazi:

• Started familiarizing with GIT.
• Started collaborating with Kipp Cannon, Chad Hanna and Collin Capano on developing the new post-processing pipeline.
• Started familiarizing with SQLITE.

__________

Peter Kalmus:

• Responded to referee and re-submitted stack methods paper to PRD.
• Experiments with Flare detection statistic.
• Flare unit test maintenance.

__________

Amber L. Stuver:

• LOOC-UP image post-processing: outlined code specification for Brenden Simoneaux (RET teacher at LLO) for successive image alignment and subtraction to seek transients while I have been working on developing the image pre-processing needed for proper calibration of the image.  Brenden has been making great progress on this project!
• Participated in scimon training and started sitting shifts.
• Continued working on MatApps with the rest of the team to contact potentially interested groups and identify stakeholders in order to make the transition of the repository of CVS to SVN a smooth one and to implement a new development->production->system classification and release system.

__________

Stephen Privitera:

• Adding low pass filter to calibration response function generating code.
• Learning about version control with SVN.

__________

Anand Sengupta:

• Working with Anahita on her project report and helping her code a MATLAB program to calculate horizon distance.
• Working with Tristan Miller on his SURF program: I helped him design a python program which would integrate the multivariate trigger classifier into the CBC pipeline.
• Modifying the inspiral program to calculate moments of the SNR and chisq time series around second stage triggers.

__________

Cristina Valeria Torres:

• Continue testing TCS tracking with tracksearch on sample of S5 data supplied by Rupal Amin.
• Continue debugging CBC followup pipeline.
• Setup follow up pipelines for triggers (top 10 E14) between highmass ihope search and cWB.

__________

Kari Hodge:

• I'm in the process of writing the script which gets the pattern files from the SQL tables. A new development is that I'm adding the continuous chisq and the bank chisq. I will check if these improve the performance of the MVSC statistic.

__________

Igor Yakushin:

• S6 cWB online analysis is currently running at https://ldas-jobs.ligo.caltech.edu/~igor/S6_ONLINE_1/.

__________

Kipp Cannon:

• Working with Sanjit Mitra and SURF student Dan Stratman on a novel approach to the deconvolution of stochastic sky maps.
• Working with SURF student Mireia Crispin-Ortuzar on a technique for the rank-reduction of inspiral template banks.
• Working with Drew Keppel, Chad Hanna, and Romain Carriou on improvements to a new \chi^{2} statistic for high speed, low-latency, inspiral analyses.
• Running two months of the S5 high-mass inspiral search.
• Development of new post-processing tools for inspiral search pipelines.

Laboratory Computing (Anderson)

LDAS Software Systems (Maros)

• For S6, version 1.14.3 was created to address critical issues of the disk cache code as needed by LDR. After a couple of iterations, a workable diskcache utility was provided for LDR use.
• Development continues with the diskcache to address threading issues. One such deadlock condition has been discovered and corrected.

LDAS System Administration (Anderson)

Caltech

(Dan Kozak)

• Continued to refine DMT data flow from sites to CIT to avoid duplication with low-latency work.
• Shipped more tapes to sites.
• Converted RAID5 to RAID6 in place on 2 volumes of home3 6140.
• Set up gridftp under SMF at CIT/LHO/LLO.
• Restored data to node314 via clusterstage.
• Helped Keith Thorne debug/fix problem with /msr_frames at LLO due to 3511 power outage problem (one tray was not on UPS, now it is).
• Set up S6 & VSR2 directories & archiving at CIT/LHO/LLO.
• Tested tape drive sharing between independent SAM-QFS MDS boxes.
• Tweaked the lag plot to work with S6/VSR2.
• Patched & rebooted LLO's qfs-nfs1.
• Setup CIT's thumper3 on SAN and set up QFS mount of /archive.
• Verify 2 copies on tape of all /archive/frames/S5/TIMING data, then released it.
• Sent followup email to Sun about QuickTools (the SANsurfer replacement).

(Phil Ehrens)

• Reworked most of the documentation for the MOU Review website, and redesigned the image map to make it simpler.
• Created a ligo.org password resetting guide for use by RT ticket handlers and users of the MOU reporting website.
• Moved the "seismic" svn repo from dziban to vcs and supported user migration to the new repo.
• Supported MOU reporting website users.
• Reorganized the Directory Services Subversion repo and populated it with the roster, myligo, and grouper files in actual use on authcore.

MIT

(Fred Donovan)

• Continuing bates cluster install.

Livingston

(Igor Yakushin)

• h(t) and XML data is exchanged between sites as described in https://ldas-jobs.ligo.caltech.edu/
  ~igor/rsync_scripts.
• The new 4 x2200M2 and x4540 servers are rack mounted.

