970 research outputs found
First Long-Term Application of Squeezed States of Light in a Gravitational-Wave Observatory
We report on the first long-term application of squeezed vacuum states of
light to improve the shot-noise-limited sensitivity of a gravitational-wave
observatory. In particular, squeezed vacuum was applied to the German/British
detector GEO600 during a period of three months from June to August 2011, when
GEO600 was performing an observational run together with the French/Italian
Virgo detector. In a second period squeezing application continued for about 11
months from November 2011 to October 2012. During this time, squeezed vacuum
was applied for 90.2% (205.2 days total) of the time that science-quality data
was acquired with GEO600. Sensitivity increase from squeezed vacuum application
was observed broad-band above 400Hz. The time average of gain in sensitivity
was 26% (2.0dB), determined in the frequency band from 3.7kHz to 4.0kHz. This
corresponds to a factor of two increase in observed volume of the universe, for
sources in the kHz region (e.g. supernovae, magnetars). We introduce three new
techniques to enable stable long-term application of squeezed light, and show
that the glitch-rate of the detector did not increase from squeezing
application. Squeezed vacuum states of light have arrived as a permanent
application, capable of increasing the astrophysical reach of
gravitational-wave detectors.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Cost-benefit analysis for commissioning decisions in GEO600
Gravitational wave interferometers are complex instruments, requiring years
of commissioning to achieve the required sensitivities for the detection of
gravitational waves, of order 10^-21 in dimensionless detector strain, in the
tens of Hz to several kHz frequency band. Investigations carried out by the
GEO600 detector characterisation group have shown that detector
characterisation techniques are useful when planning for commissioning work. At
the time of writing, GEO600 is the only large scale laser interferometer
currently in operation running with a high duty factor, 70%, limited chiefly by
the time spent commissioning the detector. The number of observable
gravitational wave sources scales as the product of the volume of space to
which the detector is sensitive and the observation time, so the goal of
commissioning is to improve the detector sensitivity with the least possible
detector down time. We demonstrate a method for increasing the number of
sources observable by such a detector, by assessing the severity of
non-astrophysical noise contaminations to efficiently guide commissioning. This
method will be particularly useful in the early stages and during the initial
science runs of the aLIGO and adVirgo detectors, as they are brought up to
design performance.Comment: 17 pages, 17 figures, 2 table
GEO 600 and the GEO-HF upgrade program: successes and challenges
The German-British laser-interferometric gravitational wave detector GEO 600
is in its 14th year of operation since its first lock in 2001. After GEO 600
participated in science runs with other first-generation detectors, a program
known as GEO-HF began in 2009. The goal was to improve the detector sensitivity
at high frequencies, around 1 kHz and above, with technologically advanced yet
minimally invasive upgrades. Simultaneously, the detector would record science
quality data in between commissioning activities. As of early 2014, all of the
planned upgrades have been carried out and sensitivity improvements of up to a
factor of four at the high-frequency end of the observation band have been
achieved. Besides science data collection, an experimental program is ongoing
with the goal to further improve the sensitivity and evaluate future detector
technologies. We summarize the results of the GEO-HF program to date and
discuss its successes and challenges
Interplay between geometry and flow distribution in an airway tree
Uniform fluid flow distribution in a symmetric volume can be realized through
a symmetric branched tree. It is shown here, however, that the flow
partitioning can be highly sensitive to deviations from exact symmetry if
inertial effects are present. This is found by direct numerical simulation of
the Navier-Stokes equations in a 3D tree geometry. The flow asymmetry is
quantified and found to depend on the Reynolds number. Moreover, for a given
Reynolds number, we show that the flow distribution depends on the aspect ratio
of the branching elements as well as their angular arrangement. Our results
indicate that physiological variability should be severely restricted in order
to ensure uniform fluid distribution in a tree. This study suggests that any
non-uniformity in the air flow distribution in human lungs should be influenced
by the respiratory conditions, rest or hard exercise
Methods for Reducing False Alarms in Searches for Compact Binary Coalescences in LIGO Data
The LIGO detectors are sensitive to a variety of noise transients of
non-astrophysical origin. Instrumental glitches and environmental disturbances
increase the false alarm rate in the searches for gravitational waves. Using
times already identified when the interferometers produced data of questionable
quality, or when the channels that monitor the interferometer indicated
non-stationarity, we have developed techniques to safely and effectively veto
