Power filters for gravitational wave bursts: network operation for source position estimation

A method is presented to generalize the power detectors for short bursts of gravitational waves that have been developed for single interferometers so that they can optimally process data from a network of interferometers. The performances of this method for the estimation of the position of the source are studied using numerical simulations.Comment: To appear in the proceedings of GWDAW 2002 (Classical and Quantum Gravity, Special issue

Simulations of laser locking to a LISA arm

We present detailed numerical simulations of a laser phase stabilization scheme for LISA, where both lasers emitting along one arm are locked to each other. Including the standard secondary noises and spacecraft motions that approximately mimic LISA's orbit, we verify that very stable laser phases can be obtained, and that time delay interferometry can be used to remove the laser phase noise from measurements of gravitational wave strains. Most importantly, we show that this locking scheme can provide significant simplifications over LISA's baseline design in the implementation of time delay interferometry.Comment: 7 figures, 8 page

The triggering of electromagnetic observations by gravitational wave events

The prospects for the observation of electromagnetic emissions by gravitational wave sources first detected using a network of interferometers are discussed. Various emission mechanisms and detection techniques for compact binary inspirals are studied to show that the pointing ability of gravitational wave observatories and the efficacy of electromagnetic detectors can be combined to predict that counterpart detections are improbable for the Initial interferometers, possible with Advanced LIGO detectors, and likely with an Advanced detector in Europe. Results from a new position estimation algorithm for unmodeled sources are also presented, and are discussed in the context of the observation of counterparts to burst sources of gravitational radiation

Prospects for the detection of electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational wave events

Various models for electromagnetic emissions correlated with the gravitational wave signals expected to be detectable by the current and planned gravitational wave detectors are studied. The position error on the location of a gravitational wave source is estimated, and is used to show that it could be possible to observe the electromagnetic counterparts to neutron star-neutron star or neutron star-black hole binary coalescences detected with the Advanced LIGO and the Virgo detectors.Comment: 5 pages, 1 table, 1 figur

Computing Greeks using multilevel path simulation

We investigate the extension of the multilevel Monte Carlo method [2, 3] to the calculation of Greeks. The pathwise sensitivity analysis [5] differentiates the path evolution and effectively reduces the smoothness of the payoff. This leads to new challenges: the use of naive algorithms is often impossible because of the inapplicability of pathwise sensitivities to discontinuous payoffs.\ud \ud These challenges can be addressed in three different ways: payoff smoothing using conditional expectations of the payoff before maturity [5]; an approximation of the above technique using path splitting for the final timestep [1]; the use of a hybrid combination of pathwise sensitivity and the Likelihood Ratio Method [4]. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of these alternatives in different multilevel Monte Carlo settings

Electret-based cantilever energy harvester: design and optimization

We report in this paper the design, the optimization and the fabrication of an electret-based cantilever energy harvester. We develop the mechanical and the electrostatic equations of such a device and its implementation using Finite Elements (FEM) and Matlab in order to get an accurate model. This model is then used in an optimization process. A macroscopic prototype (3.2cm^{2}) was built with a silicon cantilever and a Teflon\textregistered electret. Thanks to this prototype, we manage to harvest 17\muW with ambient-type vibrations of 0.2g on a load of 210M{\Omega}. The experimental results are consistent with simulation results

Improving angular resolution of telescopes through probabilistic single-photon amplification?

The use of probabilistic amplification for astronomical imaging is discussed. Probabilistic single photon amplification has been theoretically proven and practically demonstrated in quantum optical laboratories. In astronomy it should allow to increase the angular resolution beyond the diffraction limit at the expense of throughput: not every amplification event is successful -- unsuccessful events contain a large fraction of noise and need to be discarded. This article indicates the fundamental limit in the trade-off between gain in angular resolution and loss in throughput. The practical implementation of probabilistic amplification for astronomical imaging remains an open issue.Comment: Proceeding of SPIE conference 'Astronomical telescopes + instrumentaton', Austin 201