Hanford

(Greg Mendell)

• Working with LDAS, S6 raw data archiving (which started last Thursday to collect preS6 measurements), RDS generation, and LDAS hoft generation are running. Raw data archiving started: GPS 930585632 = Jul 02 2009 11:00:17 CDT = Jul 02 2009 09:00:17 PDT. RDS and LDAS hoft generation started: GPS 931035296 = Jul 07 2009 15:54:41 CDT = Jul 07 2009 13:54:41 PDT. (Dan Moraru).
• Configured qfs-nfs2, thumper3, and a new x2200 server.
• Restarted LDAS room temperature monitoring.
• Installed new HBA in qfs-nfs2.
• Connected qfs-nfs1, qfs-nfs2, thumper2, and thumper3 to QLogic FC switch.
• Drew cables that will connect 10Gbit NICs in qfs-nfs1, thumper2, and thumper3 to Cisco switch.
• Worked on rezoning FC switch and configuring QFS on qfs-nfs1 and thumper2.
• Handled various software issues.
• Attended PCard training session.

General Computing (Wallace)

MIT

(Fred)

• Networking issues with visitors.
• Some ansys installation issues.
• Disposed of (recycled) surplus computers (lots).
• Setting up sparc server for Sam (for compiling sparc based code).

Livingston

(Dwayne)

• Poor performance and random reboots on Vostro laptop were due to incorrect/missing drivers.
• Received approval on quote for new printer for SEC.
• Modified user permissions for several users in JIRA.
• Imported new user list into JIRA.
• Assisted user with LIGO.ORG password reset.
• Installed a hub in the Control Room for visiting scientist/students without wireless cards in their laptops.
• Investigated a failure to mount /archive from ldas, turned out to be a typo in /etc/resolv.conf on ldas gateway.
• Remounted /dmt-apps on bermuda and decatur.
• Installed UPS in SB network closet, waiting for 30A circuit to be moved for power.
• Re-imaged a workstation for new drafter.
• Installing XP 64bit on a Sun Ultra 24, going to install an NVidia Tesla C1060 with 240 GPU cores, to evaluate performance with different software and scripts.
• Replaced memory in a ME workstation.
• Tested a bluetooth headset paired with my MacBook Pro using EVO. Fairly successful, but one report of strange static noise during most sentences.  The EVO recording sounds fine to me though.
• Replaced wireless controller in a Dell laptop.
• Attended a few meetings.
• Worked a couple small procurement items.
• Numerous usual/unusual user support requests.
• Cleared spam trap daily.

(Shannon)

• Added syslog config to m1 to log to my central syslog.
• Verified list membership in the lsc-excomm.
• Reading up on QoS on the MLX-8.
• Discussed a bit of traffic that came from CDS at a sustained 80+ mbit/sec over the weekend to determine if we should anticipate seeing this for all of S6 or if it was an anomaly.
• Added mailing list alias on ligo.org mail servers for matapps-discuss.
• Cron'd the rebuilding of lsc-all every 30 minutes.  Will tune timing as necessary, probably once or twice daily at some point.
• Worked with AT&T and Charter to figure out two independent fiber outages.
• Discussed SPAM situation on M1.ligo.org with Larry.  We have a workable solution.
• Went through mail headers in the RT queue to figure out the source of SPAM.  About 60% of the messages I looked at flows through PSU to M1, the rest flows directly through M1.  Will put in a solution early next week for filtering.
• Handled several RT queue tickets for Auth stuff.

Hanford

(Jonathan)

• Attended Gaby's sci-mon training.
• Installed MATLAB & python on an assembly tech's laptop.
• Setup & testing of samba.
• Code review and testing of pam_script module, possibly for use in migrating to new kerberos and samba setup.
• Setup another access point to handle wireless load while outreach hosts a WSU class for the next two weeks.
• Checked on wireless network problems reported by Mark Barton.  Could not repeat.  He also is not seeing a problem now.
• Initial setup of SW09 workstation.  Waiting for license.
• Setup a new machine for COMSOL & Matlab.  This is to address extremely frequent crashes seen by a SURF student.
• Setup new LHO user, Jeffery Garcia.
• Helped Terry S. & Terry G. with LIGO.org signup/use.

Caltech

(Veronica)

• Ongoing work on the old DCC migration.
• Updates of various LIGO/LSC webpages.
• User support (Visitors website).

(Larry)

• Tracked down multiple procurement items. Each LIGO location has received the visitor SW workstation. Now need to place the Solidworks orders for the workstations. Updated a license for zemax. Purchased more misc. computer h/w for end users.
• Setup a number of new accounts. The final group of SURF students arrived and they are all setup. Cleaned off a few more old accounts and took care of items for people that have left the project.
• Setup a couple of computers for the labs. Also, setup a number of workstations and modified a couple of configurations for the SURF students.
• A little more work done in the server room. Mostly installing h/w for the new rack-mount units. Installed the OS on a couple of boxes.
• Regular user assistance and meetings.

