Detector Characterization

Detector characterization involves understanding how the actual performance of gravitational-wave detectors compares to the expected performance, to advise those working on the instruments of changes in performance and to suggest potential causes and mitigations, and to examine potential detections for environmental or instrumental artifacts.

Detectors at LIGO's sensitivity and with LIGO's complexity operate at the cutting edge. This makes their performance less stable than routine off-the-shelf devices. The LSC Detector characterization (DetChar) group contributes to monitoring the LIGO instruments and to testing the validity of potential events.

Stanford DetChar focuses on finding sources of instrumental noise and on monitoring the LIGO instruments during times of scientific data collection (observing runs). Stanford's detector characterization research is done in collaboration with the University of British Columbia.

An example of recent work was tracking down the source of a mysterious, unwanted resonance in the LLO data stream to the HVAC system used in the offices (see image below).