Advanced LIGO subsystems
are the organizational units of the overall project. Follow the links below to view the mission and progress of each subsystem.
Auxiliary Optics | Core Optics |
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Data Acquisition | Data and Computing Systems |
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Facilities Modifications |
Input Optics |
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Interferometer Control |
Pre-Stabilized Laser |
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Seismic Isolation |
Suspensions |
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Subsystem: Data Acquisition
The differences between the initial LIGO and Advanced LIGO Data Acquisition, Network & Supervisory Control (DAQ) requirements derive from the increase in number of channels in the Advanced LIGO interferometers, due to the greater number of active control systems and inclusion of more of the interferometer control and status parameters into the archived frame data. For example, during Initial LIGO at the Hanford Observatory, the DAQ's for the H1 and H2 interferometers recorded a total of 12,733 channels, of which 1,279 were from fast channels (data digitized at either 2,048 Sa/sec or 16384 Sa/sec). LIGO didn't record ~50,000 slow channels from the EPICS control system. Advanced LIGO's DAQ is designed to record greater than 300,000 channels, of which ~3,000 will be fast channels.
Both the suspension and the seismic isolation systems will be realized digitally (except for the sensors and actuators) and the DAQ will need to capture a suitable number of the internal test points for diagnostics and state control (as is presently done for the initial LIGO digital suspension controllers). The number of loops per interferometer that are required for Advanced LIGO is seen to be ~250. This is to be compared to ~60 for initial LIGO. The number of channels that the DAQ will accommodate from the interferometer channels for Advanced LIGO will reflect this increase in the number of loops.
Mass storage room (the brain stem)
Columbia University Timing Lab
Additional DAQ Photos
Explore Advanced LIGO
Construction Schedule
Instrumentation and Astrophysics
An Overview of the Upgrades
The International Partnership
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LIGO Technology Transfers
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