(Melody)

• DCC User support (removing wrong files and versions, allowing access).
• Continued addressing myLIGO trouble tickets and worked on stabilizing the system.
• Upgraded the LAAC wiki to mediawiki 1.15.0 and authenticating using kerberos.  Still need to work on assigning the access levels using DS2's position codes.

(Christian)

• Peter King - Installed and configured new system with XP SP3 and virtual box running solaris.
• Riccardo Desalvo - Reinstalled Timbuktu and cloned labview server.
• Cloned and repartition WSUS server.
• Julie Hiroto - Replaced fax ink cartridge.
• Ruth Winstead - Installed an configure sprint USB data card and scansoft software.
• Other misc.: Continued onsite software/phone support.

(Mike)

• Continuing to load two laptops for new users.
• Finished up working on Barry's laptop.
• Added multiple mac addresses to our wireless access points.
• Worked on restoring Riccardo's data to his new laptop.
• Looked for more computer equipment with Larry for additional new uses up on the 2nd floor of W/B.
• Many issues with printers this week, plus swapping out toner cartridges.
• Trouble shot a laptop for Rand. This had to be called in to Dell, which they are sending me out a replacement keyboard. If this don't fix the problem then I have to send it in to Dell's depot to be completely rebuilt.
• Loaded a linux box for new user.
• Transferring data from LHO to CIT for ADVLIGO.
• Replace some hardware on a laptop.
• Started loading 4 new workstations, windows & linux builds.
• Other onsite/phone user support, and sysadmin tasks.

Distributed (Grid) Computing R&D (Blackburn)

No report provided.

Advanced LIGO and Supporting R&D (Shoemaker)

Advanced LIGO Management

From Carol Wilkinson

Project Controls

• There were no change requests processed this week.

Staffing

• Ads are out for additional project staff, with interviewing of candidate in progress: 2 real time programmers for the sites, 1 ME and 1 draftsperson for Systems engineering, and 1 Electech at CIT. The optics technician starts work on July 13.
• The project has agreed to hire another drafter at MIT to help with the drawings for Seismic Isolation procurements.
• LIGO management has agreed to hire 2 temporary designers/drafters for SUS and AOS development and design efforts. A contract designer has been brought on board for the SUS work at LLO.

Procurements

For Ed Jasnow

• Oversaw preparation of NSF review package for the four HEPI procurements whose bids were below the threshold in the originally approved acquisition plan.

For Jacqueline Champagnie and Gina Salone

• 141	Flexures Process started (loaded on wiki, dcc)

• SI-147B

  Maraging Steel Blade Springs approved by Ann Miller (NSF): Material to be shipped to vendor is due on July 15

• SI-148a

  Ham Pods Bids received and have been posted to the DCC, awaiting Ken Mason approval.

• SI-148b

  Machine Parts  Firm Fixed Price contract in process

• SI-148d

  Flexure Rods -  Ken Mason approves selection.

• SI-148e

  Spring Support Post Bids received and have been posted to the DCC, awaiting Ken Mason approval

• COC Microscope Vendor Selected, Microscope testing rescheduled to July 19th by Nikon.
• MISC Projects: Creation of “Events” Template for procurements in progress.

For Steve Marroquin

• Finalizing Techmart purchase order contract to Cooner Wire Specialty Wire & Cable for the selection of RFQ No. SM-150 “LIGO 28AWG In-Vacuum Wire”. (Tech Rep: Rich Abbott)
• Working on draft RFQ solicitation for SM-152 “LIGO Eight Channel Valve Drive Assembly” (Tech Rep: Ben Abbott-SI-2AE).
• Issued Change Order 1 to Kaman Aerospace Corp P.O. 75ADV-S063182 for the recalibration of fifty (50) DIT Sensor-5200-20N per new Part No. 854925-204.
• Working on Change Order 1 to Advanced LIGO Florida University PO-75ADV-1085550. This order will provide allotment funding and fully fund this Subward.

For Rudy Arvizu

• Coating Core Optics CO-118. Preparing LMA and CSIRO contracts for vendor review.
• Columbia Subaward Timing Distribution System DA-290. Forwarded draft Subaward to Rolf Bork and Columbia for comment. OGC provided comments and Purchasing Services has completed their review.

NSF Acquisition Approvals

• The award packages for the Core Optics Coatings (Procurement ID CO-118 from the FY2009 Acquisition Plan) were sent to NSF on July 2, after final selection of the winning bids from LMA for the Test Masses and to CSIRO for the Recycling Cavity Mirrors. Waiting for approvals.
• A package is in preparation for the 4 awards for the HAM SEI small mechanical parts. These bids are coming in ~50% below market, triggering the need for re-approval due to a deviation from the approved estimate. Bidders have informed us that they are cutting their charges in order to remain in business during the present economic downturn.

