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Jobs in Gravitational Waves at Cardiff University

Posted in The Universe and Stuff with tags , , , , on September 5, 2016 by telescoper

Gradually settling back in here to the School of Physics & Astronomy at Cardiff University, I thought I’d indulge  in a bit of promotional activity and point out that, following on from the recent detection of gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO Consortium, of which  Cardiff University is a member, there are two opportunities open for jobs in gravitational physics.

One is in the area of Gravitational Wave Astronomy. Here is the blurb:

The current Cardiff Gravitational Physics group has expertise in gravitational-wave data analysis, numerical relativity and source modelling, and astrophysical interpretation, and consists of four full-time and two part-time academic staff, two research fellows, five postdoctoral researchers and nine PhD students. Our research is supported by the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the Royal Society, and the European Horizon 2020 programme. The group is a founding member of GEO600, a member of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) Scientific Collaboration and has played a leading role in these collaborations from their inception through to the recent first direct detection of gravitational waves, and is also active in planning and development of future detectors, such as LIGO-India, Einstein Telescope and Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA).

This new appointment is part of a long-term expansion of the group, to broaden and strengthen our current research in gravitational-wave astronomy, and to build a world-leading group in gravitational-wave experimentation.

For the full advertisement, links to further particulars etc, see here.

The other is the area of Gravitational Wave Experimentation:

The current Cardiff Gravitational Physics group has expertise in gravitational-wave data analysis, numerical relativity and source modelling, and astrophysical interpretation, and consists of four full-time and two part-time academic staff, two research fellows, five postdoctoral researchers and nine PhD students. Our research is supported by the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the Royal Society, and the European Horizon 2020 programme. The group is a founding member of GEO600, a member of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory ( LIGO) Scientific Collaboration and has played a leading role in these collaborations from their inception through to the recent first direct detection of gravitational waves, and is also active in planning and development of future detectors, such as LIGO-India, Einstein Telescope and Laser Interferometer Space Antenna ( LISA).

This new appointment is part of a long-term expansion of the group, to broaden and strengthen our current research in gravitational-wave astronomy, and to build a world-leading group in gravitational-wave experimentation, with additional appointments expected in the near future.

For full details on this one see here.

The second appointment is intended to build on existing strengths by adding a more experimental dimension to Cardiff’s research in Gravitational Waves.

 

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The Great Gravitational Wave Source Follow-Up

Posted in The Universe and Stuff with tags , , , on March 1, 2016 by telescoper

I recently noticed on the arXiv  an interesting paper with 1562 authors!

Here is the abstract:

A gravitational-wave transient was identified in data recorded by the Advanced LIGO detectors on 2015 September 14. The event candidate, initially designated G184098 and later given the name GW150914, is described in detail elsewhere. By prior arrangement, preliminary estimates of the time, significance, and sky location of the event were shared with 63 teams of observers covering radio, optical, near-infrared, X-ray, and gamma-ray wavelengths with ground- and space-based facilities. In this Letter we describe the low-latency analysis of the gravitational wave data and present the sky localization of the first observed compact binary merger. We summarize the follow-up observations reported by 25 teams via private Gamma-ray Coordinates Network Circulars, giving an overview of the participating facilities, the gravitational wave sky localization coverage, the timeline and depth of the observations. As this event turned out to be a binary black hole merger, there is little expectation of a detectable electromagnetic signature. Nevertheless, this first broadband campaign to search for a counterpart of an Advanced LIGO source represents a milestone and highlights the broad capabilities of the transient astronomy community and the observing strategies that have been developed to pursue neutron star binary merger events. Detailed investigations of the electromagnetic data and results of the electromagnetic follow-up campaign will be disseminated in the papers of the individual teams.

This is interesting not so much for the result – there wasn’t really any expectation of finding an electromagnetic counterpart of a binary black-hole merger – but that it’s the first example of the kind of mass mobilisation of astronomers that will be needed when gravitational-wave astronomy gets going in earnest. Astronomers working on transient sources such as gamma-ray bursts are already used to this kind of operation, but there’s going to be a lot more of it in the future!

 

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