false triggers from the compact binary coalescences (CBCs) search pipeline
Patterns of Public Participation: Opportunity Structures and Mobilization from a Cross-National Perspective
PURPOSE: The paper summarizes data from twelve countries, chosen to exhibit wide variation, on the role and place of public participation in the setting of priorities. It seeks to exhibit cross-national patterns in respect of public participation, linking those differences to institutional features of the countries concerned. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The approach is an example of case-orientated qualitative assessment of participation practices. It derives its data from the presentation of country case studies by experts on each system. The country cases are located within the historical development of democracy in each country. FINDINGS: Patterns of participation are widely variable. Participation that is effective through routinized institutional processes appears to be inversely related to contestatory participation that uses political mobilization to challenge the legitimacy of the priority setting process. No system has resolved the conceptual ambiguities that are implicit in the idea of public participation. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The paper draws on a unique collection of country case studies in participatory practice in prioritization, supplementing existing published sources. In showing that contestatory participation plays an important role in a sub-set of these countries it makes an important contribution to the field because it broadens the debate about public participation in priority setting beyond the use of minipublics and the observation of public representatives on decision-making bodies
Parenting and the Adjustment of Children Born to Gay Fathers Through Surrogacy
Findings are presented on a study of 40 gay father families created through surrogacy and a comparison group of 55 lesbian mother families created through donor insemination with a child aged 3â9 years. Standardized interview, observational and questionnaire measures of stigmatization, quality of parentâchild relationships, and children's adjustment were administered to parents, children, and teachers. Children in both family types showed high levels of adjustment with lower levels of children's internalizing problems reported by gay fathers. Irrespective of family type, children whose parents perceived greater stigmatization and children who experienced higher levels of negative parenting showed higher levels of parent-reported externalizing problems. The findings contribute to theoretical understanding of the role of family structure and family processes in child adjustment.The research was supported by a Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator Award (097857/Z/11/Z)
Gay fathersâ motivations for and feelings about surrogacy as a path to parenthood
Why do gay men choose to start their families through surrogacy?
Most fathers chose surrogacy because they considered adoption to be a less desirable and/or accessible path to parenthood.
Little is known of gay fathersâ motivations to use surrogacy as a path to parenthood over and above other forms of family building, such as adoption, and no studies have examined fathersâ satisfaction with the surrogacy process.
This study used a cross-sectional design as part of a larger investigation of parentâchild relationships and child adjustment in 40 gay father surrogacy families. Multiple strategies (e.g. surrogacy agencies, social events and snowballing) were used to recruit as diverse a sample as possible. Data were obtained from 74 fathers (in 6 families only 1 father was available for interview).
Semi-structured interviews, lasting ~1 h, were conducted in the family home (65%) or over Skype (35%) with 74 gay fathers (35 genetic fathers, 32 non-genetic fathers and 7 fathers who did not know or did not disclose who the genetic father was), when the children were 3â9 years old.
Genetic and non-genetic fathers were just as likely to want to become parents and had similar motivations for choosing surrogacy as a path to parenthood. Most fathers ( = 55, 74%) were satisfied with surrogacy and were satisfied ( = 31. 42%) or had neutral feelings ( = 21, 28%) about their choice of who would be the genetic father. Most fathers received supportive reactions to their decision to use surrogacy from both families of origin (e.g. parents, siblings) ( = 47, 64%) and from friends ( = 63, 85%).
Although diverse recruitment strategies were used, data were obtained from a volunteer sample. Therefore, the possibility that fathers who had a positive surrogacy experience may have been more likely to participate in the study, and therefore introduce bias, cannot be ruled out. Due to the high average annual income of the fathers in the study, findings may not generalize to gay fathers with lower incomes.
It is often assumed that parentsâ primary motivation for using ART is to have a genetic connection to the child. This study revealed that whilst genetic fatherhood was important for some gay fathers in surrogacy families, it was not important for all. This information will be of use to surrogacy agencies and organizations supporting men who are considering the different routes to parenthood.Wellcome Trust [097857/Z/11/Z]; Jacob's Foundation
- âŠ