Progress Updates

• The monthly EVM reports for June have been prepared. The monthly report is in draft form and will be circulated for review on Friday 7/10.
• Variance reports will be available on July 9 and due at noon July 13.

Meetings & Reviews

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

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>, Ed Chavez <chavez_j@ligo.caltech.edu>,  Bob Taylor <taylor_r@ligo.caltech.edu>,  Mike Smith <smith@ligo.caltech.edu>, Mike Zucker <mike@ligo.mit.edu>, Hiroaki Yamamoto <hiro@ligo.caltech.edu> see the Adv. LIGO Systems wiki

• Interviews for an additional Systems designer/drafter continue.
• Reviewing resumes for additional Systems Engineer.

AdL Project-Funded Activities

Design/Readiness Reviews: For a list of reviews, see the main AdL wiki page.

• Optical Lever Design Requirements Review & Conceptual Design Review (DRR/CDR) continues (Mike L. chair).
• Review of the UK provided ETM/ITM quadruple pendulum suspension electronics continues (Jay H., Vern).
• The Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for  Interferometer Sensing and Control (ISC) continues (Daniel S. chair).
• AOS Stray Light Control (SLC) PDR is underway (Peter F. chair).
• SEI BSC-ISI PDR is underway (David S. chair).
• AOS Thermal Comnpensation System (TCS) PDR is underway (Eric G. chair).
• The AOSEM FDR review has been completed (see L0900116-v4) (Calum T. chair).

Procurement Techncial Reviews: See the procurement wiki.

Technical Review Board (TRB): See the TRB log.

UHV & Vacuum Review Board (VRB): See the VRB log.

• VRB Request: Requested the VRB to review a proposal to use some alternate cleaning fluids (L0900109-v1).
• Small Parts Washer: (Bob Taylor) The small parts washer is being cleaned for use.
• SEI Actuator Parts Cleaning(Bob) Another batch of cleaned magnet material and small machined parts for the PSI actuators for the SEI ISI system will be shipped this week. 
• Assisting RAL with their large vacuum bake oven (Bob) Helped RAL in commissioning their vacuum bake oven.
• Optical Contamination Cavity Testing: (Bob T., Liyuan)
  • Cavity 1: 7 production BOSEMs, soon to be removed & replaced with Masterbond low outgassing epoxy (EP30AN-1).
  • Cavity 2:  First Contact(TM) samples (cavity mirrors also cleaned with FC).
  • Cavity 3: being set up and should be available next week; Krytox samples will be placed into this chamber.
  • Queue:
    • Krytox low vapor pressure lubricant (we have samples).
    • Other low outgassing epoxies, if/as needed after testing EP30AN-1 (Masterbond EP30-2, EP37-3FLFAO, EP65HT-1).
    • Copper & polyimide clad fiber optic, IVG Fiber CU1300. Brian Lantz wants to test this material for use with an optics table, optical lever system. Could be used for ALS etc. Likely "inherently" vacuum compatible, but worth checking since it has a polymer. 
    • Torr-Seal (Varian adhesive -- proposed replacement for Vacseal).
    • Barrierta-IS (a German Company low vapor pressure lubricant alternative to krytox, that New Focus thought may be cleaner) (we have samples).
    • Retest ADE position sensor materials (2 Tra-Con epoxies) due to the anomalous test results (no samples in hand).
    • Nedox solid lubricant (for potential BSC-ISI tooling use (class b) but perhaps useful in vacuum as well) (had small sample -- likely inadequate in size).
    • Tungsten carbide/carbon (WC/C) sample (for potential BSC-ISI tooling use (class b) but perhaps useful in vacuum as well) (had small sample -- likely inadequate in size probably inherently vacuum compatible).
    • Cesic sample (composite ceramic of SiC, Si and C) possibly inherently vacuum compatible application is not clear (high stiffness to weight structure) (sample size adequate?).

Design/Planning:

• Containers (COC): Ed and Calum (with help from Ken Mailand and Mike Gerfen) continue to work on the drawings for the core optics containers. These are now nearing completion. We have also started the SOW and the preferred vendor list.

Interfaces: See the RODA status page and the Interface Control page. 

• On and around the test mass: (Calum) We are working on what items we would like to test on the quad at LASTI. A summary of this should be available by the end on today and sent round the various folks for approval.  

Modeling and Simulation

From: Hiroaki Yamamoto hiro@ligo.caltech.edu

Static IFO Simulation and COS/TCS Analysis (Hiro, Logan)

• Signal loss due to thermal effect (T0900306-v1) A FP cavity with CP and RH for ITM and ETM was studied how the TEM00 power looses due to various thermal effects. The thermal lens induced by RH for ITM compensates part of the intrinsic thermal lens induced by the main laser beam.
  
  When CP is not working, the loss of the signal is ~4.5 % when ITM surface absorption is 0.5% and is ~9% when absorption is 1ppm. The mirror surface deformation does not matter much, this is dominated by the thermal lens - partially compensated by RH lens.
  
  After CP starts to work perfectly compensates the thermal lens in ITM, the loss is dominated by the mode distortion by the mirror surface deformation. For ITM loss = 1ppm, ETM loss = 0.5 ppm, the loss is 1.1 %, ITM loss = 1ppm, ETM loss = 1 ppm, the loss is 0.3 %, ITM loss = 0.5ppm, ETM loss = 0.5 ppm, the loss is 0.06%.
  
  
• The scattering loss due to small optics in the Michelson cavity (T0900326-v1) The loss effect due to the scattering off by SRM, SR2, PRM and PR2 have been studied by calculating the loss function as a function of the spatial wavelength. The loss by xR2 is several times larger than xRM. The loss by PRx drops off at 4mm, and the loss by SRx drops off at 6mm. Using this function, together with the measured PSD spectrum, it was agreed that rms < 0.7nm is an acceptable level, i.e., the loss is smaller than the loss due to finite size of BS and xR3 mirrors.
• Logan (SURF) and Hiro are trying to find a correct formulation of the reflection by a mirror with finite incident angle. The formulation of the treatment of small aberration in paper by Hello-Vinet ( J. Optics, 1996, 27 265-276 ) does not give a correct answer for a simple test case. [ it maybe that we misinterpret the formula given in the paper ]. The result of the formulation and the effect in the folder Michelson cavity will be reported in T0900331.

Safety

From: David Nolting   dnolting@ligo-la.caltech.edu

• A written Hazard Communication Program and training materials is nearing completion.  This program and training is a requirement of OSHA when employees are exposed to hazardous chemicals in the work place.  Upon completion, the AdL clean & bake team will be trained on the program contents and the safety precautions necessary when handling and storing chemicals used for their job task.
• Ongoing participation in document reviews, addressing safety related issues.
• AdL safety and LLO facility safety are working together to outfit the new clean & bake building with the required safety equipment; ie. first aid kit, eye wash station, personal protection equipment (PPE), MSDS station, etc.

Quality Assurance

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

Inventory Control System:

• Work is underway for the rejection loops, in final testing this past day, and will be ready to release over the weekend. We will probably hold off on pushing to our production servers until we have completed the Electronics Modification records by ~Tuesday, so we only have one build to load. Electronics Mod Records will capture Rack ID's, Location, Chassis ID's, Locations, and All circuit boards to associate with the chassis, chassis to associate to a rack. This record will also allow the creation of versioning against a schematic record, which allows for changes to a schematic to be recorded and assigned to parts in the database.
• Roadmap for Phase Two ICS is as follows:
  • July 20th-24th: Complete Inspection Records and Test Records.
  • July 27th-31st: Complete Defect tracking modules.
  • Aug 3rd-13th: Assembly and Commissioning workflows, records.
  • Aug 13th-20th: Clean up of system, finalize all outstanding bugs. Close phase 2 of project.

QA:

• Will be traveling to Sequim next week to perform measurements on actuator parts and work with team to determine if the components meet specs so we can accept and have shipped to sites.
• Will be Performing acceptance tests on the new Parts Washers this coming week, prepare these for shipment to the sites week of July 2oth.

Facilities Modifications and Preparations

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

LHO:

• Benton Public Utility set a new (larger) transformer at the warehouse this week. This will provide sufficient power for the clean/bake equipment as well as the existing HVAC.

LLO:

• The large ultrasonic washer is being commissioned.

Seismic Isolation

From: Ken Mason kmason@ligo.mit.edu

aLIGO Project Activities

HAM ISI Design and Procurement:

• A package is being prepared for the miscellaneous machined parts, pod housings, flexures, and spring support post to send via Fastlane for NSF approval.

HEPI Procurements and Assembly (EricA, JimW, JeffB, HughR):

Pump Stations

• Repaired manifolds are coming in and are being inspected.  The final manifold Resistor washers are expected early next week.  Assembly continues as is possible.
• Last of the Machined parts are being shipped early next week, yes the parts we need first for assembly!
• The L-4Cs have been huddle tested with reference L-4Cs.  One suspect has been found out of ~150.  Will huddle test the reference L4Cs with STS2 next Tuesday.
• Assembly procedure T0900066-v2 loaded to DCC.

R & D Activities

BSC ISI Design and Test:

• Test Stand Drawings have been uploaded to the DCC.  4 more HAM adapters need to be ordered, otherwise there should only be some clean up left.
• Progress has been made on the cabling for the Trillium pod, but still need finalizing.  Norcal has reviewed the current GS-13 design, made a few suggestions, but sees no show stoppers.  interposer plate needs analysis. ~Sam
• Working on the presentation portion of the BSC ISI Preliminary Design Review scheduled for Friday. ~Fabrice

Suspensions

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

Operations Work

• Ongoing work on HLTS prototype: RFQs have being issued for some parts and quotes received. Continuing to send out DCNs. Worked on prism design.
• Ongoing work on updating/modifying HSTS drawings.
• Held a design review for a proposed blade test facility for the HAM blades.Worked on simplifying blade characterization stand parts based on a discussion with a vendor.

Project-Funded Activities

• We received the report for the final design review and fabrication readiness review for value- engineered LIGO 1 OSEMS with advice on proceeding to first articles. We are working on finding equipment for OSEM thermal testing. Have found the labour for this. Collecting quotes for first article parts.
• Ongoing preparation work for LASTI weld test hangs and monolithic hang.
• Shipment of quad machined parts packed by LIGO staff during their visit to RAL has arrived at LHO and is being unpacked, checked and continue to be included in the inventory control system. The LLO shipment is due Friday.
• SOW and manufacturing specs for the nickel plating of the first quad blades is going forward as a vendor has been identified.
• Had a telecon with Carol and Dwight to discuss various logistics issues for upcoming start to clean/bake and assembly of quad parts and to discuss how to modify the schedule to reduce negative float.
• Finalising documentation for OMC procurements (structures and machined parts) including vendor list and SOW

Prestabilized Laser

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

Operations

• Nothing significant to report.

Project

• The high power pre-modecleaner was being installed on the table as I left the AEI. The position of the mode matching lenses had to be recalculated because the 200-W laser was placed in the wrong spot on the table.
• The 200-W laser power stability at high powers was still less than desired. Typically when the laser was aligned to produce over 200 W and then left running, it would run at the high power for a relatively short time - a couple of hours - before an event would cause the laser to lose lock. upon relocking, the output power of the laser would be lower. The exact reasons why are unknown at the moment but the signals from the injection locking electronics were being wired into fast data acquisition channels in an attempt to gain some insights as to what happens during a lock loss event.
• Notes about the installation of the laser at the AEI are being written up for things to keep in mind for when it comes to installing the laser at the observatories. One thing to note is that with the laser weighing over 700 lbs., it will need a crane to lift the laser onto the table.

Input Optics

From: Rodica Martin <rmartin@phys.ufl.edu>

Advanced LIGO R&D

• A series of experiments for determining the suitability of adaptive ring heater design (SF57 based) has been performed. Results are very good and are repeatable. Beam steering is being studied right now. (Muzammil)
• The results of SiC illumination test have been investigated. A repeat test with a baked sample of SiC and careful measurements of the temperature is in preparation. (David F.)

Advanced LIGO Design

• We have been looking into high frequency, high frequency RF power supplies for high band width beam steering system based upon RTP prisms. After getting feedback from ISC, we are making our own power supplies that can provide adequate voltage/current to the RTP prisms. Meanwhile a mechanical beam splitter is being used for developing high frequency wavefront sensors. (Muzammil)
• We finished optic container dimensioned drawings and submitted to the shop. (Luke)
• We are working on coating specifications for the Input Mode Cleaner and Steering Mirrors. (Rodica)

ALIGO Acquisition

• We purchased almost all the material to fabricate the transportation containers for the suspended optics. (Luke)
• We started receiving polished substrates from the first polishing batch. A bid package for coating these mirrors is in preparation. We are monitoring the bid process for polishing the PMMTs and small RMs. (Rodica)

Core Optics

From: GariLynn Billingsley <Billingsley_G@ligo.caltech.edu>

(Liyuan)

• Two raster scans of BTDF at 10 degree have been finished with the ESW03 window. The first one was done after removing the both sides' FC protection layers which have been there for about three months. The second one was done after applying a regular drag wiping. With using the N2 ionizer during peeling off of the FC, the result of the 1st scan is quite good. The BTDF average of the 1st scan is about 5 times smaller than that of the 2nd scan, confirming that the high scatter average of our previous measurement with FC cleaning is due to the charge sucked dusts. The same scans with FC and DW cleanings are underway.
• The RTS measurement has been switched to transmission. Ongoing is scanning the three polish-demo mirrors to check if there are 'holes' like what we observed in the coating of LASTI mirror.

(Rand)

• Installation of cleanroom in lab 015A. Monday begin move in. Continued development of first contact hardware, iterations. We are moving into 15 and 15A Downs, these will be the container storage area and the cleaning/inspection area for Core Optics. We are reviewing plans for 12 and 14 Downs, where we will install the full aperture metrology.
• Delayed delivery of the last 3 CP blanks is on schedule; 1 in July, 2 in August. These do not affect the polishing schedule. Polishing continues on schedule Contract negotiations have started with two coating vendors. We will move aggressively to meet the NSF milestone in August for placement of these contracts. There are 130 days float in the schedule for letting the coating contracts.

Auxiliary Optics

From:   Michael Smith <smith@ligo.caltech.edu>

Work Under Operations Budget

OPTICAL LEVER:

• The prototype optlev pylon is being fabricated.
• Craig has finished the telescope mounting platform and is completing the detail drawings. He is continuing to look for commercial sources for the tip/tilt mounting platform.
• Tara and Ian are projecting a beam down the sub basement corridor and are measuring the spot size of the beam at various distances.

OUTPUT FARADAY ISOLATOR:

• Jesse has tested several blade springs with similar dimensions as the upper and lower Faraday Isolator blade springs, made from 1095 spring steel. One of the tests used a different version of 1095 steel from the vendor, which apparently was not heat treated to the same yield strength as the blue-steel spring material, and the blade exceeded the design yield stress and took a permanent set--the deflection vs load values changed with time and did not match the design values.
• Mike wrote a technical memorandum describing his blade spring design equations and the preliminary results obtained with the measurements, T0900324-v1.

ETM Telescope:

• Jesse is beginning to learn how to use ZEMAX so that he can help design the ETM Telescope/Transmon optical train.
• Virginio is calculating the design parameters for the ETM Tel suspension.

TCS:

• Ken  has finished detailed working drawing for the thermal housing for Phil Willem's co2 laser.

SLC:

• Mike and other members of the design team wrote a response to the Comments from the SLC PDR Committee, T0900334-v2. The SLC preliminary design review was held on 7/9/09.

Control and Data Systems

From: Vern Sandberg <sandberg@ligo-wa.caltech.edu>

Operations: R&D, ELIGO DAQ, and Electronics - Start of S6 Science Run

LHO - Electrical Engineering - R. McCarthy

• Turn +- 15V DC supplies back on to enable BSC1 Magnetometers to function properly. These supplies had been turned off with the retirement of H2 forgetting that they also supply the power for the filter box on the magnetometers not the mag interface box but one of our whitening boxes.
• With the addition of a H1:LSC_ASPD2_DC a 16Khz channel to H1ADCUPEM we were on the fringe of stable operations, which required a significant amount of re-work on PEM channels. Removed ISCT3 ACC channels to allow for 2 ACC to remain on ISCT4 and a mic. Removed 4 2k Test channels in the ADCU to account for new channels.
• Added 2 Magnetometers to the 4k PEM ADCU. One in the LSC analog rack and one in the OMC rack. Added a Mic and ACC Equipment and Channels for Ham6. Verified all the channels and calibrated the Mics.
• Found a flaky BNC-T connector on the Aquisition PD on EX-transmission monitor and repaired it.
• A new transformer was installed for the warehouse to facilitate start up of the new cleaning an baking equipment for AdLigo. A 500KVA transformer was temporarily installed until the appropriate sized transformer arrives.
• Removed the electrical service to the old well head that was used during construction. This was part of an overall decommissioning of the well.
• Worked on the wireless system for the warehouse.
• Created travelers for Satellite modules from UK.

LHO - Systems/Software - D. Barker

DAQ:

• Tested backup framebroadcaster by connecting it to GDS. Reconfigured NAT to route offsite nds data access to nds1 and nds3.
• Statevector code has bug, cannot connect to both om1 and om2 testpoints. In order to repair and update to our "standard" configuration", we are porting the code from vxworks to linux. I have a temporary script
• To take H1 out of SM if ISI/OMC excitations are started.
• Roboscimon S6 version is almost ready, It is in its final testing.

OMC:

• Various code upgrades installed. Multiple restarts are sometimes necessary to get the OMC-LSC latency to 30uS. A more detailed analysis awaits the first commissioning break of S6.

LLO - Systems/Software - K. Thorne

• Science Run Support:
  • New statevector code loaded on l0msrepics to start S6 run.
  • Setup robot logbook scripts for S6. All scripts are running but some are not making ilog entries. Traced to poor /etc/nsswitch.conf file setup on newer machines.
  • Restored CDS system 3 times from short power glitches. This took significant effort as several systems that should have been on UPS backup were not. This has been partially rectified. Now realize that such short outages should require us to power-cycle all units that were not on UPS backup to properly configure DAQ electronics. Procedures need to be updated to reflect this.
  • Stood up new web server at llocds.ligo-la.caltech.edu to provide access from any location without IP restriction.
  • Determined that some conlog query scripts do not work on the new Linux-based web server. These need to be updated, which can be done using the 'stdenv' scheme developed for other scripts.
  • Restored access to DMT trends from NDS servers.
  • Worked with Dwayne to restore ability to mount LDAS /archive frames. Root problem were typos in config file on ldas server.
• Commissioning Support:
  • Dataviewer sessions on Linux boxes now have error log boxes so they match behavior on Solaris.
  • Helped with TCS and OMC updates.
  • Updated autoburt list to include some missing MC2 status limits.
• Sys-Admin:
  • Set up several ilog accounts.
  • Got DMTViewer and Dataviewer working simultaneously on Linux. A little more work on startup scripts will get dtt going. Slowed down by power glitches that kill power supply on development machine.
  • Received new laptops for EE Lab and CDS SysaISI Coil Driver, ISI Coil Driver & Power Board and LED Front Panel Board have been sent for fabrication to the PCB Express on Monday. The boards will be in early next week. I am getting ready the BOM. dmin use.
  • Installed trackballs as alternative "mouse" on all Linux workstations in control room.

ELIGO Prototype Development - DAQ

• Jay Heefner and R. Bork are putting together a document of the control systems presently installed for the OMC at the sites for the S6 run; includes documentation on all electronics, from AA input to AI output, including digital up/down sample filter transfer functions, electronics specs, and various other timing information. It should be complete by early next week.

Project: AdvLIGO Systems

SEI - M. Mageswaran

• ISI Coil Driver & Power Board and LED Front Panel Board have been sent for fabrication to the PCB Express on Monday. The boards will be in early next week. We are getting ready the BOM.

SUS - J. Heefner

• PUM Design under review.
• Triple "Acquisition-Mode" Coil Driver design being tested.
• Satellite Amplifier and LED current source designs reviewed and report writen.

DAQ - R. Bork

• Timing distribution system contract is back at Columbia for review.
• Final assembly of chassis for test stands should be complete by next week.
• Master, fanout and timing slave installed at LHO.

ISC - R. Abbot

(last week)

• Working on the last vestiges of the AOSEM to conclude my design review involvement.
• Finished simulations of dual frequency readout RF wavefront sensor. In the process of laying out a prototype.
• Doing layout of end test mass transmission monitor for in-vacuum use in Advanced LIGO.
• Ordered more of the ill-fated diodes used in the OMC. Made movie of how to cut the top off a diode, and have it live.

(this week)

• Worked out the last details to place the order for 162,000 feet of in-vacuum wire. The order will officially be out within the next day or so.
• Working on a modification to the braid angle and structure for the PEEK overbraid of the LIGO in-vacuum cable assemblies. The goal is to hedge against potential grounding of the cable shields to the vacuum equipment.
• Worked with site personnel to figure out which version of the hardware shutter is which at LLO. No small task here, as the documentation is hard to keep up with.
• Ordered a bunch of new photodiodes for the OMC and other applications. Several of this bunch use a new bonding method to attach the diode elements to the can. A eutectic solder is to be used in lieu of epoxy.
• Participating in the BSC ISI review.
• Working on the layout of the dual frequency, quad diode RF readout circuit prototype. This will allow one in-vacuum wavefront sensor to readout two RF signals on each of the 4 quadrants of the diode.
• Working (Chub) on the layout of the in-vacuum ETM transmission monitor prototype.
• Preparing the estimate for ISC usage of ADC and DAC cards for General Standards bulk order.
• Did research on the right magnetic field probe to use for the Advanced LIGO OSEM test jig.
• Worked with Bobby Moore to choose a better connector and attachment method for the new Advanced LIGO OSEM.
• Got with National Semiconductor and had them authorize a lifetime buy of LM12 high current operational amplifiers as these are now obsolete parts and represent a lot of design work on the ISI Coildriver.
• Went through quite a long process to document how to cut the lid of a diode for the OMC diode replacement. Sent 2 cut diodes to LLO for installation.
• Working with Bobby Moore on doing a run of injection molded PEEK cable clamps to cut the price on a bulk order for Advanced LIGO.
• Trying to work out the final details of the JIRA/e-Traveler project with the involvement of others.
• Received (finally) two nice phase noise test sets for checking RF distribution oscillators and ISC components for Advanced LIGO. Haven't had time to play with them yet.
• Worked with Mohana on the latest version of the ISI coildriver. Boards have now been sent out to the board house. The reason for the latest revisions was to incorporate some suggested changes and to make the design easier to manufacture.
• Spent some time talking to Mark Barton about a program of measurement for the Advanced LIGO OSEMs vacuum qualification. Goals are to set reasonable limits on the current vs outgassing and temperature. A plan has been devised to de-couple the simple thermal profile of the coil from the outgassing vs temperature study.

For additional information about this report, contact Albert Lazzarini